The CDC has gone on record warning about eye gnats infecting humans with conjunctivitis (pink eye).

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/56586/cdc_56586_DS1.pdf

People enjoying outdoor activities who are “attacked” by large swarms of eye gnats are now in danger of “catching” conjunctivitis. 

Extremely large aggregations of eye gnats are common in areas that have loose sandy soils, especially in the southern United States. These high concentrations of flies are a great nuisance to humans and animals in rural towns as well as agricultural, recreational and tourist areas. While they do not bite, Liohippelates spp. have been implicated in the transmission of several diseases to humans and livestock including human acute conjunctivitis  (pink eye). Due to the increase of transmission of pink eye and the reduction in labor efficiency caused by extreme numbers of eye gnats in the Coachella Valley, California, a control project was initiated by the Bureau of Entomology in the 1920s to focus on the life history and possible control measures for this pest. Hall (1932) subsequently implicated Liohippelates pusio (Loew) as one of the limiting factors in the development of the Coachella Valley. 

The only prevention is to use compressible ear plugs (to keep gnats out of your ears) and swimming bubble goggles that fit tight to your head all the way around your eyes. Here’s an example of a 100% “no gnat” swim goggle.

At Amazon for $16.

If you use both hands and are “bothered” by gnats you should protect your eyes. Conjunctivitis is a very unpleasant condition. Eye gnats gave me conjunctivitis so I know  what I’m talking about.

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