Eyewear for Swimming

As the weather warms up, the water activities will begin! When you need to see to enjoy these activities, you have to do some careful planning. 

Glasses aren’t always the best option. Besides the lenses getting dirty from the water, you can also run the risk of losing them. I’m not saying this has happened to me or anyone in my family but if you happen to be at Crystal Beach and find a 10 year old’s glasses buried in the sand or at sea, let me know. 

Contact lenses seem like they would be the next best option, HOWEVER, it can be incredibly unsafe. You may not realize it but there are very very tiny bacteria and microbes even in “clean” water that can cause some gnarly infections. To be clear, this is for all types of water: oceans, lakes, pools, and showers. Contacts act like sponges and will absorb anything introduced to your eyes. You could try wearing goggles that are completely sealed and won’t let any water through (can you tell me the brand if so?) but if any water is introduced into your eyes, then discard the lenses immediately afterwards. 

On the plus side, some pretty smart people realized this long ago and developed prescription swimming goggles and masks. The swim goggles can either be pre-made or custom made with your prescription. The pre-made lenses may not be your exact prescription but are typically adequate for you to see well while swimming or enjoying your swim activities. What’s also pretty fantastic, If you have different prescriptions between your two eyes, you can purchase 2 sets and construct a more appropriate set since many goggles have adjustable/removable nose pieces and head straps. These can be purchased through an eye doctor’s office or on websites that specialize in making goggles. Custom made goggle lenses will fit your prescription and often come with inserts. These can also be purchased through your eye doctor’s office or on websites where you would need to provide your glasses prescription. Discuss which option and prescription may be best for you with your eye doctor or optician. If you have astigmatism or another eye condition, you may have additional needs to consider.

Personally, I’ve never been scuba diving although I would love to do so. I could not imagine getting out in the water though and not be able to enjoy every detail in that world. You can do this with a prescription dive mask. There are a few options in correcting your vision with these masks. The first option has corrective lenses that are glued to the inside of your mask, creating a second layer. A second option is to purchase a mask in which the entire lens of the mask is replaced with a prescription lens much like the prescription goggles. These can be premade, custom, or include removable inserts. I would recommend discussing what your best option and prescription is with your eye doctor as the distance of the mask is different from your glasses and may need to be adjusted.

Pre-made lenses are a great option for most people as they can be the most cost effective for the amount of time you will be using them. If you are a more serious diver, then 1.) please take me with you and 2.) consider a custom made mask. Stay safe over the summer and always feel free to ask your eye care team any questions.