Swimming with contact lenses

jackieblack

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

I always wear disposable contacts when swimming, as I wouldn't be able to without them, however I wouldn't wear them without goggles.

Same here. I also get take them out afterwards and replace with either glasses or a new pair of daily contacts.

joannasmum

I have no idea about the not swimming in contacts issue, however I can recommend these Aqua Sphere Kayenne goggles. Wore them for the first time this morning and they had a good seal without leaving massive marks.

terra_ferma

From the research so far, off the peg prescription goggle up to £30 are not strong enough (I've not seen any off the peg cheap-ish -12 goggles anywhere, but very happy to be proved wrong )

Having looked at the research about this amoeba, I could not find any studies reporting the number of people who caught it from swimming with contact lenses (let alone broken down with or without goggles....). Considering the million of people who swim wearing contact lenses worldwide, I think it's safely to say if the risk was fairly high it would have been studied and reported more widely by now.

This is the official advice in the UK:
https://www.bcla.org.uk/public/acanthamoeba-and-contact-lenses-1

Risk factors for infection in contact lens wearers include:

• Using tap water during lens care (to rinse lenses or the storage case)
• Wearing lenses while swimming (without goggles), showering or in hot tubs
• Using ineffective lens care solutions
• Failing to follow lens care instructions

.
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Eyehealth/Pages/Contactlenssafety.aspx

never wear your lenses while you're having a shower or going swimming (unless you use goggles)

So she's happy to try swimming just using good quality goggles and get professional advice if she wants to swim regularly.

Nicki

This pair is £33 and if she has different prescriptions in each eye, she can have a different strength in each lens, up to a maximum of -12

http://www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000003.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eprescription-swimming-goggles%2eco%2euk%2fAdult_Prescription_Goggles%2ehtml&WD=12&PN=Swimmi_2%2ehtml%23aSWIMMI2#aSWIMMI2

There are lots of others on the same website starting from about £19 though some only go up to -10.

Posting the link for the benefit of anyone else reading the thread who is interested in prescription googles at an affordable price, as you've made it quite clear you aren't by the way.

skylight

Nicki wrote: »

You can buy off the peg prescription goggles in the same way as you can buy off the peg reading glasses and they cost around £20. You don't need perfect sight to swim just good enough to be able to walk from changing room to pool and do a length without bumping into anyone.

I wouldn't risk my sight for a one off £20 payment. I'd either not swim at all, pay the money or swim in my specs! I like driving, reading and going to the cinema and theatre far too much to risk losing the sight painfully in one eye or worse both far too much!

I never realised that they were that cheap! Had a good look at a few websites and will be ordering soon as I dont like to wear either my glasses or contacts when swimming, I can see well-ish not to walk into things, but I do need to see the kids, so thanks!:D

terra_ferma

Nicki wrote: »

This pair is £33 and if she has different prescriptions in each eye, she can have a different strength in each lens, up to a maximum of -12

http://www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000003.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eprescription-swimming-goggles%2eco%2euk%2fAdult_Prescription_Goggles%2ehtml&WD=12&PN=Swimmi_2%2ehtml%23aSWIMMI2#aSWIMMI2

There are lots of others on the same website starting from about £19 though some only go up to -10.

Posting the link for the benefit of anyone else reading the thread who is interested in prescription googles at an affordable price, as you've made it quite clear you aren't by the way.

I don't mind being wrong if it saves me (or in this case someone else) a few bobs
At that price they are worth considering if she then decides to swim regularly, they are not for me but I'm the one who likes looking for bargains

theoretica

Another reason for using disposable ones is the risk of a contact lens falling out of your eye and getting lost, which is much higher in water than in air.

loracan1

I bought prescription goggles about 10-15 years ago, don't swim that often but still use them now even though my prescription's changed a couple of times. Still love them and one of the best £20 I've ever spent. Even if I do feel a bit of a numpty walking round the changing rooms wearing them.

suki1964

terra_ferma wrote: »

So she's happy to try swimming just using good quality goggles and get professional advice if she wants to swim regularly.

And that is the best advice anyone could give

polgara

As someone who had an eye disease which meant I had incredibly painful treatment - injections into the eye are not pleasant I would allows air on the side of caution.

I have swum in lenses but I've always been worried about the potential risks. I only tend to do it on holiday which in a way must be worse given that pools might not be disinfected to our standards. So nowadays I just paddle around in prescription sunglasses

For proper swimming I use prescription googles - the best money spent - the prescription is out of date but its enough that I can be safe and get around.