Swimming with Contact Lenses

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

gdanner — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:28:28 GMT

I've worn 2 week disposable soft contact lenses in the pool for over ten years. I don't do anything special before or after the workout. My prescription has stayed the same for the last 5 some odd years and I haven't had any problems.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:27:15 GMT

Disposable contacts work great for any activity including swimming with goggles.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:06:48 GMT

I've got -15 myopia, so the prescription goggle options are limited to the ones guaranteed to leak horribly against my face. Consequently, I've gone with RGPs and goggles since I was 15 and I've generally had no issues with them.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

orca1946 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:05:37 GMT

I wear last month's contacts for the pool, so if I lose them it's no big deal. After swimming I always clean & rub junk off & store them for next swim.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 07:49:22 GMT

As soon as I started swimming 3+ times per week I had that happen, in fact they seemed to feel dry and itchy for days, so I switched to optical goggles. I put it down to still living in the dark ages and wearing RGPs rather than daily disposables, or maybe it was the chemicals? I do sometimes swim in my contacts, but not often, and always SCUBA'ed in them, but I've not done that in about 7 years. I don't wear contacts, but I am dependant on my glasses for distance and clarity. For Scuba diving, I bought a mask with the prescription lenses, over the counter $150, and they are amazing!!! Just using the generic -4.0 lenses but I can focus and actually make things out in the distance. I recommend them to anyone who dives and needs vision correction.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Celestial — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:45:33 GMT

Lost a half dozen not realizing they were floating in the bottom of my goggles when I pulled em off (again just last week!). Worst is having to pop one out to clean in your mouth right after a workout and inhaling it because you're breathing so hard :badday: :rofl:

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Celestial — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:40:55 GMT

I developed blisters on my eyes after swimming in contacts. It took about two weeks to recover. You are fortunate. I have just been diagnosed with keratitis - actually it's been about a month now, and now I am OUT OF CONTACTS for the next three months. I've been wearing my contacts only minimally, but my eyes still have not recovered. Had a referral to an ophthamologist this am, who is also a swimmer (NOT Dr.Gary Hall, darn :)) who says that people (women) in their 40-50's often start developing dry eyes whether they wear contacts, swim, or not. So now I have a Rx for Restasis & glasses to wear. He says I should be able to go back to wearing my contacts, but should use a lubricant several times a day. Maybe this will help those of you who have problems - use eye lubricant approved for contact lens' several times a day.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:40:22 GMT

recently i have started to get two different types of contacts. i have the pair i wear for all around use. i have some horrible eyesight and quite astigmatic to boot. so these are monthly contacts and will end up getting gummed up early if i swim in them too often. to avoid that i also got a box of daily disposable contacts. non-astigmatic to make them quite a bit cheaper. they arent the most useful things for wearing around all day, but theyll work in a pinch. i can read the workouts and clocks well enough to get by just fine. that whole business was suggested by my eye doctor when i told her that i swam and it seems to work nicely. the only downfall is that it might be slightly more expensive than what some would like to spend.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

philoswimmer — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:04:34 GMT

I wear prescription goggles and love them. My eyes never feel right after swimming with contacts.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

magick17 — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:39:12 GMT

I developed blisters on my eyes after swimming in contacts. It took about two weeks to recover. It was difficult to see and felt like I had very dry eyes. I willNEVER wear ontacts again for workouts!

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Sojerz — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:05:39 GMT

I just came across ortho-k where you wear the contact at night to reshape the cornea for corrected vision in the day without lenses. Sounds interesting. Kinda like a retainer for your eyes. www.allaboutvision.com/.../orthok.htm Thanks Steve, I had 20/20 vision 'til about age 50. I've become nearsighted over the years and need glalsses to read street signs, see the baseball at a game, etc. But, I also now need reading glasses to see small print, so i have prgressive lenses. I will ask about the orto-ks - sounds like they might be a solution for one of the problems. My appointment is next thursday with an optometrist at lens crafters that was helpful.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Sojerz — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:50:11 GMT

I always thought swimming with contacts would be a terrible way to spend the rest of the day -red red eyes! So I always took them out, and even fashioned a personal pace clock out of a $3.99 clock you can get at Target. And I always spent the day with red red eyes. A friend suggested swimming with then and while it was great to see around me, my eyes are actually less irritated. Anybody know why? And if anyone wants the instructions on making a personal pace clock let me know. I never have a pace clock and struggle to see the sweep hand on the wall clock. I thought about buying a portable pace clock from speedo or one of the other online sources of swim stuff, but they're about $160 or so. Never thoughr of a clock from Target - please post a pic or description. Is it waterprooof ?? THANKS

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

ullahe — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:43:28 GMT

I have been swimming with RGP contacts and goggles for a couple of years now. Used to swim semi-blind, but it is nice to be able to see!! Contrary to another person's comment, RGPs are not old fashioned, are better for your eyes and cost a whole lot less than disposables. To protect my every-day lenses, I use an older pair while I swim. So far, I have not had any issues with my eyes.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:37:14 GMT

Thanks Steve, I had 20/20 vision 'til about age 50. I've become nearsighted over the years and need glalsses to read street signs, see the baseball at a game, etc. But, I also now need reading glasses to see small print, so i have prgressive lenses. I will ask about the orto-ks - sounds like they might be a solution for one of the problems. My appointment is next thursday with an optometrist at lens crafters that was helpful. Three quick notes about the pace clock I made.... I'm not sure the link goes to the correct clock but Target does/did have a $4.99 one. It's the same packaging though so you'll know what you're looking for. And before you glue the laminated pace clock face in place, make sure you've cut it at a circumference that fits. My jpeg might be a little larger intentionally so the black border covers the underface entirely. Again, if you need anythng, please let me know. And it won't stand up on it's own (why didn't Target make a square one?), so I glued a little base on the bottom. You could also add a little rope and hang it the starting block.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:28:46 GMT

I never have a pace clock and struggle to see the sweep hand on the wall clock. I thought about buying a portable pace clock from speedo or one of the other online sources of swim stuff, but they're about $160 or so. Never thoughr of a clock from Target - please post a pic or description. Is it waterprooof ?? THANKS It's waterproof enough but you need to laminate the printout. First go to Target and buy this clock: www.target.com/.../A-13732033 The plastic face has clips on the top and bottom so a thin screwdriver will pry it open. Remove all three hands and print out the pace clock face (I'm going to try to attach as a jpeg -the size should be perfect). Laminate the clock face (if you can't I'll mail you one) and cut the round circumference, and punch the center hole just enough so it fits over the hands stem. Don't bother trying to remove the original clock face, the laminate pace face will cover it well, but use a little glue too. Once the pace clock face is on you can replace the minute and second hand, though I just use the second hand. I also cut out and glued a larger red second hand onto the original second hand but it's not necessary. Replace the plastic cover and with one AA battery you're in business. I've gotten the clock plenty wet and it still keeps going, though I do remove the battery when I'm not swimming. Please let me know if this helps. If you need I'll make the clock for you -it's a fun project.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Sojerz — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:02:14 GMT

Three quick notes about the pace clock I made.... I'm not sure the link goes to the correct clock but Target does/did have a $4.99 one. It's the same packaging though so you'll know what you're looking for. And before you glue the laminated pace clock face in place, make sure you've cut it at a circumference that fits. My jpeg might be a little larger intentionally so the black border covers the underface entirely. Again, if you need anythng, please let me know. And it won't stand up on it's own (why didn't Target make a square one?), so I glued a little base on the bottom. You could also add a little rope and hang it the starting block. Patrick, Thanks for the response. I printed out the face and the link and will try to stop at target over the weekend - i can get the face laminated at kinkos or staples, both nearby. A great idea. May make two - one for each end. And, most importantly: HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Stevepowell — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:53:27 GMT

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 06:23:47 GMT

Before I had LASIK, I played college water polo wearing soft contacts. By comparison, swimming with goggles was a piece of cake!

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Sojerz — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:46:04 GMT

So the optician usually tell you not to wear them in the pool...well that ain't happening if I need to see a clock or the workout typed in anything less than REALLY BIG FONT. So I a curious who out there wears contacts and if you rinse them after you swim to remove any chlorine or contaminants. I find that I get very sore and dry eyes by the end of the day even if using drops. sO just looking for input. definitely will troll this thread - have an appointment on 3/20 for exactly the same reason - can't see the pace clock, watch, and have squint to see the workout. Wondering if disposables are the best idea and what to do about distance and reading vision. My wife has two diffferent contacts.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

aztimm — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:33:31 GMT

I've been wearing contacts to swim (with goggles) for as long as I can remember. Like you said, nearly all of my eye doctors have advised against this. Oddly when I had my eyes checked in Dec with a new doctor, she wasn't concerned at all. I used to take a case, solution, glasses, extra lenses, etc with me in my swim bag. But I stopped doing that years ago. Occasionally I've lost a lens somewhere, driven home using one eye to guide me, but that happened only 3 or so times, the last was at least 3 years ago.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:15:24 GMT

Wow... a lot of interesting responses here. Thanks all. Lenses aren't an issue during the swim so much as after I tend to feel that my eyes are mildly irritated as if I haven't worn goggles in the pool. It oculd be working in the aquatic environment causing or adding to this and not the swim per se. I think I'll do a midday rinse and see if that helps out. As soon as I started swimming 3+ times per week I had that happen, in fact they seemed to feel dry and itchy for days, so I switched to optical goggles. I put it down to still living in the dark ages and wearing RGPs rather than daily disposables, or maybe it was the chemicals? I do sometimes swim in my contacts, but not often, and always SCUBA'ed in them, but I've not done that in about 7 years.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:05:45 GMT

I've been swimming for 20 years now and I wear contacts for 20 years. I never got the advice not to wear them during swimming. Having said that, I never mentioned my swimming. I never had a problem as long as water doesn't get into my goggles(I never lost a contact ever nor did I get red eyes). Without my contacts I'm blind as a bat. I never wear my glasses anywhere in public because I'm farsighted which makes your eyes look huge with glasses(like a super nerd). What I think is great are these new bungee straps for my swedes. It makes adjusting a lot easier. I just remembered that I did used to get red eyes from my contacts but I assumed it was because of the contact lenses and not from swimming. I used to use Focus monthly contact lenses. After that i switched to Cibavison Night&Day lenses and never had a problem again.

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:05:07 GMT

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:44:04 GMT

I've opted to wear my soft contacts while I swim-I just make sure I adjust my goggles for fit periodically during my swim.Without them I would be so blind,just an accident waiting to happen-plus,not seeing in focus makes me really nauseous.What could be irritating your eyes is the vacuum you create when you suction your goggles to your face.If you do not remove your goggles every so often during a swim it pretty much prevents your contacts from 'breathing'.Rinsing them off after your swim is not a bad idea-I don't, since I have no problems with mine-but it can't hurt. I'm currently sitting out of the pool because I had a nasty allergic reaction to something in one eye ....the pain and light sensitivity in finaly got so bad I drove myself to the eye Dr. while covering the bad eye with my hand.Doing steroid and antibiotic eye drops now and I am not taking any chances with going in the pool until this is cleared up.Not wearing any contacts or either-sucks big time.....but my vision is already crap-I can't afford to blind myself completely!

RE: Swimming with Contact Lenses

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:13:56 GMT

Yes Boston Gas Perms for 30 years. Lost a half dozen not realizing they were floating in the bottom of my goggles when I pulled em off (again just last week!). Worst is having to pop one out to clean in your mouth right after a workout and inhaling it because you're breathing so hard :badday: I haven't had any negative experiences. Really?? Man I must be a clutz!