Hello, I'm new to swimming properly. I messed around with a poor breaststroke from childhood until October last year, when I decided to start learning front crawl. I've done quite a bit of snorkelling, so when I committed to learning to swim correctly, I favoured a mid-size swimming mask instead of goggles...I just found this more comfortable and I never had fogging issues that a good dose of saliva wouldn't fix.
A few weeks ago, I decided to try the Arena Pure goggles for a change. They are supposed to have an anti-fog coating, which should never be touched by hand etc etc. On their maiden outing, I just couldn't get comfortable with them and I thought they were fogging up, so I employed the primitive method (rub saliva into the lenses with finger). You may well slap your foreheads at the stupidity of this, but I felt I had to try. The result was a smudge at the centre of the lenses.
When I got home, after rinsing in fresh water, I decided to wipe the interior with a soft microfibre cloth. The result is that the centre of the lenses appears scuffed and visibility is reduced. I don't think the lenses truly are scuffed, unless the lense material is absurdly soft. Yesterday, I applied some Cressi Anti-fog in the hope that the layer may recover and the interior return to its original condition, but it didn't work. The lenses look as if someone has rotated a scouring pad on them.
I guess I should remove the remainder of the original anti-fog layer and just reapply the Cressi solution, but I'm not sure how to remove the original layer without damaging the lenses.... Can anyone please advise?
Many thanks in advance
I am just repeating about the baby shampoo. Just use real Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo. Do not use a knock off brand. Swimming Science also recommends Johnson & Jonson baby shampoo.
Update: I think the problem is solved! I couldn't just let it go :)
I decided just to try lense wipes, the disposable kind used for cleaning sunglasses. It removed the remainder of the anti-fog layer. I watched it come off like a big greasy smudge. I rinsed out the lenses thoroughly, then applied the Cressi stuff and it has worked! I don't know how many sessions I'll get out of them before having to reapply the anti-fog, but at least I have a functioning pair of goggles again.
:bliss:
Hi, I found an alternative solution to the problem. The anti-fog film would not come off with just water and/or lense wipe from my TYR Swedish goggles. Instead I used house cleaning product (ie Windex) and I removed the film scratching it with a wooden Chinese chopstick (the wood isn't harder than the goggle so it won't scratch it permanently, I presume made of polycarbonate?).
I will wash the goggles very well again before using them to avoid any cleaning product potentially going in my eyes.
On some new goggles , the anti fog lasts till you rub it once or twice. Then it becomes goo that I have tried to remove with dish soap. It takes a while to get it all off, then use baby shampoo. I used to wear hard contacts & baby shampoo is what I used to clean them also!!
Thanks for all of this great advice. In recent months, I've been using Aqua Sphere Vista goggles and these stay mist-free with a coating of spit.
I do the nasty part of this as I walk to the pool, so as to be less obvious :) It works perfectly and I see no reason to ever use anything else :)
You can get the travel size at most Walgreen's or Targets, too. I have a bottle that's lasted me close to a year with using just a little dab (and rinsing) in both lenses just before starting.
kari
