I recently found red marks under my eyes where my goggles contact the skin. I use vanquisher speedo goggles (silicon gaskets) and have for sometime. Recently, I have upped my training schedule to 5 days a week and it seems as though my goggles are rubbing a raw spot around my eye. It is almost like a sunburn and it has peeled after two days out of the water.
Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what was your solution. I was thinking of getting the GCG, basically the vanquisher with foam. I figure that it might be softer and cause less chaffing. However, the foam holds more chemicals and bacteria so I am not sure what to do.
Thanks for any advice.
Hook'em
Blue
Former Member
Obvious question is whether you're wearing them too tight.
You know, maybe you need a different shape. Faces are all different. I used to struggle with narrow, almond-shaped goggles, and then switched to a rounder shape. The goggles I use now are something in between round and oval.
Also, maybe you need to mess with the adjustment of the nose bridge (if your model allows it.) I still remember the "eureka" I had many years ago when I tightened the nose piece of my goggles one notch.
Former Member
Hey Blue Horn....if you had swam as a Long Horn you'd be tough enough to wear ANY goggle....
Hook em Horns.....:D
Former Member
Actually, I don't keep my goggles very tight at all. I have been wearing the vanquisher for a while and they fit great.
Former Member
How about an allergy to silicon?
Have you thought of the --used to be called "swedish goggles" with no eye gaskets, just used suction. Speedo made some I think...
Former Member
Hi Bluehorn
I've had the same problem for months and I tried loose goggles or no goggles that caused red eyeballs. I also tried goggles with the foam edges and still had the red skin problem (I also couldn't find them in shops - is Speedo still making them?).
Now I use larger goggles - Seal Mask and they seem to be the solution for me. They seem to fit quite loosely and spread the pressure around the eye area more evenly. They are about double the price of ordinary goggles here but in the US they may be cheaper.
This is the link: www.aquasphereusa.com/.../seal_clear.html
Former Member
I had a problem for months with redness, irritation, and peeling all around my eyes, on the lids above the lashes and just below the eyes. I assumed it was caused by goggles, but the redness wasn't exactly where the goggles were touching the skin.
Anyway, I asked a doctor, and he wasn't a dermatologist, but he suggested using over the counter Cortisone 10, or some other weak hydrocortisone cream, and I used that 3x/day for 2 days and all the redness went away. I haven't had to use the cream since, and it's been about 2 weeks.
Former Member
Hey Blue, I use the Vanquisher goggles too, and in the beginning I had some major problems with them rubbing the skin around my eyes. Sometimes it's just the way it happens, like you'll have one shoe that rubs a blister on your heel, but the other one's okay. Try using a little Neosporin or vaseline on the red skin after you swim, and if you're feeling adventurous, use a little vaseline (read: NOT neosporin) before you get in the water. Since you just upped your practice times and sessions, it sounds like your face just isn't used to wearing the goggles that much.
Former Member
Just like it was mentioned here before by one of the members, DO try to play with the nose bridge.I just started swimming about a month ago and nad the same exact problem with goggles, I thought there were just a piece of **** or something(they would let in some water, too), but then adjusted the nose bridge by one notch on each side - and it was sucha huge difference, I think I just found the right fit for my face.My redness went away and I am actually happy with the goggles all the way.Such a simple thing made such a big change.
Good luck!
Former Member
Originally posted by Alicat
How about an allergy to silicon?
Have you thought of the --used to be called "swedish goggles" with no eye gaskets, just used suction. Speedo made some I think...
I had the same problem around my eyes. Bought the Swedish Goggles and the problem totally went away. took some time to get use to the new goggles, but I love them. Good luck!
Former Member
I've had similiar problems with this as well. Sort of looked like a skin irritation, and my eyes were reacting a bit as well.
I took a close inspection of my goggles and, well it was just a wee bit gross. Build up of stuff and gunge, compounded by keeping them in a nice dark and not well ventilated place (like a swim bag). Bugs just thrive in this environment.
So I pulled the goggles apart (Silicone gaskets come off easily and harvest an impressive amount of gunge) and soaked them in a dilute bleach solution to scare those bugs away. I try to wash my goggles or soak them while making up my water bottle before each workout, in a bit of dishwashing liquid dissolved in water. No need to rinse. When ready to wear them, wet them with a bit of tap water, and so far no steaming lenses and no eye skin problems.
This even held for my open water series, the 26km (16.25 miles)being my longest. Took 8 hrs exactly (Well and 12 seconds!) in rough water. Goggles were comfy and never bugged me once.
I use a low profile silicone style which I just discovered at the beginning of the open water season. Couldn't believe how comfy they were, and best of all very little if any red rings around the eyes. Even after several hours on my face.
Kiwi
