I have been swimming for 24 years and suddenly I have become allergic to most goggles that I try!
For many years I used the hind compy-style goggles with the foam eye protection. Then suddently I started getting red rings around my eyes that would itch and turn flaky. Very embarrassing! A friend told me to try these speedo hypoallergenic goggles. So I did and my red ring problem went away! For a while, anyway. Now it's about 2 years later and I suddenly started getting the allergy to these, "hypoallergenic" goggles. Does anyone have any ideas? Apparently I must have developed a sudden sensitivity to whatever is in that foam and now to rubber.
Thanks for any help!
Kevin
Parents
Former Member
GCG goggles have foam. They have two densities of foam. GCG = graduated compression gasket. The layer that touches your skin is neoprene (foam).
Other goggles like the Vanquisher use a silicone gasket. It shouldn't absorb any irritating chemicals.
One other interesting thing I noticed some time ago - I used to put my Vanquishers in the case they came it - to keep them from getting scratched up so quickly. But they didn't dry so well in the case and I noticed after a month during the summer that they developed a small amount of mold inside the plastic lens.
I stopped putting them in the case and the problem stopped. I also put them in the dishwasher in the utensil rack (a portion of the rack has a lid) to clean them. Works VERY well to clean the grunge that develops on the goggle.
Reply
Former Member
GCG goggles have foam. They have two densities of foam. GCG = graduated compression gasket. The layer that touches your skin is neoprene (foam).
Other goggles like the Vanquisher use a silicone gasket. It shouldn't absorb any irritating chemicals.
One other interesting thing I noticed some time ago - I used to put my Vanquishers in the case they came it - to keep them from getting scratched up so quickly. But they didn't dry so well in the case and I noticed after a month during the summer that they developed a small amount of mold inside the plastic lens.
I stopped putting them in the case and the problem stopped. I also put them in the dishwasher in the utensil rack (a portion of the rack has a lid) to clean them. Works VERY well to clean the grunge that develops on the goggle.
