[Victoria Sponge]

Is it safe to wear contact lenses while swimming? I can't see a damn thing without them.

[creamsoda]

I would think its fairly safe, so long as you dont put your head and face in the water.

[starinyoureye]

It would be better to wear glasses.

[Victoria Sponge]

Originally Posted by starinyoureye

It would be better to wear glasses.

One can wear glasses in the swimming pool? Is that even allowed? I wouldn't know because I haven't been swimming since 1994. I don't have any specs at the moment though anyway.

[sarky spark]

I wear contacts and have always been told not to wear them swimming.

[starinyoureye]

I'd imagine so, some people cant see without them and not everyone has contacts. Probably best to ask at your swimming pool though.

[LightningIguana]

You need some prescription goggles

Probably expensive, though.

[Stella Street]

Wear the contacts and normal goggles as well to keep the water out of your eyes

[susie-4964]

Originally Posted by Stella Street

Wear the contacts and normal goggles as well to keep the water out of your eyes

I was going to say the same. I never take my contacts out to swim, but I have very good goggles that don't let in water, so no problem. You can't swim with contacts in and no goggles, you risk infection, especially in swimming pools! Also, the lens may dry out in contact with chlorinated or salty water. Get a really good, professional pair of goggles, not the cheap ones, and make sure they fit properly. Alternatively, as someone suggested, treat yourself to prescription goggles if you swim a lot.

[El Guapo]

Originally Posted by starinyoureye

It would be better to wear glasses.

Lol, and look like a right plonker! I have worn lenses for years and have never lost them in the pool or sea. I wear normal goggles for swimming etc but when just having fun like on holiday jumping in the pool or sea just close your eyes!

[Gogfumble]

I love swimming and was told by my optician that its not a good idea to wear contacts while swimming as if you get chlorine between the contact and your eye and it gets trapped there it might burn your eye.

He said if i really wanted to wear contacts while swimming to get some daily disposables, wear them for swimming then remove them as soon as you get out. And to leave my monthly ones out for an hour or so after to let your eyes get back to normal after being in contact with the chlorine.

[susie-4964]

Originally Posted by FeNerd

I love swimming and was told by my optician that its not a good idea to wear contacts while swimming as if you get chlorine between the contact and your eye and it gets trapped there it might burn your eye.

He said if i really wanted to wear contacts while swimming to get some daily disposables, wear them for swimming then remove them as soon as you get out. And to leave my monthly ones out for an hour or so after to let your eyes get back to normal after being in contact with the chlorine.

I still don't see why, if you're going for a planned swim, you need to put your lenses in contact with chlorine at all! Just wear goggles.

[Gogfumble]

Originally Posted by susie4964

I still don't see why, if you're going for a planned swim, you need to put your lenses in contact with chlorine at all! Just wear goggles.

Yeah you could do that too but I personally hate goggles. I feel like a tit wearing them but I love swimming under water. So I either go in without contact lenses/glasses or wear dailies.

I pay about 50p for a pair of dailies so don't mind using them for only a few hours and then binning them.

[hanndav]

I'm sure I saw prescription goggles in Vision Express. Looks like they are about £30 see here. I know what you mean as I am blind without mine.

[PIDGAS]

Originally Posted by FeNerd

Yeah you could do that too but I personally hate goggles. I feel like a tit wearing them but I love swimming under water. So I either go in without contact lenses/glasses or wear dailies.

I pay about 50p for a pair of dailies so don't mind using them for only a few hours and then binning them.

Won't they get washed out of your eyes?

[Gogfumble]

They haven't done yet although I guess it is a possibility.

[tangsman]

I wear a pair of test prescription hard contact lenses and use goggles while swimming.

Got the test lenses when my eye prescription changed.
They weren't just quite right for normal wear but good enough for the an hour in the pool.

Haven't had any problems in 2 years.

I wouldn't recommend using your "proper" contacts in the pool just in case of mishaps.

[phillfin]

I always swim in my contacts, if its just a casual swim i keep my head out of the water and if i end up going under accidently, i close my eyes.

If im into my serious lenghts with head in the water i wear goggles over my contacts. They were quite expensive goggles though not the cheapies.

[Starkicker]

I've worn goggles over soft contacts for years when swimming with no real issues.

Except on holiday one year when I dived into the pool at exactly the right angle for the googles to fly off followed rapidly by both contacts floating off into the pool. Two lessons learnt:

1 Don't dive in
2 Always have a spare pair of lenses with you if you're swimming, just in case.