How can I go swimming if I wear glasses?
In this day and age, many adults and even children wear glasses on a daily basis – whether it be for reading, driving or for general day-to-day activities. When it comes to swimming, bespectacled folk deliberate over the best approach to maintaining good vision in the water; the truth is, it really does come down to the individual!
Leave The Glasses Poolside
At least in a pool situation, having perfect vision is not essential – so long as you can see well enough to stay safe and have fun. If you’re not heavily reliant on your glasses, then it may well be the case that you can simply leave them poolside when in the water.
Keep Your Glasses On
Getting in the water with your glasses isn’t ideal, as unlike goggles they obviously won’t keep the water from your eyes. However, if you’re going in for a quick dip and don’t mind water in your eyes, it may work for you. It’s a good idea to purchase a flexible strap – much like the strap on a pair of goggles – that holds your glasses in place and stops them leaving your face and getting lost in the water. The important thing to remember is that while chlorinated pools are okay, salt water pools (and therefore the ocean) have the potential to corrode any metal components of eyewear and even damage the lenses. If you do get salt water on your glasses, always rinse thoroughly in fresh water first before cleaning with a soft cloth.
Prescription Goggles
The best option for swimmers who can’t live without their glasses is to get a pair of prescription goggles. Depending on your eyesight, you may be able to purchase a pair of ready-made goggles in the correct prescription to suit.
For those with certain prescriptions (usually more than -8.00 or if you have an astigmatism of -1.00) it may be necessary to purchase custom-made goggles through your optometrist. If you’re swimming a lot, it’s likely to be worth the investment!
Contact Lenses
If you’re a contact lens wearer, it can be tempting to wear them while swimming – however, the general advice is not to. This is because contaminates (such as bacteria) from the pool are more likely to lead to infections when contact lenses are involved; it’s simply not worth the risk to your eye health.
If you absolutely have to, the best way to go about it is to wear securely-fitted goggles over the top of your contact lenses to prevent water entering the eye. In addition, it’s a good idea to wear ‘daily’ disposable lenses that can be removed and discarded after leaving the water.
It Comes Down To The Individual
If you wear glasses there are many ways to ensure you can enjoy time in the water – whether you opt to go glasses-free, get your glasses wet, or don prescription goggles. It’s an individual decision, as everyone is different – however, the good news is there’s no reason why you can’t swim!
