Contacts + Swimming????!
Question: Contacts + Swimming????
I’m 16. My eyes are a -6 and -5. I cannot see anything, up close or far away, although faraway is upsettingly more fuzzy!
I have Astigmatism and Myopic eyes. I wear soft contacts, (not “toric”, but my Optometrist and I trailed some “toric” and normal ones, and normal ones suited me fine.) I also have NO PERIFIAL VISION so, I’m a bit like tunnel vision, or a racehorse with the little eye blocks on the sides of its eyes!
I also wear glasses when I am at home.
My current monthly contacts have nearly “expired” and I will be picking up my new monthlies form my optometrist soon.
Now, the situation...
My best friend, for her 16th party, is having a day at this “water park”. This “water park” is a sort of adventure-y sort of thing on a river. (New Zealand river) and the water is flowing and clean – obviously no chlorine.
I am SCARED of water. Not phobia, but very afraid. I think I will be confident enough in a life jacket to at least swim, maybe go down a slide slowly. I doubt I will go under water, but if I pluck up enough courage to, my eyes will be VERY SHUT!
Now, obviously with my sight, (ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE – not able to recognise my mother 2 metres in front of me!!) it makes me in the water even more afraid!
Am I able to wear my SOON TO EXPIRE, therefore soon to chuck out, contacts while in the water?
No chorine. IF I go under, my eyes will be shut!! Afterwards I will chuck them out. It does not matter if I lose them.
(This situation has never rose with me before, as I have only been wearing contacts for 3 months, and New Zealand has only just come out of a very cold 6 month autumn and winter. )
Please help, can I wear them? I want to feel as safe as I can in the water!!
Answers:
I wear contacts to swim all the time, although mainly in the sea. Like you I can't see without them and its a nice idea to be able to find teh beach again :). I have dailies I use so I can throw them otu but if my fortnightlies are about to expire I use them instead. I don't see any issue with you using your monthlies and then throwing them out. Yes it'll hurt if the water goes in your eye , but it does with or without contacts. Make sure you have glasses close by in case the worse comes to teh worse and you have to take one out and throw it away fast, but I've never had a problem. Just grit your teeth for a few moments and the tear washes the water out. ALso mainly your eyes close naturally and you dont' often get water in them.
40 years of contacts and swimming.
You can technically wear contact lenses at a water park, but you have to be really careful. Chlorine with a contact lens in your eye is painful. I suggest getting a pair of goggles that fit your face very well and bring your eyeglasses with you in case you need them.
Yes you can wear them as long as you take them out and dispose of them as soon as you are finished in the water, rinse the eyes well with lukewarm water then wear glasses the rest of the day.
You must not wear them again after you remove them.
If you aren't ready to throw them just yet, ask your optician for daily disposable lenses which are ideal for this occasion.
Prescription goggles are a good solution too if you are going to do this more regularly, but if you fell self conscious about it then stick with the lenses.
One more thing - ENJOY IT!!!!
I'm a dispensing optician.