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Original poster

Are there any contact lenses you can swim in?

57 replies

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/08/2022 10:59

I've been shortsighted since my early teens. I was hoping to get lens replacement or laser surgery, it has r recently had a consultation with a surgeon who told me that I wasn't suitable for either. I won't say I'm not disappointed.

I used to swim most days, in a pool and outdoors. I'd love to be able to see when I swim. I have prescription goggles, many pairs over the years, but they all leak, steam up, get scratched ..... and I find the field of vision quite restricted.

Some my question is, are there any contact lenses you can swim in? I know there were always concerns about trapped water causing infections or lenses washing out, but I was wondering if contact lens technology might have changed in the last 20 years or so since I last wore them.

Thanks

OP posts:
Skethylita · 06/08/2022 11:05

My optician said the only way to do this (unless you dive a lot - then you need goggles) are to use daily disposables and get rid as soon as you leave the swiming pool.

Beefstew · 06/08/2022 11:08

I don't swim but monthly disposable lenses maybe? I just pop them in and 30 days later take them out, give my eyes a break for a day or two using glasses and back to the lenses again. Hth

Fieldfly · 06/08/2022 11:11

Beef stew - I thought you weren’t meant to sleep in them, or shower etc.

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General health
Rickrollme · 06/08/2022 11:13

I always swam in mine. After 20 years or so I got laser surgery so I don’t have them anymore but it was never a problem.

MrsHamlet · 06/08/2022 11:13

I swim in my monthly extended wear lenses. I wouldn't be able to see where I was going otherwise.

Original poster
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/08/2022 11:14

Skethylita · 06/08/2022 11:05

My optician said the only way to do this (unless you dive a lot - then you need goggles) are to use daily disposables and get rid as soon as you leave the swiming pool.

Do you mean dive as in Scuba, or as in "off the side of the pool to get in the water"?

OP posts:
drwitch · 06/08/2022 11:14

I have daily disposables but I swim in mine, if you do the crawl you would be fine with ordinary goggles but for floating, granny swimming and general fun you can swim with them in. I have never lost a lens

madamecake · 06/08/2022 11:16

Daily disposables, as a PP said. I actually prefer them to monthly or two weekly lenses, more comfortable and more convenient.

Original poster
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/08/2022 11:16

MrsHamlet · 06/08/2022 11:13

I swim in my monthly extended wear lenses. I wouldn't be able to see where I was going otherwise.

Do you put your head under ? I do "head down" lengths.

OP posts:
Sheepreallylikerichteabiscuits · 06/08/2022 11:16

The safety concern about contact lenses and water is that there is a bacteria/virus/nasty thing I've forgotten what in water that can cause blindness. Contact lenses can hold that thing in contact with your eye. If you use daily disposables and throw them away as soon as you are out of the swimming pool it massively minimises the risk.

You say you weren't suitable for laser or lens replacement - did you ask about implantable contact lenses?

Original poster
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/08/2022 11:17

Rickrollme · 06/08/2022 11:13

I always swam in mine. After 20 years or so I got laser surgery so I don’t have them anymore but it was never a problem.

Unfortunately that's not a possibility for me, due to other issues with my eyes.

OP posts:
Sheepreallylikerichteabiscuits · 06/08/2022 11:18

Also if you are worried about losing your contact lenses swimming (I've never had that happen to be fair but I understand the concern) you could always have a spare pair of prescription swimming goggles on the side as an emergency back up

IamChipmunk · 06/08/2022 11:19

I wear gas permable contact lenses due to issues with my corneas and having very limited sight without them.
I swim in them, I tend not to go under water but just shut my eyes or wear tight goggles if I do (swimming with kids so occasionally happens!) I do only swim with my kids tho.
I also shower with them in as I would not be able to see to shave my legs etc without them. I have been told not to as there is an infection risk but I clean them daily and dont sleep in them so its a risk I'm willing to take. Ive never had any issues and been wearing them over 20 yrs now.

Skethylita · 06/08/2022 11:20

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/08/2022 11:14

Do you mean dive as in Scuba, or as in "off the side of the pool to get in the water"?

Show quote history

She just asked whether I spent a lot of time under water. I assume the more you dive, the less useful they are, but for casual swimming etc. dailies are fine.

I would never not replace my lenses after swimming, Eye-eating algae are not something I like risking 😱

RaspberryParfait · 06/08/2022 11:21

I’ve worn contact lenses for 35 years and have always swum regularly in them. Use daily disposables and wear normal goggles while actually going under water. No vision issues or infections.

3sacharm · 06/08/2022 11:21

I wouldn't risk it

I know someone who nearly went blind from swimming in contact lens just once - the treatment is literally to have your eyeballs scraped every couple of hours for weeks - the parasite was actually Eating her eyeballs and the pain excruciating

Not something I'd risk

You can actually get proscription goggles to swim in

I scuba dive and you can get proscription face masks

devildeepbluesea · 06/08/2022 11:22

I just wear my daily disposables and a good pair of goggles.

shedwithivy · 06/08/2022 11:23

There was a person on our local news who nearly went blind (maybe needed corneal transplant) from a parasite which can live in water - including tap water, which is why they say don't swim/shower in contacts... or bin them straight afterwards. I was shocked as I hadn't realised the seriousness of why opticians advise this.

Original poster
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/08/2022 11:26

Sheepreallylikerichteabiscuits · 06/08/2022 11:16

The safety concern about contact lenses and water is that there is a bacteria/virus/nasty thing I've forgotten what in water that can cause blindness. Contact lenses can hold that thing in contact with your eye. If you use daily disposables and throw them away as soon as you are out of the swimming pool it massively minimises the risk.

You say you weren't suitable for laser or lens replacement - did you ask about implantable contact lenses?

I didn't ask about implantable contacts, I don't think it's something my surgeon does - he didn't mention it when I had my consultation, which was very thorough.

The issue I have, is that I have had a vitreous attachment, which puts me at high risk of retinal detachment if my eyeball undergoes surgery. Small incisions laser surgery might be a possibility, but my eyes are also extremely dry and I need to improve this before my surgeon would consider it - I'm currently using drops to see if the dryness is systemic or temporary. Even then I'd still needs glasses to drive and read. I just don't think this would be enough for me for the cost.

OP posts:
Localher0 · 06/08/2022 11:29

Crikey - a lot of the replies here are scary!! I use daily disposables and good goggles and rarely have a problem. Sometimes a lens moves or folds but I can adjust that. I don't change them after swimming as they rarely get wet. I recently changed from acuvue to cooper vision myday and I find them more resilient and less likely to fold.

3sacharm · 06/08/2022 11:29

The issue with wearing dailies though is that you are still trapping water between the eye and the lens and allowing a parasite time to burrow into your eye - doesn't matter if it's for less than an hour

Original poster
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/08/2022 11:31

3sacharm · 06/08/2022 11:21

I wouldn't risk it

I know someone who nearly went blind from swimming in contact lens just once - the treatment is literally to have your eyeballs scraped every couple of hours for weeks - the parasite was actually Eating her eyeballs and the pain excruciating

Not something I'd risk

You can actually get proscription goggles to swim in

I scuba dive and you can get proscription face masks

I've probably had 10 pairs of prescription goggles over the last 20 years. Some cheap on line genetic ones, some hi spec Speedo ones glazed to order. No have ever fitted that well, all leak, all steam up, all restrict vision. I really don't like them!

OP posts:
Sheepreallylikerichteabiscuits · 06/08/2022 11:33

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/08/2022 11:26

I didn't ask about implantable contacts, I don't think it's something my surgeon does - he didn't mention it when I had my consultation, which was very thorough.

The issue I have, is that I have had a vitreous attachment, which puts me at high risk of retinal detachment if my eyeball undergoes surgery. Small incisions laser surgery might be a possibility, but my eyes are also extremely dry and I need to improve this before my surgeon would consider it - I'm currently using drops to see if the dryness is systemic or temporary. Even then I'd still needs glasses to drive and read. I just don't think this would be enough for me for the cost.

Show quote history

If its a retinal detachment risk then I think it would be the same for implantable contact lenses and to be honest (as a very short sighted person) I don't think I would risk a retinal detachment just to not wear glasses either to be fair

swanfake · 06/08/2022 11:34

Google acanthamoeba keratitis.

MrsHamlet · 06/08/2022 11:38

I wear decent goggles over the top - but obviously not in the shower!!