Pool/beach with very poor sight

[Waffle12]

Hi
I am very short sighted and need contact lenses/glasses at all times. I have never been much of a water person, and this tailed off completely from my late teens when I started to need glasses all the time. But I want to start liking the water again, especially as I now have kids of my own who love it!!!

This may be a silly question, but what do people with very poor sight do in the pool/sea? I HATE wearing my glasses and only wear them when i have to- but apart from that its not very practical and if they get knocked off I would have trouble finding them again! But obviously contact lenses are a no no with the salt/chlorine.

Am I missing something obvious? What do professional swimmers do?

Thanks

I completely sympathise. The thing I struggle with is going to a new swimming pool and then after changing in to my costume and putting my glasses away I can't see where I'm supposed to go / read the notices etc.

Last week I had to ask directions a couple of times (once I've done it once I'm fine - it's just that first time).

I don't mind so much on the beach although if I'm there with someone else I can struggle to find them after coming out of the water - they have to wave.

I haven't got any answers I'm afraid, just replying in solidarity! (Although I think you can get prescription goggles - if you wanted to splash out - ho ho).

You can get prescription goggles.
Or maybe an elastic strap for your glasses so they stay on?

I wear my contact lenses and googles 🤷🏻‍♀️

Goggles over your contact lenses or prescription goggles

I know the advice is to NOT wear contacts when in the sea, or a swimming pool, or shower etc etc etc, but that is exactly what I always do. Wouldn't be able to swim or shower otherwise. It's like anything else really, the risk is small, and I am willing to take it, to be able to see when swimming!

I wear contacts pretty much 24/7, my glasses only for first thing in the morning.

www.onlineopticiansuk.com/accessories-c4/croakies-eyewear-retainers-floating-neoprene-sunglasses-glasses-strap-p1334

I wear prescription sunglasses in the sea or my contact lenses in a swimming pool.

www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk/swimming-goggles

I wear my glasses and keep my head out of the water.

Tried prescription goggles but can't get on with any goggles, they dig in and get steamy and fill with water.

Prescription goggles are available on eBay or online glasses stores for less than £20 if you have a straightforward single vision prescription. I buy cheap prescription sunglasses for the beach (but don’t swim at the beach) and if I’m going to an unfamiliar pool I tend to go with someone. Admittedly my prescription is only -2.5 though.

I wear prescription goggles - mine are £30 (Aquasphere Eagles). If I was hanging round a holiday pool rather than actual swimming I'd have prescription sunglasses made at Asda and use a cord on them

what about someting like www.amazon.co.uk/Eyeglass-Sunglasses-Adjustable-Non-Slip-Retainer/dp/B08DCTXMVS/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1XU95BJBXNSCS&keywords=glasses+lanyard&qid=1660657637&sprefix=glasses+la%2Caps%2C453&sr=8-9

these work with my sunglasses so assume they will work with normal glasses

I’ve worn glasses in the water for over 30 years including underwater and competitive swimming and have never lost them. I did try prescription goggles once and they worked fine.

Daily disposable contact lenses. Very thin because you only wear them once. Very easy to wear, even if you're not used to them. You can take them out once you've finished swimming if you need to and have a fresh pair or your glasses.

I wear them all the time, in the pool, snorkelling, kayaking, sailing, even water skiing (very occasional!) and have no problem with them. Of course you can't open your eyes underwater but I wear goggles for proper swimming

Oh and my eyes are -6 so I'm very short sighted

I bought some cheap prescription glasses from one of the cheap online opticians for about a fiver, don’t worry too much about them getting lost or damaged.

I can't wear contact lenses anymore so just wear glasses. Have been looking up prescription goggles. Wish I'd done laser when I was younger, could have gotten a decade out of it.

This is what i do too - I am -6.50!

I might look into daily disposables if you can really wear them in the water - my prescription is -9 and -9.5 so I can’t do anything at all without some form of correction. At the moment I’ve given up on the idea of swimming all together because of my vision.

I wear daily lenses when on holiday. Wear them for the pool/beach then take them out when I shower. I’ll pop some eye drops in and either a fresh pair or lenses or my glasses for the evening. I know it’s not the best but I really have no other option

-6.00 here too.I just wear my lenses and try not to get them washed out!!! I managed white water rafting a couple of weeks ago with them, capsized and they survived! I do keep glasses in my buoyancy aid tho, just in case!!!

I agree with @Tallisker can’t notice them when In the water. Wear goggles if needed. I’m also -6.50

Thank you for all the responses.

I did think about prescription goggles, but don't like the idea of having to walk around in them all the time as I wouldn't be able to see if I took them off lol. Iam -4.5 in one eye, and -7.5 in the other.

Prescription sunglasses are a great idea for the beach- not sure why I didn't think of that lol- thank u.

I am quite fearless when it comes to wearing my contact lenses- I know u aren't supposed to wear them in the sea/pool but I would do it. Its more the pain when I get salt water/chlorine in my eyes that's the problem. I am a non swimmer (but hoping to change that) but even just getting splashed in the eye when I take my 2 year old to swimming lessons floors me for a few minutes.

I wish I had had laser surgery too @focuspocus but I went for consults at 2 of the main companies, and both advised on different treatments so didn't have any confidence to go any further with it.

I'll have a look at all the links you guys have kindly provided 😊

I wear lenses, but I know you're not meant to! My optician said you can get prescription goggles for around £15 if you fancied that?

I tried with glasses the other day, it was a complete nightmare - very splashy and steamy, I only managed 2 laps.

I'm -10 and wear my daily disposables plus (high quality non leaking) goggles and swim every day. Don't let it stop you!