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Original poster

Pool/beach with very poor sight

75 replies

Waffle12 · 16/08/2022 14:40

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

OP posts:
Peachypips78 · 16/08/2022 15:19

@BobMortimersPocketMeat my prescription is -10 and -9.5 so I feel your pain. I too cannot do anything without correction.

I have to have things in my bedroom in the same places as it's the only place I spend a few minutes without glasses or contacts which I wear most of the time. I always feel a bit panicky on the first day of a holiday until I have established where I put my 'stuff'!

I haven't solved the problem of swimming yet either, esp in swimming pools. I hate them! They are full of people inside and out to bump into, I lose my family, can't find where to go and slip and trip. If I wear my lenses I am constantly trying to avoid getting splashed. My husband takes the kids!

Beach is better as not so many people and harder to get lost.

Prescription goggles are a good shout...

gunnersgold · 16/08/2022 15:25

Prescription sunglasses ?

BobMortimersPocketMeat · 16/08/2022 15:26

@Peachypips78 It sounds like we need to form the Blind Bats Bathing Belles swimming club to support each other! I’m keeping this thread on my watch list (ho ho). Maybe those who’ve come up with good solutions can report back on how things go.

Wheredoestheblackfluffcomefrom · 16/08/2022 15:26

I wear contact lenses daily, very short sighted, I need glasses first thing before I put lenses in.

for pool and sea I just wear sunglasses and never put face in water. If a rare water slide or similar I would wear goggles and close my eyes. Always have spare lenses

Wheredoestheblackfluffcomefrom · 16/08/2022 15:27

Prescription goggles mean that you can’t take them off though? Plus they are ugly

user1583920194858592910103848559201 · 16/08/2022 15:28

Prescription goggles and prescription sunglasses.

gogohmm · 16/08/2022 15:29

Wear contacts and goggles, but prescription goggles or do what I do on the beach/outdoor pool - wear my old prescription sunglasses

Florin · 16/08/2022 15:35

Dh is -9 he wears daily contacts in both the pool and sea with no goggles and is absolutely fine, he couldn’t possibly go in the water without contacts as he would be disoriented and couldn’t see anything. Any problems I give instant help and dc have been taught from a tiny age that if dh says he has a problem/can’t see they stop what they are doing immediately to help/find help.

snowstorm2012 · 16/08/2022 15:35

I always wear my contact lenses in the pool/sea on holiday and only really go under water in the sea if I'm snorkelling.

I always take double the amount of lenses on holiday as after a day by the pool/beach, I take them out to shower and wash my hair then put a fresh pair in for the evening (I wear dailies).

Original poster
Waffle12 · 16/08/2022 15:37

Thank u all for your suggestions- and sharing your same experiences.

Looks like lenses and then good fitting goggles is the best answer for the pool. I need to get some adult swim lessons so it will undoubtedly result in me going under water for a substantial amount of time in the beginning. Maybe once I can swim confidently I can be a bit more choosy about just being in lenses as there will be less chance of going under the water. I really think my bad eyesight has had a big impact on my water confidence- although I know it shouldn't.

OP posts:
mycatisannoying · 16/08/2022 15:38

Contact lenses.

Peachypips78 · 16/08/2022 15:40

I think dailies is def a good option- I agree with a pp who said that goggles are a bit of a pain and uncomfortable. I have monthlies so maybe I'll order some dailies for swimming.

Blind belles sounds good @BobMortimersPocketMeat Grin

Mol1628 · 16/08/2022 15:47

Prescription goggles. I was told never swim or shower in contact lenses because a bacteria can get behind your lens and into your eye. Doesn’t matter if you later throw away the lens, it can still happen.

www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk/products/swimmi-2-swimmi2

im a -8 and these are the comfiest goggles I’ve had

MineIsBetterThanYours · 16/08/2022 15:50

One solution for the splashes at the beach is to wear contacts+plain sunglasses. I’d go for cheap ones that you won’t mind loosing if they fall in the water and go swimming with them etc… too.

Tbh I do that with my prescription glasses (I have similar eyesight issue to you) - unfortunately I can’t wear contacts anymore 😭😭

MineIsBetterThanYours · 16/08/2022 15:52

And yes regardless of the ‘you shouldn’t wear contacts at the pool’ etc… I’m also one of the many people who did.
I mean I even went diving with them. Much better than a prescription mask ime.

BringOnSummerHolidays · 16/08/2022 15:53

How bad is your eye sight? I am -8.5 in contacts and -10 in glasses and prescription goggles don’t agree with me. I wear daily disposable contact and normal goggles. My DD is less short sighted and I buy her goggles from www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk

Augend23 · 16/08/2022 15:55

I mean I don't think I have ever gone "omg that weirdo they're wearing goggles at/near a swimming pool" so I would just wear prescription goggles, that way there's no risk of losing lenses.

I usually take them in their case out to the poolside and switch out my glasses into that case there if I am that bothered about not wearing them round the pool etc - I wouldn't wear them to sit on the beach while I'm not in the sea, but I can certainly put up with them for the trek from towels to waves!

Carrotmum · 16/08/2022 15:57

Costco do prescription goggles down to -10 prescription. I always just wear my glasses though cause even those don’t work for me. I’ve had to sign disclaimers in water parks before now saying I wore my glasses at my own risk. In competitive short sightedness I think I might be winning -15 and -13 ( the prize no one wants to win).

Augend23 · 16/08/2022 15:57

PS you can buy inexpensive prescription goggles from e.g. AliExpress or even Amazon. I have had success with Utobest ones but even the ones I bought for £4 from AliExpress were fine - not sure if they allow two different prescriptions in each eye though.

NoodleSnow · 16/08/2022 16:01

We both use prescription goggles. There’s no way we could safely supervise the children without. If we go to a new pool, one of us will usually have a walk around with glasses on and check all the safety notices and work out where the doors are etc before we swim. My prescription is -5.0ish and I usually leave my glasses in my locker unless the route to the pool from changing is particularly tricky. My husband’s prescription is -10.0 and he’s more likely to keep his glasses in a case somewhere by the side of the pool so he can put them back on whenever he needs to.
I couldn’t swim in contacts - the consequences of permanent damage are too high for me to risk it.

Redburnett · 16/08/2022 16:02

I wear an old pair of spectacles usually in swimming pool, or contact lenses with a mask for snorkelling. Optician told me I could get goggles with prescription lenses which might be my next move. I like to take underwater photos when snorkelling, so use contact lenses of different prescriptions so I can see both camera controls and fish (oh the joys of sight changing as you get older).

londonmummy1966 · 16/08/2022 16:13

I'm minus 8 in each eye and I'm afraid that I swim in daily disposables and take a couple of spares with me to the pool just in case. When swimming with DC I just did the mummy breast stroke where I never put my head in the water - now they are way better than me.. I wear a tight fitting pair of plain goggles when I am swimming properly. I've managed to surf and coasteer in just contacts although I've always got the instructor to carry a couple of spare pairs on them just in case and shut my eyes whilst underwater.

It is a pain though as there are quite a few things I'd like to do but can't because they don't really work with contacts. A friend of mine recently had the lenses in her eyes replaced which has been life changing so I might investigate that - has anyone else looked into it or knows someone who has had the op?

abovedecknotbelow · 16/08/2022 16:14

Contacts and goggles. I swim nearly every day

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 16/08/2022 16:16

I have prescription sunglasses which I wear in the pool as I only do a leisurely breast stroke. If I want to swim underwater I take them off, I can see shapes to know there's someone near me. If I couldn't I would also buy prescription goggles.

Nads55 · 16/08/2022 16:17

I wear prescription sunglasses while at the beach or my lenses especially at the pool even though I know I shouldn't!!

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