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Original poster

Contacts in the pool?

70 replies

Florencenotflo · 25/04/2023 06:39

I got some contact lenses last year, just disposables for when I go out really. When I went for the fitting appointment they said obviously don't wear them for swimming.

We go to Centre Parcs next week, do you think I'd be ok wearing them in there, I don't swim as such, I'm usually supervising my 3 year old. But my eye sight isn't great, I've managed before without them but dd is now here there and everywhere and I'd feel much better being able to see properly. I hate wearing my glasses in there they steam up and if I do get splashed they are impossible to dry off.

I don't submerge my face at all, the worst is probably a splash to the face. I usually come out with dry hair and I'd take them out as soon as we get out.

OP posts:

ISeeTrees · 25/04/2023 06:41

I really wouldn't risk it.
If you dunk your glasses in the water then give them a shake, they don't steam up!

Menopants · 25/04/2023 06:43

Prescription goggles?

Isthereanygoldenwonder · 25/04/2023 06:43

I wear my lenses in the pool. I don't really swim as I've got my 1 year old but even if I do it's that old lady breaststroke! I'm very careful not to get my face wet.

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Heroicallyfound · 25/04/2023 06:43

Get yourself a pair of goggles, then you’re not going to be worried about random kids splashing you in the face!

RunningWaterElectricity · 25/04/2023 06:45

Prescription goggles are so cheap.

Theraffarian · 25/04/2023 06:45

The advice is not to because you can get a fairly horrific eye infection if you are unlucky . However I’ve been wearing contacts for almost 35 years and have appalling vision, so always leave them in for swimming . I’m a swim with my head out of the water type and do try not to get splashed in the face .

MyFaceIsAnAONB · 25/04/2023 06:46

Yeah I’ve done contacts in this situation before. I can’t imagine wearing goggles for just walking around the paddly play areas 😄

Original poster

Florencenotflo · 25/04/2023 06:47

I'll have a look at the goggles, I thought they would be £££. And I don't even swim so I might look a bit odd just sat in the really shallow kids pool with them on 😂 but I'll look.

I don't fancy an eye infection to be honest. But I may take them, see how I get on with my glasses the first day and go from there.

OP posts:

Theraffarian · 25/04/2023 06:48

With the best will in the world people who suggest prescription goggles probably can see the edge of the pool still if they take them off , they wouldn’t work for me personally unless I wore them all the way back to wherever my contact lenses were.

Hazelnuttella · 25/04/2023 06:50

I always wear contact lenses in the pool.

The only time I’ve ever had an eye infection in 16 years of lens wearing was when my DS brought conjunctivitis back from nursery.

whatthehelldowecare · 25/04/2023 06:52

I've wore contacts got years, including on holiday at water parks etc for going down water slides. Fully aware it's not advised but I've never had any issues. I usually change them as soon as I've finished, but often lax with that too

megletthesecond · 25/04/2023 06:54

I wear goggles in the pool. And the sea if I'm boarding.
Contacts out as soon as I get changed.

milkysmum · 25/04/2023 06:54

I've worn contacts on holiday in the pool/ at waterparks without any problem.

YesNoMaybeAlways · 25/04/2023 06:56

I’ve worn contacts for 35 years.
I wear them to swim in however I have daily disposables and I change them after swimming and throw away the ones that have been in the swimming pool water.

ralaa · 25/04/2023 06:56

I wear my contact lenses in the pool.
I can't swim so I just bob my chid up and down in the water.

As soon as we are finished, I throw my contacts.

Beseen22 · 25/04/2023 06:59

I would have taken these risks years ago but not now. Thankfully it's pretty rare but if you were to get bacterial infection the consequences are devastating and I'd never forgive myself if I lost my sight over something avoidable.

An alternative is to wear dailies then swim with goggles on to reduce risk then dispose of contacts immediately and wash eyes out. I understand your pain though, I'm saving up for laser eye.

cocunut · 25/04/2023 07:00

Speaking from personal experience here. My DDad has always worn contacts and used to take us swimming tons as kids. Ended up with an incredibly nasty eye infection from the kids pool one time from leaving them in. From then on he ALWAYS took them out. His were disposable though so he could put fresh ones in after x

LT2 · 25/04/2023 07:01

Obviously yes it comes with risk but I've always used my disposable contact lenses when swimming as I just couldn't enjoy seeing blurriness! In fact, last time I went swimming was at Center Parcs🙂 I haven't had any issues, yet.

simbobs · 25/04/2023 07:01

I've been wearing disposable contact lenses for over 25 years and have always worn them every day on holiday, though less frequently at other times of the year. I have never been told not to wear them while swimming though I do know now about the risk. I still do it, though but keep my head out of the water. I would go ahead and wear them but remove or change straight after the activity.

Diplidocus4 · 25/04/2023 07:02

Wear monthlies usually but have dailies for swimming, always bin them straight after getting out .

Bobbybobbins · 25/04/2023 07:04

I think daily disposables would be fine as you can take them out and chuck them straight after. Decathlon sell prescription goggles up to -6 and they are good.

Wrongsideofpennines · 25/04/2023 07:05

I used to work as a lifeguard and contacts were much better for safety of peripheral vision. In staff training, or pool based shifts I wore daily disposables and binned them immediately after, rinsed my eyes and wore glasses for at least a few hours after.

Go in with glasses and then try disposables you bin after if you can't manage with glasses. But prescription goggles are so cheap. Like cheaper than glasses depending on your prescription!

hungryh1ppo · 25/04/2023 07:08

Florencenotflo · 25/04/2023 06:47

I'll have a look at the goggles, I thought they would be £££. And I don't even swim so I might look a bit odd just sat in the really shallow kids pool with them on 😂 but I'll look.

I don't fancy an eye infection to be honest. But I may take them, see how I get on with my glasses the first day and go from there.

I got my daughter prescription goggles from specsavers for £30 and they have changed her life! She loves swimming now she can see.

megletthesecond · 25/04/2023 07:08

Yes, disposables are safer. I can bin them as soon as I'm out. And I don't put anything else in for the rest of the day so my eyes rest.

OldGrannyish · 25/04/2023 07:11

another who wears lenses and goggles. Brought the DC up to not splash me in the face, each other, DH ok but not me. Change as soon as possible when out.

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