Contact lens wearers on holiday

[Hettythechicken]

What do you do to cope with swimming/beach/pool etc? I know that getting lenses wet is a big no no (even though I did it for years before realising) but I don’t fancy wearing glasses when playing with kids in pool etc. I suppose I have no option? What do you do?

I’ve always worn my dailies swimming (not that I do loads) and never had a problem. Had a corneal ulcer once but was in November so definitely not from swimming.

I wear monthlies and just use the previous month’s lot at the beach. I’m from a seaside town in Spain so grew up on the beach June - September. Now it’s just a few days each summer which is why I reuse the monthly lenses. Otherwise I’d just open one new set and have that for the beach only.

All recommended and approved by my optician over there (who is a contacts specialist) and that’s how everybody does it - no infections so far, nor do I know of anybody who has had one from wearing contacts in the sea. They might sting a little but you’re only there for a couple of hours at a time, or I take hyaluronic acid and put a few drops in when they start becoming uncomfortable.

I wear contacts swimming/showering and so on. If serious swimming, I put goggles or a mask on. Close my eyes if splashy or jumping in. The risk is really low. Been wearing contacts for 35+ years now.

Can’t get prescription goggles or masks at my power. And not risking losing my glasses while swimming as the lenses alone are £400!

Up to -12 or +12 you can get dailies that allow for a bit of astigmatism.
Beyond that power, you can custom order contacts but these are usually £££ and monthlies.

I wear contacts in the pool.... I wash my face with them, I just close my eyes when any water comes near, just as I would if I came into contact with it outside of a pool.

But I do have a pair of spare glasses, with tape on, that are old and I use them in the pool sometimes too.

One can also get prescription swimming goggles.

I do the same as this

I wear dailies or my prescription sunglasses

I am -9.5 and have daily contact lenses.

I always just wear my contacts. Yes there’s a risk but I’m -9.50 in both eyes with astigmatism and just can’t see as well with my glasses and I need to see when swimming etc. Prescription goggles are uncomfortable as I have sjorgens syndrome (lupus related eye issues). I have done this for 30 years now with no issues whatsoever.

I go scuba diving with my dailies and swimming- but obviously the lenses aren't 'wet' as I shut my eyes when needed/use goggles. I just use a few pairs a day; change to a fresh pair after a swim etc.

I wear dailies and I go in the water on holiday.
If I am actually swimming I wear goggles. But just floating about and playing I just wear my lenses.

I yes to switch them out and wear a new pair of I have been in the water a while and I use lubricating drops once I've been in the water to stop them drying out afterwards

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Thanks all who mentioned getting dailies in a strong prescription, I'm definitely going to look into it.

I agree I've only noticed this advice from my optician in recent times. I read a horror story in the daily mail about lenses and showering or something ages ago but it was never standard advice in my experience.

So from what I'm reading the risk is the bacteria from the water attaching itself to the contact lens which may not come off with normal cleaning so when the lens goes back in there is a risk?

If that makes sense..

I have always had dailies so don’t feel any risk is that high

After a day at the pool/beach etc I take the lenses out, shower and put a new pair in. I take enough pairs to cover for 2 “sessions” a day, although sometimes I will wear glasses for the 2nd session

I have dailies for -9.5 with astigmatism. Initially got them from Specsavers but now order them online from feel good contacts. Cheaper and you get a little bag of haribo with each delivery! 😁

I wear glasses rather than contacts but agree that swimming etc can be a ball ache! We went to a water park where glasses couldn't be worn on the flumes and it was really annoying! Made me wish for contacts!

Does anyone know if you can get dialies for strong prescriptions? With astigmatism to boot (😩)

I'm blind as a bat. -14.5 in both eyes with astigmatism. I have monthlies usually which give me near perfect vision (not perfect but driving standard) but ad hoc dailies.

The dailies I get for swimming and holidays are on a 'best as possible' basis. They're fine, but my vision is not driving standard. I insisted on dailies though and the optician sternly warned me I wasn't to drive in them. But they're fine for mooching around in.

I do feel grumpy sometimes that I got such poor eyes. It's fine now but I'm only 35 and I worry about my sight deteriorating with age. Hopefully they'll invent some fantastic new laser treatment in the next 30 years to fix really bad prescriptions.

I used to use those ones but after getting an ulcer in my "good" eye the optician refused to prescribe them anymore so now I get dailies but I'm not supposed to wear them every day only for special occasions.

I have prescription sunglasses but after going on holiday in April & constantly having to change specs every time I went inside/outside (can't see without them) I won't be faffing about next time & will just wear my dailies with standard sunglasses.

I wear sunglasses in the pool. I agree that it had never been mentioned to me that you weren't supposed to wear them in water until fairly recently

I’m at -20.5 myself with a little bit of astigmatism. But laser will ever be an option for us because the way laser works is it carves your corneas into lenses. The human cornea has some variation, but can never be thick enough for eyes as bad as ours.

What they do have now are the implants. Originally these were for cataract surgery so your natural clouded lenses were replaced with artificial zero power lenses. But now in cataract patients they have been implanting actual powered lenses to correct vision as well as cure cataracts. They’ve been really successful with this and I read about a high myope patient that was -30 who was corrected to -1.5! They are still perfecting the power lense you need implanted to correct eyesight, but all agree it is better to undercorrect a litter than overcorrect.

Unfortunately, if you have no cataracts, it’s still viewed as cosmetic surgery, and so the NHS doesn’t cover it. My eyes are steadily getting worse and so my optician has advised I start saving for implants now.

I just use dailies. Originally I only used them for swimming/holidays. Eventually I switched completely.

If I feel like I have contaminated my eye in some way, I take out the lens, rinse my eye really generously with eye drops and put in a fresh one. I keep spares in my bag. It’s only happened a few times in 20-some years.

I put well-fitting goggles on every time I go near the pool or a mask for snorkelling and diving.

Please don’t take the dangers lightly. I work in an emergency eye clinic and have see very many nasty corneal ulcers due to contact lens misuse, and sometimes no misuse at all (or not declared!)

Take dailies, then take them out asap after swimming and wear glasses for a bit or change lenses.
The issue with swimming in them is bacteria getting behind them which gets stuck. If theyre removed after, its fine

I wear prescription sunglasses during the day including when swimming.

I had an eye infection whilst on holiday several years ago. I got a few drops of sea water in my eye whilst wearing my lenses. The pain was unimaginable and I could have gone blind.

People, please don't wear contact lenses on a beach/swimming!