"Apnea" special contact lenses

[nikho_mo]

Yesterday evening I read in "Homo delphinus" that Jacques Mayol used some special contact lenses. That way he did not use the mask and did not have to compensate the mask.

Why are such lenses not used by athletes for world record?
Are fluid goggles a better solution?

...Nicolas

PS: I also found a website of a shop in Rome which sells these lenses.
http://www.otticarocchi.com/inglese/lentiapnea_uk.htm

 

[Panos Lianos]

Last time I checked, these contact lenses were very expensive.

 

[Skywalker]

Was not Pelizzari using a pair of those for one of his NoLimit Recordattempts?

Robert

 

[nikho_mo]

Skywalker

I think you are right.
Pelizzari used such lenses for his NoLimit record attempt.

 

[Jorg]

A few reasons why these lenses are not used:

- They're very expensive! However I've seen prices now for around 500 euro, which for serious worldrecord freedivers should be an option

- Not very comfortable; the lenses are a lot bigger then normal lenses and instead of only covering the iris and pupil the go also a very big part on the white of the eye. Furthermore, they're pretty thick.

- When you're not carefull they wash away very easily, and that's a big expense.

- They dry out very fast which makes wearing them even more uncomfortable

- You can't see anything when you're not with your head in the water.

I remember Andy LeSauce wearing only one contact lens during a record attempt. So when he dived he closed one eye, and when he was above water he closed the eye with the lens. But walking around like that made him look like a cyborg!

So a much better solution is just to put on a liquidgoggle, which you can put on very easily, which stays very comfortable (because the water inside the goggle get more warm) and you can take it off very easy, I believe that with the latest version you can see well above and below water. Ask Eric Fattah if you want to know more.

 

[SanderP]

Hey, what about normal contact lenses? Are they safe to dive with to any depth? With a mask on, ofcourse.

Also, what makes fluid filled goggles special and different from usual swimming goggles?

 

[Jorg]

A Freediver I know always dives with his contacts in. Not that he's diving deep, think 25 meters. And I also know some scubadivers who dive with their contacts in, so it shouldn't be a problem. And even better, they can still see after diving!

Filled fluid goggles are special because normally you need a mask filled with air which you equilize the way down. The special goggles are filled with water (clean water, like contact lens fluid), and they have a special lens attached on the goggle which breaks the water so that you can see normally. I tried them only once, during the worldcup in nice in 2000. I think those were the very first fluidgoggles by eric fattah, and he has improved them a lot. You can find several threads about this product in the forum if you use the search function.

 

[jome]

I dive a lot with disposable contact lenses. You should have no problems as long as you dont flood your mask. But if you get any sea, lake or pool water in your contacts, you will want to take them of pretty soon. contaminated lenses are not fun...

 

[pyro]

Why not dive without a mask, or googles, or anything? I just have my noseclip...sure my eyes get a bit sore after a couple of hours but still.

 

[Jorg]

Because I can't see the tag... And my eyes hurt like hell when they are exposed to carribean salt water.