Is freediving with contact lenses dangerous? Is there a difference whether it is with a mask or flood goggles?
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freediving and contact lenses
- Thread starteraris ioannidis
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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Hi Aris,
I wore contact lenses whilst freediving for about 5 years and never had any problems at all. I've used a Sphera mask down do 80m and had no noticeable effects. I've worn them with fluid goggles too and, although there are no physiological problems with wearing them, they tend to fall out as the liquid in the lenses washes them off your eye - so I gave that up pretty quickly.
There is no air in between a contact lense and the eye so there will not be any issue with compression.
I had laser surgery (ASLA) in 2011 and it has made a huge positive impact on my life. I was getting a lot of eye infections as my eyes were sensitive to wearing contacts for long periods of the day and when I was using fluid goggles (eg. 3 weeks in Kalamata in 2010) I was getting massive infections to the point that I could nearly not see in daylight. Since the surgery i've never had an infection and can comfortably open my eyes underwater. An interesting observation however - before surgery, with no contacts in but using my fluid goggles I could read my D3 ok underwater (as long as it wasn't too dark). After surgery, my close vision is a bit blurry using fluid goggles so I can't read my D3 anymore. Meh, small price to pay
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Ben
I wore contact lenses whilst freediving for about 5 years and never had any problems at all. I've used a Sphera mask down do 80m and had no noticeable effects. I've worn them with fluid goggles too and, although there are no physiological problems with wearing them, they tend to fall out as the liquid in the lenses washes them off your eye - so I gave that up pretty quickly.
There is no air in between a contact lense and the eye so there will not be any issue with compression.
I had laser surgery (ASLA) in 2011 and it has made a huge positive impact on my life. I was getting a lot of eye infections as my eyes were sensitive to wearing contacts for long periods of the day and when I was using fluid goggles (eg. 3 weeks in Kalamata in 2010) I was getting massive infections to the point that I could nearly not see in daylight. Since the surgery i've never had an infection and can comfortably open my eyes underwater. An interesting observation however - before surgery, with no contacts in but using my fluid goggles I could read my D3 ok underwater (as long as it wasn't too dark). After surgery, my close vision is a bit blurry using fluid goggles so I can't read my D3 anymore. Meh, small price to pay
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Ben
Contacts are fine.
I've never had a problem freediving or SCUBA diving. When I did my PADI open water exams I just kept my eyes closed when I flooded my mask.
Easy-peasy.
The biggest risk for me is if I accidentally wash both my contacts out of my eyes diving then I can't really drive my car home. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
I've never had a problem freediving or SCUBA diving. When I did my PADI open water exams I just kept my eyes closed when I flooded my mask.
Easy-peasy.
The biggest risk for me is if I accidentally wash both my contacts out of my eyes diving then I can't really drive my car home. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
Hi Aris, u know I have serious problems with my eyes (keratoconus) so I am forced to wear special and very expensive contact lenses in order to correct my vision. My doctor is a specialist and have discussed this matter with him some time ago. Diving with contact lenses is not a problem as long as you have your eyes closed all the time and the water have no contact with the contact lenses. Sea water contains many bacteria which can be easily absorbed by the contact lenses (the lenses have the ability to absorb bad things...). As long as you dive close to cities you might get an eye infection from the lenses so better have your eyes closed all the time. If you dive in open crystal clear water the risk of infection is reduced.
Also have in mind that the cornea vanishes underwater. For instance, me having a serious cornea
malfunction and one having no eye problem will both have almost same vision underwater. So, if you wear your contact lenses with fluid goggles you will see almost the same if you wear your fluid goggles without the contact lenses. Best thing you can do is that:
- Go to the sea with glasses.
- Remove your glasses and train - open your eyes without risking loosing contact lenses and eye infections.
- End your trainning, wear your glasses.
Hope that helps.
Dimitris
Also have in mind that the cornea vanishes underwater. For instance, me having a serious cornea
malfunction and one having no eye problem will both have almost same vision underwater. So, if you wear your contact lenses with fluid goggles you will see almost the same if you wear your fluid goggles without the contact lenses. Best thing you can do is that:
- Go to the sea with glasses.
- Remove your glasses and train - open your eyes without risking loosing contact lenses and eye infections.
- End your trainning, wear your glasses.
Hope that helps.
Dimitris
thanks for the replies guys. I wear soft contact lenses as I am shortsighted (4-5 points). I like wearing them because I enjoy the out of the water scenery more and because I feel uncomfortable not being able to see my buddies with clear vision.
I do not think there is an issue when you wear a mask. As Ben said, there is no air between the lenses and the eye so with an equalized mask there should be no issue. I am also not that concerned about infections as i had not had any problems in the past; I normally do not wear my lenses for long hours.
When I dive with fluid goggles I do not worry about losing them as I have not lost any in the past; also, there are not that expensive (I am using 1 month lenses).
But I wonder whether there is a chance that the lenses may damage the eyes when diving with fluid goggles. The body parts should squeeze inwards from the pressure when going down...is not there a chance for damage if the lenses are "sucked in" by the eye?
I never dive without goggles at all as chances are that i will lose them that way.
Interesting about the surgery Ben and the observation with the fluid goggles. I think i can read my watch with and without lenses with my fluid goggles.
I do not think there is an issue when you wear a mask. As Ben said, there is no air between the lenses and the eye so with an equalized mask there should be no issue. I am also not that concerned about infections as i had not had any problems in the past; I normally do not wear my lenses for long hours.
When I dive with fluid goggles I do not worry about losing them as I have not lost any in the past; also, there are not that expensive (I am using 1 month lenses).
But I wonder whether there is a chance that the lenses may damage the eyes when diving with fluid goggles. The body parts should squeeze inwards from the pressure when going down...is not there a chance for damage if the lenses are "sucked in" by the eye?
I never dive without goggles at all as chances are that i will lose them that way.
Interesting about the surgery Ben and the observation with the fluid goggles. I think i can read my watch with and without lenses with my fluid goggles.
The area between the contact lenses and the eyes is filled with human tear, there is no air inside except at the time you wear them at home and for few seconds only until the tear fills all the air spaces (small air bubbles).
As long as the fluid goggles are absolutely filled with water there is no case to squeeze. There are two technical layers in front of the eye. First the contact lense and second the fluid goggle. If these layers have no air bubbles inside then it is ok as it is like wearing nothing (no dead spaces).
Correct me if I am wrong.
As long as the fluid goggles are absolutely filled with water there is no case to squeeze. There are two technical layers in front of the eye. First the contact lense and second the fluid goggle. If these layers have no air bubbles inside then it is ok as it is like wearing nothing (no dead spaces).
Correct me if I am wrong.
Hi Aris
Take a look at Ortho-K lenses. I have been using these for about 2 years now. I always had problems where even soft lenses I couldn't waer for more than 5 hours as they really irritated my eyes.
You wear Ortho-K lenses during the night. In this time they reshape the surface of your eye so when you take them out in the morning you can see.
Becoming more and more popular and have recently been proven to reduce Myopia in Children.
Take a look at Ortho-K lenses. I have been using these for about 2 years now. I always had problems where even soft lenses I couldn't waer for more than 5 hours as they really irritated my eyes.
You wear Ortho-K lenses during the night. In this time they reshape the surface of your eye so when you take them out in the morning you can see.
Becoming more and more popular and have recently been proven to reduce Myopia in Children.
Hey Ari - i don't think either you should have any issues apart from losing the contact lenses (fluid goggles) or infections (again fluid goggles). If the contact lenses come into contact with sea water I wouldn't really continue wearing them without proper disinfecting.
In any case, instead of monthlies why don't you get a supply of daily contact lenses? (at least for freediving). I think they're more hygenic as you can just throw them away every day, no big deal if you lose them and no need to fuss with cleansing them.
@Ben - I did wear contacts until I was 18 and then had laser correction surgery. This was 17 years ago and it was probably the first or second operation of the doctor that did it (nuts I know). It was still a life changer and touch wood I haven't had any issues yet... I don't know what the procedures are like these days but I won't be surprised if the issue you are having goes away with time as your eye lids rub against your eyes and make the cornea smoother...
In any case, instead of monthlies why don't you get a supply of daily contact lenses? (at least for freediving). I think they're more hygenic as you can just throw them away every day, no big deal if you lose them and no need to fuss with cleansing them.
@Ben - I did wear contacts until I was 18 and then had laser correction surgery. This was 17 years ago and it was probably the first or second operation of the doctor that did it (nuts I know). It was still a life changer and touch wood I haven't had any issues yet... I don't know what the procedures are like these days but I won't be surprised if the issue you are having goes away with time as your eye lids rub against your eyes and make the cornea smoother...
thanks Gary and Simo, i guess daily lenses are better for the case u lose one but so far i have not lost any. Also I never had any infection issues. My concern was more related to the possibility of more serious damage from the depth pressure but i take it from all the responses that this is unlikely.