Title pretty much says it all.
I never was much for opening my eyes underwater while swimming, so I’ve never done it, but lately I’m intrigued. Problem is, I wear contacts. My gut feeling is that opening my eyes in the water is gonna make my contacts float away.
However… I have a vague memory of talking to someone a while ago who said she always opened her eyes underwater and she has contacts.
So which is it? I don’t want to try it and then be blind until I get home and get another pair.
I only wore contacts briefly years ago but I don’t think it’s a good idea to wear them in the pool. Chlorine, etc. Then again, I was one of those diligent people who followed all the rules–taking them out regularly, etc.
I try very hard to avoid getting my face underwater when wearing contacts. I’ve had them pop out of my eye just walking around, I’m not going to risk losing them underwater.* The one time I mentioned it to my eye doctor, she freaked and gave me a whole lecture on the dangers of going underwater with contacts. According to her, you risk getting crap stuck between your eye and your contact because it can’t just rinse out like with a regular eye. I dunno.
*I have RGP lenses so losing one means I’m sans contact until I can make an eye appointment, get my vision checked again and pay 100 bucks for a new lens. I take fewer risks eyecarewise than people with a box of soft lenses in their medicine cabinet.
Assuming that the pH level is appropriately set in your pool, the water should not interfere with your contacts. However, there is an increased chance that they contacts will wash out of your eyes. I have worn contacts for 30 years, and I do swim with them in. I have also opened my under water without goggles and it has not affected them…but I have also opened my underwater and they have come out. So I as a practice do not open my eyes underwater while wearing contact lenses, unless I am also wearing goggles.
I don’t open my eyes underwater with the contacts in. I’m worried they’ll wash out. I just wear swim goggles instead.
I don’t wear my contacts that often, though I am starting to more. I do however a lot open my eyes underwater, at least in the pool, with no real problems. I did lose one in the pool, the day I got married. But other then that I’ve had no problems even while playing water polo.
I’ve never tried it. I’m so pleased that they let me avoid glasses and make me immune to crying when I cut onions that I haven’t tried to push my luck.
You can open your eyes underwater while wearing contacts, but there’s no guarantee you’ll keep both contacts. The water pressure holds them on the eye while underwater, but the change in pressure at the surface can allow them to get washed out.
I wouldn’t do this without goggles in the ocean or lake, however, due to bacteria. I’d imagine a well maintained pool would be less of a problem.
That said, I prefer to wear goggles.
I have lost a couple of pair after forgetting they were there.:smack:
I can promise you you will lose at least one, if not both. Get a mask!
I’ve opened my eyes under water with contacts. I used to do it all the time prior to getting them, and I just forgot. My contacts stayed in, but the water stung my eyes. Apparently the contacts made my eyes sensitive. I’ve only done it once or twice, but they stayed in.
I’ve since gotten my eyes lasered and can open them under water again. I’ve noticed something weird. Back when I was near sighted, I could see under water pretty well without corrective lenses. Now that I have corrected vision, every thing is blurry without goggles or a mask.
I wear RGPs and wouldn’t dream of it. Too expensive to risk losing. I take them out for anything that involves more splashing around than a wading pool.
I will wear them with a mask for snorkeling, though.
OK, everyone has pretty much said what I figured - they might stay in, but no guarantee. I’ll keep my eyes closed from now on.
And, for the record, the swimming I’m doing is in Lake Superior. Hell if I’d open my eyes underwater in a chlorinated pool even without contacts. Blech, chlorine in eyes.
As I stated before. It’s not the chlorine that irritates your eyes in the pool…it’s when the pH is not at the right level, that causes your eyes to sting. If the pool maintenance people would get the pH level set correctly (around 7.2, which is the same pH level in most people’s eyes) then it doesn’t sting.