How to Use Swim Goggles With Contact Lens

If you're a serious swimmer, you need full vision underwater. Many swimmers wear contact lenses under their goggles, but do so against the advice of American Optometric Association, which instructs you to remove contact lenses before swimming or entering a hot tub to prevent contamination and infection. Additionally, the harsh chlorinated water in most swimming pools can damage the delicate construction of your lenses. If you must wear contacts while swimming, properly fitted water-tight goggles are critical in preventing eye or lens damage.

Instructions

• 1

  Insert the contacts into your eyes and add a few drops of saline solution to keep them moist while wearing your goggles. Dry off the edges of your goggles with a towel to prevent any slipping or contamination from entering under the seal.

• 2

  Pull the head strap over the back of your head and position the goggles over your eyes. The goggles should fit comfortably, but tightly, without any room for leaking.

• 3

  Make sure they are air-tight by dunking under the water with your eyes closed. If you feel water in goggle chamber, remove them immediately and open your eyes.

• 4

  Adjust the head strap or the nose bridge as necessary. Leaking water typically indicates improper fitting, you may need to play around with the nose bridge and straps a few times before finding the right combination.

• 5

  Wear the goggles and swim as you normally would. Remove the goggles and reposition them if you feel water entering the chamber at any point while swimming. Keep a towel next to the pool and dry the goggle edges before putting them back on your face. Wet goggles slip on wet faces easily, so it's worth drying your face as well, before repositioning.

• 6

  Remove the goggles when finished swimming. Remove your contact lenses in a safe, calm spot away from the pool and rinse them thoroughly with saline solution to remove any germs or chlorine. If you wear disposables, throw them away immediately after swimming.