Contact Lenses while diving?

[Air_Miser]

Let me know if this has been discussed to death already, but I haven't seen anything on it.

I've been doing fine without lenses to date, and the mask I bought can be fitted with prescription lenses, but I'd be interested in hearing first-hand feedback on pros/cons of diving with contacts if anyone has any thoughts.

I can definitely survive without them, but it would be nice to have the benefit of perfect vision, so I'm open for encouragement or warnings as you see fit.

Thanks!
Matt.

[vodolaz]

Despite several no-mask drills running 20-30 minutes each, I haven't lost mine yet.

[cat]

except in the pool during maskless swims (chlorine/chloramine stings!).
I use disposable lenses (the 14-25 use ones) so that if I lose one it's not too much of a loss (can still read depth, time and navigate reasonably well without 'em - if my eyes were bad enough that I couldn't I wouldn't dive in contacts - have to be able to get up safely) - and I carry a spare set or two. Have yet to lose one but there's always that possibility.

[Padipro]

I dove with contacts for nearly 15 years and aside from one time I wasn't paying attention and was hit brodside by a wave with my mask off during a suff exit I never lost a lens. I always carried an extra set in my back pack just incase but I never needed them.

I finally had Lasik surgery about a year ago and if you can afford it that's definately the way to go. No more contacts and I can see perfectly under water.

Scott

[rollins]

No Probs...

I dive with contacts, its great, no problems. Has anybody tried the prescription lens inserts in masks though? I've thought about getting them. Is the vision quality good? It might be nice not to have to worry about keeping my eyes closed when mask clearing, etc. But then contacts are good for the sunglasses topside too.

[vodolaz]

rollins once bubbled...
No Probs...

I dive with contacts, its great, no problems. Has anybody tried the prescription lens inserts in masks though? I've thought about getting them. Is the vision quality good? It might be nice not to have to worry about keeping my eyes closed when mask clearing, etc. But then contacts are good for the sunglasses topside too. I had bonded lenses in my old mask, but decided not to in my new masks after a trial period with contacts. Vision quality of the bonded lenses was okay, but there were areas of the mask with no coverage so it could be a little distracting.

I don't worry about closing my eyes while mask clearing, or even on long no-mask exposures, but I haven't tried that in current or salt yet.

[AquariusChick]

I'm a new diver that has used contacts on all her dives (and plan to continue). I have one concern about contacts while diving though. While I am not worried about losing a contact (always have a spare), but I am (very minorly) worried about something getting under my contacts. I know that my mask would need to be full of water AND have silt in that water AND have it somehow have my eyes open in the water and have a bit enter my eye. With nice gloves on, I could never get the contact out if there was a problem. And yes, without contacts, a piece of silt would still be a problem, but tearing is then more effective to remove it.

I am pretty sure that the chances of this are very, very low, but just wondering if anyone has had such a problem?

[DA Aquamaster]

I have been diving for 18 yrs with contacts and have never had a problem other than one coming out while clearing a flooded mask. It actually humg up in the mask and could be retrieved at the surface.

The shape of a contact depends on the salinity of the water. Fresh water will make them shrink a bit and sea water will cause them to enlarge. Both can cause problems but in my experience the water never really has enough time to displace the moisture already in them if they fit properly and if the exposure to the water is kept to a minimum.

[Padipro]

I never had any trouble with something getting in my eye while wearing my mask and underwater. Even when removing the mask during my Instructor training in shallow water with lots of sand floating around.

Personally I had more trouble in fresh water then salt. Fresh water seemed to make my contacts stick to my eyelids causing them to move out of position. I could open my eyes in salt water and not have any trouble with the lens moving around.

I have heared some things in the past about infections being caused by dirty water and wearing contacts while diving but I never experienced any trouble while wearing my contacts. If you have some real concerns you should talk to your eye Doctor and see what they say about it.

Scott

[Irishdiver]

Hi Matt.

Here's a thread that provided me with some useful information on the same topic: Diving with contacts (http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22035)

Infections seem to be the main concern.

Cheers.

[Air_Miser]

Hey, thanks to all who replied, especially IrishDiver for the previous thread.

I've been diving without lenses so far, and I can see well enough, but after reading this, I'm looking forward to keeping the lenses in and not just seeing the fish, but seeing the SCALES on the fish.

Thanks!
Matt.