Diving With Contact Lenses

[still new]

I am thinking of getting contacts, can I dive with them? I only need them to read and will need them to check settings on my camera underwater. I have lenses ordered for my mask but contacts would be much more convienient.

 

[walke121]

I always dive with contacts and haven't had any issues. Remember to take them out and clean them when you are finished diving. I did get an eye infection by not doing this (or that's what we think was the cause).

 

[Scott]

My wife has been diving with contacts for a long time with no ill effects. Just be careful if you (un)intentionally flood the mask that they may wash out.

 

[ROMO DIVER]

I have worn contacts while diving for over twenty years now. This includes fun dives as well as instructing and have never had any problems. I suggest practicing skills with them in because you will learn to do things a little different, such as keeping your mask well tilted forward when letting a little water in to rinse fog. This keeps it from running down your face and over your eyes. Also, always carry extra saline and glasses in your save a dive kit. As for the actual diving, there is nothing you need to do underwater that you can not close your eyes for when your mask has water in it.

 

[Kevrumbo]

I wear hard contacts (extreme astigmatism, Keratoconus OU), and utilize a mask with a nose purge. In case one pops out at depth --which happens frequently:nailbiter:, I can still retain it in the mask for recovery upon surfacing and still clear my mask at depth thru the nose purge valve without losing the lens.

 

[SailNaked]

+1 I always dive with contacts, fresh and salt water no problem. you do have to remember to close your eyes when your mask floods but other than one getting washed out on occaision no big deal.

 

[Pearldiver07]

I wear hard contacts (extreme astigmatism, Keratoconus OU), and utilize a mask with a nose purge. In case one pops out at depth --which happens frequently:nailbiter:, I can still retain it in the mask for recovery upon surfacing and still clear my mask at depth thru the nose purge valve without losing the lens.

Kevrumbo,

I too have Keratoconus and always feared the dreaded popping out of RGP lenses.

Take a look at SynergEyes hybrid lenses. They make lenses for our population and have an RGP center to correct for the extreme astigmatism and diplopia (double vision in each eye), and the soft skirt makes them ultra comfortable and they don't pop out!!

And, my insurance covers them (less the co-pay, of course).

Otherwise, they are rather expensive. Really (around $800 for a year's Rx).

 

[CLEAR BLUE]

I always dive with contacts also. Never had any problems at all.

 

[idocsteve]

No you can't dive with a pair of reading Rx contact lenses for your situation, as they will blur your distance vision.

2 possibilities:

1) Monovision contact lens in one eye for reading, the other (usually the dominent eye) remains uncorrected for distance.

2) Bifocal contact lenses, however these require some getting used to and in most cases are not for occasional use which is what you intend to use them for.

 

[irishsquid]

No you can't dive with a pair of reading Rx contact lenses for your situation, as they will blur your distance vision...

I use glasses just for reading. I got a prescription for the soft daily throw-aways just for diving. I haven't had any problems with them. I can read my computer easily, don't have to carry my glasses with me for SI, and where I dive, the best vis is about 40-60 ft. I don't have any issues at depth or on the surface for "usable" distance. Extreme distances aren't as acute as when I don't wear contacts, but; I've never been blessed with that kind of vis. I'm not sure what reading contacts are and with you being an Optometrist, I'm not disputing your knowledge, however; to say No you can't dive with a pair of reading Rx contact lenses, IMHO isn't quite correct. I do it every dive.