Contact lenses and diving

[bnc1978]

Hi all,

I wear contact lenses (strength -1.5 both eyes). I am a recently qualified OW diver (ssi) and was wondering whether there were any issues with diving with contacts. Thus far i have simply not worn the lenses as i have reasonable vision for 10-20 m, however, i will be diving the Great Barrier Reef here in Aus in November and would like to take in as much as possible whilst i am there.

Is it advisable to wear contacts whilst diving? i understand that the shape of the eye changes with pressure changes and this may cause the lenses to either be uncomfortable or to "pop" off the eyes completely.

any suggestions / thoughts??

thanks
Cameron

 

[dpbishop]

I've been wearing contacts to dive for 30 years. No problems yet.

 

[scscubadiver1]

I wear hard contacts last 15 years no problems either. Knocking on wood as I type

 

[dkktsunami]

I wear gas permeable hard lenses (for 40 yrs.) and have had few problems. Once or twice salt has crystallized under the lens and scratched my cornea (at least I think this is what happened), but all in all, no problem. Also I have had numerous surgeries for detached retina, torn retina, pin holes, have a scleral buckle, etc. Think you are fine with contacts and water will give you 33 1/3% magnification which helps with my close up vision. I am almost 65 and still booking along ......

 

[Bubbletrubble]

200+ dives with soft contacts. My prescription (-6.0) is a lot worse than yours. No problems. Mask-clearing in saltwater cam cause some mild stinging but not anymore than without contacts.

Be sure to keep some sterile saline solution and a spare set of contacts in your save-a-dive kit.

Your other alternative is to get prescription lenses for a dive mask. It's not as expensive as you might think.

 

[Kim22]

I also dive with soft contacts (-4.0) with no problems at all. I use disposables - wear for a month then throw away - so I always keep an extra pair in my bag. Your prescription is not too bad, so maybe a prescription lens mask would work for you. I can't do that because as soon as I took it off on the boat I wouldn't be able to see a thing!!!

 

[shark_tamer]

I also dive with my contacts.

Only 2 things to consider :

1) Make sure you have another pair ... just in case !!!!

2) In salt water diving, I find that my contacts tend to be slightly
uncomfortable if salt water leaks into my mask ... Cleaning with
saline solution between dives solves the problem.

 

[beed2112]

Wife & I both wear soft contacts when we dive. No problems.

I started off with a prescription mask, was always paranoid that something would happen to my mask on a trip. I aways took along contacts just in case figuring I would just pick up another mask on the trip if necessary.

Never experienced any problems with the eyes at depth.

 

[NOVIZWHIZ]

30 years with hard lenses - no problem

 

[diver 85]

Hi all,

I wear contact lenses (strength -1.5 both eyes). I am a recently qualified OW diver (ssi) and was wondering whether there were any issues with diving with contacts. Thus far i have simply not worn the lenses as i have reasonable vision for 10-20 m, however, i will be diving the Great Barrier Reef here in Aus in November and would like to take in as much as possible whilst i am there.

Is it advisable to wear contacts whilst diving? i understand that the shape of the eye changes with pressure changes and this may cause the lenses to either be uncomfortable or to "pop" off the eyes completely.

any suggestions / thoughts??

thanks
Cameron

Talk to your eye doctor(in case you have some unusual k ie corneal problem) but it should be NO problem.....I have never told a patient to not wear them before....As far as the k readings(corneal curveture) changing UW, that should not be a problem.....Here is a linked article(you should be able to follow it) describing how most ametropes( people who have a prescription) correct their vision for diving---ie with soft ctl's---especially go with disposable ctl's like Acuvue DW lenses as the paper states............

http://drmarkbrown.com/pdf/corneal topography.pdf