Contact lenses and Diving?

[atlas750]

Need opinions on diving with contacts in. Good or bad idea?

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I've done it for 17 yrs with no problems. Salt water will make soft contacts expand more than normal while fresh water will make them contract. This can affect fit and cause them to dislodge, but for the most part they stay put, you just need to be careful about losing your mask.

 

[Lamar Jr]

I dive wearing disposable contacts. They work great, never lost one or had any problems at all. I do keep a spare pair in my save-a-dive kit just in case. During mask removal and replacement drills, I keep my eyes closed to avoid any chance of loosing one them.

 

[Padipro]

I also dove with contacts for many years and never had any troubles. I even started out with the old hard contacts before I switched to the soft disposable kind. The only time I ever had one come out was during a surf exit when I took my mask off a bit to soon and was hit broad side with a wave when I wasn't expecting it. (My bad) It washed the lens out of my eye but thankfully I was able to find it stuck to my cheek and replace it when I got back to shore. When I went through my Instructors course I even did all my mask removal and replacement drills in the ocean with the contacts in and my eyes open. I never seemed to have a problem in salt water but the fresh water really screwed with them.

I've sense had LASIK surgery and I'll tell you it's the best money I've ever spent. No more worries about the contacts, flooded masks or having to carry a spare set in the save a dive kit and I can see 20/20.

Scott

 

[PnL]

My wife and I both wear contacts with no problems

 

[crazed_dolphin]

I wear hard gas permeables and went through both OW and AOW with the contacts in. I've had no problems so far with the diving.

 

[pasley]

I use the disposable type. They are not too expensive and I don't have to worry about disinfecting them or any funny stuf in the water growing on them.

Put them on and dive, throw away at the end of the day. If one gets lost (not happened i two years and 78 dives), no big deal, I have more in my dive bag.

I have read first hand acounts of some nasty eye infections from not getting the reusable contacts properly disinfected following a dive. For the most part, I don't think you have to worry, but better safe than sorry.

 

[mattengstrom]

I never have lost one, but it's no big deal if they're disposables. I take my glasses with in the car if I'm local diving, and take a spare pair or two of contacts with when going on vacation.

 

[Windwalker]

I too use Contacts, Never, ever had a problem.. Suspect in the future my problems are not going to be as bad as not having them.. So I will continue to dive with my Soft lenses. ThankYouVeryMuch! (elvis Style)

 

[5615mike]

Wife and I both wear them with no problems. Between the two of us we have only lost one.......no big deal.