Open eyes with contacts?

[tkscuba]

Okay, maybe a dumb question, but my wife and I are in Cozumel and we did our own little checkout dive like we always do on trips before we go out on the boat tomorrow. We do all the drills from training. After our dive my wife asked me why I didn't open my eyes during the mask removal. I never really thought about it but it makes sense. If I were in that situation at depth, if I didn't open my eyes, how would I recover my mask? I am a little nervous that I might lose a contact and not be able to see the mask anyway. I told her I would rely on my buddy to retrieve my mask. She did not see the humor in that. So, do I really need to worry about losing my contacts or not. She said she can't see very well when she opens her eyes under water and may need help finding her mask if it came to it. Any experiences out there that could help? Thanks!

 

[JohnN]

Okay, maybe a dumb question, but my wife and I are in Cozumel and we did our own little checkout dive like we always do on trips before we go out on the boat tomorrow. We do all the drills from training. After our dive my wife asked me why I didn't open my eyes during the mask removal. I never really thought about it but it makes sense. If I were in that situation at depth, if I didn't open my eyes, how would I recover my mask? I am a little nervous that I might lose a contact and not be able to see the mask anyway. I told her I would rely on my buddy to retrieve my mask. She did not see the humor in that. So, do I really need to worry about losing my contacts or not. She said she can't see very well when she opens her eyes under water and may need help finding her mask if it came to it. Any experiences out there that could help? Thanks!

Wouldn't a better solution be to carry a spare mask ?

 

[scububa]

In an emergency, recover your mask and if you have lost a contact and compromised your vision, then rely on your buddy to begin and help control a slow ascent.

I have had mixed results with my contacts staying in. I have had eyes wide open with no mask and not had a problem. I have also gotten water in my mask that washed a contact out. So, the only thing I have determined is the newer the pair of contacts, the more likely I am to lose the dang things. I know I always take extras on my trips and if I am training and doing drills, I have a pair in that are about at end of life anyway. (I wear the weekly disposables.)

Not sure if this helps, but that's my experience.

 

[Garth]

During my advanced nitrox deco procedures course I was stressed to the point that all air sources were taken away and once once one was provided to me I lost the ability to remember to purge before taking a breath.
This was done while I was without a mask and taskloaded on a line that provided my safe exit from the quarry I was in. I sucked in water and instinctively opened my eyes and looked around. There was no stopping it. I can't explain it really.

I thought I was going to die. I was unsure if my instructor knew of how stressed I was. In the end I was given my mask back and air sources given back. My contacts were fine. At the time I was using monthly lenses. Now I use disposable lenses and love them.

I would recommend them if you are diving a lot.


Garth

---------- Post added January 25th, 2014 at 07:05 PM ----------

Also. If you don't have to open your eyes don't. If you do you have to you should be fine.


Garth

 

[Bopper]

I am a little nervous that I might lose a contact and not be able to see the mask anyway. ... Any experiences out there that could help? Thanks!

Contacts won't help underwater anyway if you've lost your mask. Since humans have curved lenses on our eyes and because of the way light behaves under water, you will always have blurry vision - even someone with 20/20 vision. Ever open your eyes underwater in a pool? The way we correct this is by having at least one (read: mask) flat lens coupled w. a gap of air, which "corrects" the light rays. Losing a contact will only make a difference after you've found your mask and put it back on.

 

[TMHeimer]

Good advice all. Spare mask, maybe--costly if prescription, but of course this is a safety matter so forget about the price... Yes, it's always blurry without a mask, whether you need corrective lenses or not. Before my lazer surgery I actually saw perfectly underwater WITH a mask (not quite as good now, as one of my eyes not exactly 20-20, plus old age means more difficulty reading gauges--especially with less light at depth). Don't know what the difference would've been without a mask. Anyway, I wouldn't open your eyes during any practise drills, especially in OW, but even in a pool. I lost one of those little stick on lenses out of my mask in a POOL and couldn't find it--and they are much bigger than contacts. It' advisable to have a plan should your mask leave you, but an instructor isn't going to buy you new contacts.

 

[lowviz]

Get a pack of "Dailies", disposables. You really don't want all that sea life in your gel lenses. Use it once and toss. BTW, never lost one yet and that includes some pretty aggressive no-mask swims.

 

[DevonDiver]

I've dived with contact lenses for more than 2 decades; never lost one, never had a problem - and that includes teaching hundreds of courses with mask removal etc. I use daily disposables, to help prevent risk of infection.

Just close your eyes when exposed to water. No problems.

 

[sphyrnidus]

@TMHelmer: It wouldn't be prescription glasses in the spare, when the subject is wearing contacts.

 

[Foxfish]

Okay, maybe a dumb question, but my wife and I are in Cozumel and we did our own little checkout dive like we always do on trips before we go out on the boat tomorrow. We do all the drills from training. After our dive my wife asked me why I didn't open my eyes during the mask removal. I never really thought about it but it makes sense. If I were in that situation at depth, if I didn't open my eyes, how would I recover my mask? I am a little nervous that I might lose a contact and not be able to see the mask anyway. I told her I would rely on my buddy to retrieve my mask. She did not see the humor in that. So, do I really need to worry about losing my contacts or not. She said she can't see very well when she opens her eyes under water and may need help finding her mask if it came to it. Any experiences out there that could help? Thanks!

I wear contacts and don't open my eyes during mask removal drills. I've never had my mast come close to being dislodged while diving though I regularly have to purge water from the mask. I don't open my eyes because if I do I may lose a contact. My eyesight isn't too bad without contacts. I regularly swim without them so I'm reasonable confident if I lost a mask and contacts I could recover the mask underwater.