Image of an you swim with contacts and goggles

Can You Wear Contacts with Swim Goggles?

You know, swimming with bad eyesight is possible, but you need to invest in the right gear.

However, it is a different ball game altogether if you are going to wear contact lenses, because they can sustain damage from the water. They can also cause damage to your eyes.

So you cannot swim with contact lenses, but can you swim with contacts if you wear your swimming goggles?

We know that the swimming pool water contains chemicals such as chlorine. Thus, you want to know whether your contacts are safe if they come into contact with such chemicals.

So, can you wear swimming goggles over contact lenses? You need the best swim goggles for contact lens wearers so that you can swim. Swim goggles ensure that the water does not come into contact with your contacts.

Swimming with goggles and contact lenses is safe 

What if I forgot to take my contacts out before swimming?

In another article, I discussed the safety measures for swimming with tampons. In yet another one, we looked at a very interesting topic: whether water can go inside you when you are swimming.

Now, we consider the eyes! We are looking at how people with bad eyesight can swim safely with their contact lenses.

When swimming in the pool or in the open water, your head will be half-submerged in the water.

Keep reading to see more information about how you can swim with contact lenses safely.

Can you wear contacts in the pool?

Well, the first place to start is to find out all the instructions about using the contacts. For instance, the FDA says that contact lenses should not come into contact with water.

And that is why, here, we ask: Can you swim with contacts and goggles? Now, the main thing to ask is whether the goggles can prevent water from getting into your eyes.

However, this is just a recommendation from the FDA. Since they are your contact lenses, you can wear them when and where you like.

But …

While the chlorine in the swimming pool water might not be bad for the contacts, other bacteria might stick to the contacts and cause infections on your cornea.

There are all manner of sinister bacteria in public as well as private swimming pools. These will stay on your swimming contacts and cause infections in your eyes.

Thus, if you have been asking, Can I wear contacts in the pool? Well, it is just best not to. Perhaps with a pair of goggles that can keep the water completely out of your eyes, you can wear contact lenses you can swim in.

Swimming goggles can keep water from your eyes

Of course, when looking for the best swimming goggles, such as the OMID Swim Goggles that you can buy on Amazon.com, your main concern will be how good they are at keeping water from your eyes.

swim goggles to wear over contact lenses

CLICK TO SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

In this case, they are very good. And since our main concern here is to keep your contacts dry, you can wear goggles if you want to swim with contacts.

But every time you want to swim, you should test your swim goggles for leakages. If they let in water, it will certainly damage your contact lenses.

Are there waterproof contact lenses for swimming that you can use? Well, we don’t know for sure. What we know is that there are contact lenses for swimming.

This means that they have specifically been made for use in the swimming pool. Such lenses cannot sustain damage from the water.

Can you swim in the ocean with contacts?

Once again, the jury is still out on this one. As we told you about swimming with contacts in the pool, even when it comes to the ocean, you would need to swim without the contact lenses or wear waterproof goggles.

Image of best swim goggles for contact lens wearers

The most important thing is to keep water out of your lenses. In this case, only a good pair of leak-proof swimming goggles can help you.

But since swimming has so many benefits, you do not want to drop it altogether on account of wearing contact lenses.

In this case, you will need the best swimming goggles for contact lens wearers. You can check out Amazon.com, where you will find more than enough options to try out.

Why everyone should wear waterproof swim goggles

One thing that I am very consistent about on this blog is encouraging people to gear up properly when they are going swimming.

It is very important that you wear your waterproof antifog swimming goggles, to protect your eyes.

They will not only keep the water out of your eyes, but they are also going to keep clear vision.

When you are swimming in the ocean, you need clear vision since you have to pick a point and swim towards it.

Waterproof goggles keep the water from the face and from your skin. Whether you are swimming in a salt water or chlorinated pool, the chemicals in the water can harm your eyes.

These swimming goggles are designed with a band around the edge, which kind of locks them to the skin. That is why they are completely able to keep the water out of their eyes.

What if I forgot to take my contacts out before swimming?

After wearing the contact lenses for a long time, you become used to them, and it can be easy to forget you are wearing them.

If you get into your above-ground swimming pool, swim for some time, and then remember that you are still wearing your contact lenses. Don’t panic.

However, keep your head above water, and after swimming, remove the lenses and clean them. You should use the cleaning solution and let them dry before you can wear them. 

Purpose to get out of the water as soon as you remember that you did not remove the contact lenses.

Can I swim with my contacts in if I keep my eyes closed?

I would suggest that you seriously avoid doing this. First, it is risky, because if you are swimming in a public swimming pool, you could put other swimmers at risk.

Secondly, you can only keep your eyes closed for so long, and then the fatigue in the muscles will force you to open them.

Thirdly, you can hurt yourself even if you are learning how to swim on your own. It is easy to hit your head against something since you cannot see where you are going.

Fourthly, when you eventually do open your eyes to see where you are swimming, water will get inside the eyes.

You can try to keep your head above water, but even when you are floating on your back in the water, some water will definitely find its way to your eyes.

Hopefully, you can now see why I have said that, unless you forget to remove the contact lenses, do not enter the swimming pool with them.

Check more of my articles on:

Swimming in the ocean with a yeast infection

Swimming every day for a month results

I peel in pools meaning

Poor chap never learned how to swim

Conclusion

Can you swim with contacts and goggles? We have seen that you can, but this also means you have to get the best swim goggles for contact lens wearers.

If you are a contact lens wearer, you can swim in the ocean in private as well as public swimming pools.

Just make sure you have leakproof swim goggles to keep the contact lenses free from pool chemicals and bacteria.

Scroll to top