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Prolonged exposure to chlorine can cause start to
eat away at the corneal surface of the eye. This may cause itchy,
irritated eyes, or temporary blindness. Contact lens wearers fear
the loss of contact lenses, and often swim their eyes closed. If you
wear a goggle, you can open your eyes, and not worry about losing a
lens. Also, contact lenses may protect you from the above mentioned
problems, but they actually increase the risk of one getting an
infection from micro-organisms in the water that attach to the
lenses causing bacteria to form. Therefore, swimming goggles can
protect your eyes from these ailments. Also, when swimming outdoors,
swim goggles can protect your eyes from ultraviolet radiation, and
they can also have a tinted lens to shield you from the sun. If you
wear a prescription, swim goggles can be fit with your prescription
in them to help you see underwater. Here's what to look for:
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Ultraviolet Protection: If you are swimming
outdoors, make sure your goggle protects you from ultraviolet
radiation. (For more on UV, see
UV and its Effects on the Eyes).
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Proper Seal:
The most important thing is selecting a goggle is a proper seal.
For a goggle to properly work, it must create a good seal so
water cannot seep into the goggle. You want the goggle to fit on
the bone around the eyes, not inside the eye socket itself. An
improperly fit goggle will cause "raccoon eyes". This is because
the goggle rests on the socket, instead of the bone, and cuts
off circulation. Also, the goggle must seal completely. Put the
goggle on and make sure you can see no visible gaps between the
goggle and your face. If making a prescription in the lens, you
may want to take the goggle home first, and make sure it seals
properly before you go through the expense of a prescription
lens.
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Lens Colour:
If swimming outdoors, you may want to put a slight tint in the
lens to help block the amount of sunlight getting to your eyes.
A smoke lens is still light enough to see underwater, but can
block enough light so you don't have to squint.
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Prescription Lenses:
If you wear a prescription, you want to make sure that the
goggle you select can be fit with a prescription. Many goggle
companies do not offer this option. There are two type of
prescription options: Step Dioptre: is a
pre-fabricated goggle in spherical prescription lenses analogous
to half-eye reading glasses. You pick the goggle that is closest
to your prescription instead so that you can see, but won't see
perfectly. A Custom Goggle is like your regular
glasses where we make a prescription lens with your exact
prescription into the goggle. Generally, step dioptre goggles
work for most people. Those with powers over -8.00 or with
astigmatism over -1.00 (second number in your prescription or
the number written under cylinder) should consider custom made
goggles as vision will be compromised in a step dioptre goggle.
If you have different prescription powers in each eye, you need
to pick a goggle match kit as you can put different lenses in
each eye. Also, a good rule of thumb is to round down, rather
than up in choosing a step dioptre goggle. (i.e. your
prescription is -2.75, choose -2.50) If you have trouble
deciding what power lenses to choose, consult your doctor, or
ask us.
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