Swimmers who normally wear eyeglasses or contact lenses will love the crisp and detailed underwater vision that they receive from prescription swim goggles. Due to the unique characteristics of underwater surroundings, specialized water sports eyewear require a different prescription than regular eyeglasses.
Water acts as a magnifier, making fish, plants and other objects appear larger than they really are. Light also travels and bends differently through water. In order to achieve sharp vision underwater, your eye care professional will need to alter your normal vision correction prescription.
With eyewear for use in water, the placement of the corrective lenses may be closer or farther from your eyes than the placement of your daily eyeglass lenses. Therefore, the specific type of swim goggles or diving mask that you wear may also cause a need for more adjustments to your prescription.
Swim Goggles
Goggles are smaller and fit closer to your eyes. To prevent water from getting into your eyes, the lenses are sealed with a silicone or rubber strip. The sleek and minimized design is intentional, as goggles are able to protect your eyes without interfering with your speed and mobility.
Swim goggles are widely available with ready-made prescription lenses that offer the same power for both eyes. These pre-made versions generally provide adequate vision for swimming in a pool. If you desire a more clear view, customized prescription swimming goggles can be ordered easily.