Contacts during a Tri

[kelownagirl]

As you may or may not know I had PRK laser eye surgery a few months ago and I am now wearing a contact lens in my right eye (and may possibly wear one in my left soon for biking). Anyway, I really feel I need them for biking, especially on fast downhills so I definitely want to wear them during my tri. My eye doctor says I shouldn't wear them when swimming, even with goggles. OBVIOUSLY, I don't want to mess around with contacts in transition and glasses are out of the question so I figure I'll just wear them swimming that one time (and maybe a test swim or two beforehand). My goggles fit really well and never get water in them so I think I'll be ok.

Anyone else wear contacts with swim goggles??

[lph]

I've worn contacts for years, swimming with and without goggles, so I can't really see what your dr means Water can flush them out, but what's more annoying is that if you get water on them they tend to "glue" themselves to your eyeball for a short while.

[Bron]

I wear contacts with swimming goggle when I do tris (I don't usually bother for training in the pool).

My two worries were losing one, so I always have my glasses in my transition bag, just in case, and the other worry was about dirty water so I use daily disposable lenses which can then be thrown away straight after the race - I'm probably being hyperparanoid there especially as most of the lakes here are drinking water quality.

I also notice the glued-to-the-eyeball problem - might be a good idea to have some saline eyedrops handy for after the race.

The only time I have lost one in the water was while sailing and considering the number of capsizes we used to have, losing one lens over the course of a summer was pretty good going.

[HillSlugger]

I always wear for contacts (gas permeable) when I swim. My goggles never have leaked so I've never had a problem. I am paranoid about getting them knocked off during a tri swim and losing my contacts but it hasn't happened so far (knock on wood).

[Urlea]

I wear my contacts when I train and when I race. So far I haven't even come close to losing them.

Like Lph mentioned, contacts tend to glue themselves onto your eyeball. If you've ever worn your contacts while taking a shower try moving them around afterward, they are stuck.

For me, I'd rather run the risk of losing them in the swim portion then not wear them at all. I'm pretty blind without them so I would be a hazard to others.

[Veronica]

I wear mine when I swim too. I use daily disposables and yeah, that glued to your eyeball thing can be pretty painful.

Another thing to add to my transition bag - extra contacts and a mirror, 'cause I can't find my eyes without one.

V.