Prescription Goggles ???

Do you have contacts?  I'm blind as a bat, but I just use contacts and don't worry about being blind during the swim.

Unfortunately I can't wear contacts.

I can't see real well and I just follow the splashing crowd. You just need to see the buoys. To some degree the less I see the better.

I recommend Rx goggles. They are relatively cheap and work fine. I can't wear contacts either. I wear the goggles into T1 and put on my Rx sunglasses. If you do a search for prescription goggles you will find many options. The Tyr Rx Goggles have been the best for me. If you don't have internet , you LSS will likely order them for you.

I respectfully disagree with this. So far I've been the head of the Clydesdale swimmers and on longer courses you may not have folks to follow. You can also use shore cues better if you can see them. It's worth the 20 bucks if you can't wear contacts.

Edited by Bluejack 2006-07-10 12:08 PM

Three choices that I have used...

1) Barracuda makes a really good pair but are expensive... I have a pair that is about 20 yrs. old and still can use them (btw, you can replace every part of the goggle). BTW, don't leave these in your car... the heat will deform the seal.

2) Keifer makes a very comfortable pair but their clips keep breaking (and almost at the worse possible times - like just before an IM).

3) Tyr makes a good pair, but they didn't fit my face well.

A final choice that I have found to be the absolute best choice is to get a pair of prescription pair of masks... they are by far the most comfortable and with the least amount of problems. They work extremely well for mass starts... they are almost impossible to get knocked off.

FWIW Joe Moya

Find a good swim shop (try your local University's atheletic shop) and look for the TYR perspecription goggles. They are cheap (less than $30) and come in different diopters from -2 to -6.5. I normally wear contacts under my non-Rx goggles but for those early morning workout sessions where you just doin't feel like putting them on the TYR the TYR goggles were great. They're comfortable, you can see very clearly with them and they're cheap. Did I mention they're cheap?

I ordered a set of perscription goggles from http://www.aquagoggles.com/and they work great. I can see in the water for the first time in 40 years! Price is about $30.00 with shipping which I thought was reasonable. You give them your percription for each eye and they assemble to order. They couldn't match my perscription exactly but it was very close.

I have a very high prescription (-10) and none of the standard rx goggles went that high so I had to have mine custom made. My local eyeglass store ordered some demo models in for me to try, i tried them on, and they ordered a pair in my prescription. As others have stated, pricey, yes, but since I had no other choice, well worth the money for me (plus I used my healthcare reimbursement on them).

Another aquagoggles user here.  Not too expensive, so I don't feel too bad if they get lost or need replacing.

Like auto208562, I use Speedo Optics too. It's not an exact prescription, but at $24 CDN, who cares?!? I can see, and that's all that matters to me. Would highly recommend 'em.

I have been using prescription goggles for 4 years. The first 3 pairs I got from an optometrist using my prescription. They were expensive and seemed to wear out fast. This year I switched to the speedo prescriptions that the swim shop carries. They aren't exactly my prescripption, but they are real close and they have been terrific. I think they are called Vanquishers and cost 24.99.

Swimoutlet.com has several (3, i think) different brands of Rx goggles. They are not exact, but if I recall correctly, to the nearest 1/2 diopter up to -5.0, then the nearest diopter up to -9 or -10. Much cheaper than what the local optometerist could order. Being able to see can make a huge difference in your comfort level in an OWS.

Maybe that is my problem. ok I retract my previous post about following the splashes. I guess being a BOP swimmer, I had not thought of the possibility that you might not have any splashes to follow.

I'm on my second pair of WaterGear prescription goggles.  Once I first tried them several years ago, I never went back to regular goggles.  They let me see the clock at the pool and actually recognize people on the deck!  Of course they're not magic, and don't show you anything under the surface in an open water swim -- that's what I really want....I think.

Lane 4 makes some - called the clarity.....I don't personally where glasses but I have some customers who really like them.

Also, aquasphere has some new ones that you can actually get two different lenses on each side.....last check they were not quite done with them - but that was about 6 weeks ago...I'll check again.

If you decide you are interested in either of these let me know and I will get you more info.