You’re probably wondering if you can dive while wearing glasses or contacts. The answer is yes, but there are some things to keep in mind. If you wear contacts and have a history of eye infections like pink eye or conjunctivitis, then it’s not recommended that you scuba dive with them on because those kinds of infections can lead to scarring and permanent vision loss in some instances.
Absolutely! For divers who wear glasses or contacts in everyday life, it’s important to choose a mask that allows you to see clearly despite your corrective lenses. That may mean choosing a mask with a larger frame.
If you wear glasses or contacts in everyday life, the first thing to do is choose a mask that allows you to see clearly despite your corrective lenses. That may mean choosing a mask with a larger frame.
Once you’ve found one that fits well, ask for help from the shop assistant in finding the best lens option for your style of diving and how much time you spend underwater each day. If possible, try on several different masks before deciding which one is right for you.
Glasses have a tendency to fog up while wearing any type of hood.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, it is important to choose a mask that allows you to see clearly despite your corrective lenses. Prescription masks are available for divers who need corrective lenses in order to see clearly underwater.
If you wear contacts and dive with a hood on, be prepared for your eyes and/or the lens of your mask to get fogged up from moisture trapped inside the hood. This can be a real nuisance while diving because not only will it cause difficulty seeing through the mask but also may affect hearing as well if the water around you is noisy enough.
If you wear contacts or glasses while diving and the mask doesn’t fit tightly against your face, it can cause water to seep into the contact lens or frame. This could result in an infection which would be extremely painful and possibly lead to permanent eye damage!
It’s also important to keep in mind that scuba masks are designed to hug your face and create a watertight seal around your eyes. Because of this tight seal, scuba masks don’t allow for the frictional heat that can cause water on your mask or goggles to steam up. As such, they actually help prevent fogging better than eyeglasses do! So if there’s any doubt about whether or not you’ll have trouble with fogging when going underwater–forget about it! You won’t!
Never dive with contacts if you have prolonged exposure to bacteria or viruses
Contacts are much more susceptible to infection than normal eye tissue is. You should never dive with contacts if you have prolonged exposure to bacteria or viruses, or extended exposure to contaminated or corrosive materials.
- Contacts are much more susceptible to infection than normal eye tissue is. You should never dive with contacts if you have prolonged exposure to bacteria or viruses, or extended exposure to contaminated or corrosive materials.
- In many cases, contact lenses will not be a good idea for diving as they introduce another layer of potential irritation. If you wear contacts every day and have your prescription, it is okay to wear them while scuba diving as long as you remove them before entering the water.
- Contact lenses are not recommended for children due to their increased risk of injury and infection when compared with adults who may be able to handle the discomfort associated with wearing contacts underwater better than kids can.
Prescription masks for corrective lenses
Prescription masks are also available for divers who need corrective lenses in order to see clearly underwater. Some shops will even let you test a few different masks before deciding which one is right for you.
If your prescription is strong enough and your mask allows enough peripheral vision, there’s no reason not to wear contacts while diving (though we do recommend checking with your optometrist before doing so). If you have prolonged exposure to bacteria or viruses, however, it might be best not to wear contacts; instead opt for glasses or goggles that provide full coverage of the eyes and face.
Conclusion: can you wear contacts or glasses while scuba diving?
If you want to dive with glasses or contacts, there are plenty of options available. Just make sure that your mask fits well and provides good peripheral vision.