Surfing with contact lenses is possible?

[Avivzie]

Hey
I want to start surfing waves
And have a vision problem that I can not do without lenses .
Is it possible to surf with them ?
I heard a lot of it hits the eye , flying in the middle of the ski and falling into the sea , and things like that .
Somebody who uses them can tell me your opinion regarding what is really going on there ?
And if possible wear them what type of contact lenses is the use ?

Thank you very much appreciate

- If its not the right forum please move to to right one.-

[billie_morini]

Avivzie,
I surf and swim in salt water all the time wearing contact lenses. There are zero problems to report. I've never lost a lens. Maybe because I close my eyes upon water impact. My lenses are soft and provide UV protection.

I wore prescription sunglasses for many years before switching to contact lenses. I still use non-prescription sunglasses on sunny days because my eyes are very sensitive to light. The combination of contact lenses and non-prescription sunglasses provides better vision than prescription sunglasses. However, contact lenses without sunglasses is the best, yet.

In contrast, swimming and showering in fresh water dries my contact lenses out. Sometimes, these lenses dry to the point they stick to my eyes. This is a little freaky!

[waikikikichan]

I used soft contacts and lost maybe 4-5 a year. Always kept a spare in the car. Luckily both eyes were the same prescription. But the best thing for a watersports person is to get Lasik surgery. My surfing level took another step up after getting the procedure done. Wish I had done it sooner.

[Avivzie]

Avivzie,
I surf and swim in salt water all the time wearing contact lenses. There are zero problems to report. I've never lost a lens. Maybe because I close my eyes upon water impact. My lenses are soft and provide UV protection.

I wore prescription sunglasses for many years before switching to contact lenses. I still use non-prescription sunglasses on sunny days because my eyes are very sensitive to light. The combination of contact lenses and non-prescription sunglasses provides better vision than prescription sunglasses. However, contact lenses without sunglasses is the best, yet.

In contrast, swimming and showering in fresh water dries my contact lenses out. Sometimes, these lenses dry to the point they stick to my eyes. This is a little freaky!

Yeah i know how it feels when its stick to the eye xD

I am afraid of it because maybe in Israel it will be different to surf its an other ocean i guess. all the doctors say NO to contact lenses in the sea.. it could make me "blind"
so what is your suggestion? i can surf with daily contact lenses?
can you tell me the company name of your contact lenses? Ty

[Avivzie]

I used soft contacts and lost maybe 4-5 a year. Always kept a spare in the car. Luckily both eyes were the same prescription. But the best thing for a watersports person is to get Lasik surgery. My surfing level took another step up after getting the procedure done. Wish I had done it sooner.

you have lost 4-5 pairs in a year?
I won't really care if i lost because i guess i will take daily contact lenses.
i cant make the surgey because i am 16 y/o and i have to wait atleast 2 years to make it.

Can I have one message if you can surf with contact lenses or not?
TY

[icetime]

Depends how salty the water is, here the water is so salty when I open my eyes under water they burn and even I get temporary blindness for less than a minute which is spooky when you're in the impact zone then I have hazy vision afterwards, with contact lenses and the salt getting behind it, you'll scratch your eye a lot and the infections are very likely to happen.
Also I heard clear water means it's dead water meaning there aren't microscopic algae in the water and less bacteria so you're less likely to get an infection, my advice, get a pack of disposables, use different contacts every session, better safe than sorry.
Oh and clean your eyes with saline solution to kill off any bacteria you collect during your session.

[billie_morini]

TY,

The soft contact lenses I use are:
Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism with Hydroclear Plus
One of many websites for this product: http://www.opticontacts.com/contact_len ... aQodIqEIBg

I remove them when sleeping at night and replace them with new ones every 14 days.

My suggestion is to try surfing with your contact lenses. It’s not that big a deal. Bring bottles of fresh water and wetting solution in case you want to rinse your eyes out after trying it. Nothing is serious and you do not have to report this to your doctor.

Now for the science!
Mediterranean Sea salinity = 38 parts per thousand (ppt) average
Adriatic Sea salinity = 38 ppt average
Atlantic Ocean salinity = 33 to 37 ppt range
Pacific Ocean salinity = 34 to 37 ppt range

I have been in the sea with contact lenses in the Pacific Ocean in northern and southern California. The salinity is noticeably greater to the human in the north (where I used to live) and less in the south (where I live now). I have been in the sea with contact lenses in the Atlantic Ocean in the northern state of New Jersey and the southern state of Florida. The salinity is noticeably greater to the human in the north (where I lived 35 to 40 years ago) and less in the south (where I visit my Mother and sister every other year). I have been in the sea with contact lenses in more recent years in the Adriatic Sea near Croatia. It is noticeably more salty to the human than the Atlantic Ocean at New Jersey. After 3 days wearing the same hat and shirt in the Adriatic, this clothing becomes stiff from salt. I used to sail in the Mediterranean sea 10 to 12 years ago near the island of Sicily. This water seemed less salty to the human than the Adriatic. However, I think the Mediterranean sea near Israel will be as salty as the Adriatic because there is less ocean circulation (e.g., salinity crises effect is greater). I would surf wearing contacts in the Mediterranean sea near Israel. I may also flush my eyes with contact lens solution when I am done. If there are microbes or bacteria in the sea that may affect your eyes, then change the lenses when you finish surfing for the day. I’d probably put the old lenses into some cases with solution and use them the next day.

Look above at the post by icetime. Sounds like the sea is so salty where he surfs that it stings his eyes without contact lenses.
billie

[icetime]

It's really really salty, I once forgot my wet towel in my bag and salt crystals formed around the sowing lines, ps that was a few weeks ago, the bag isn't wet but it looks like it.

[saltydog]

I happen to used the same Acuvvue for astigmatism that billie mentioned. No lost lenses yet, but my wipeouts have been quite tame so far. I usually close my eyes underwater. Once I accidentally opened my eyes for a brief moment. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my lenses stayed on, plus the water didn't sting my eyes. I've windsurfed and dived in Japan and I remember it was too uncomfortable to open my eyes in the sea (higher level of salinity.)