Surfing with bad vision?

[Rick_M]

I've been thinking of surfing for a while, but I normally wear
contacts, and I'm not all to eager to wear googles...is it possible
to do it with blurry vision or is that dangerous. What are my options?

[SDCali]

I have worn contacts while surfing, I wear disposable, so it's not a huge deal if the come out, which is very rare. I think it is actually more difficult for me to surf without my contacts as I can't see very far away. The contacts rarely fall out, I swim with them and have opened my eyes underwater and not had them fall out, you just have only open just a little bit or not at all under water, water splashing into your eyes will not make them fall out.

[drowningbitbybit]

My vision ain't perfect - well, actually its a bit flesh - but I surf without contacts/glasses. The only time its a bit tricky is on grey days on grey water when I sometimes cant see incoming sets properly. Its never enough of a problem to make me want to change it though

If you're blind as a bat though, that'd be a different story - so it'll depend on how bad your eyes are

Also, when you start surfing you dont actually need to see that far - you'll be in the white water, and you can definitely see that coming

[GowerCharger]

its not just seeing the waves coming, my bro is short-sighted, i took him surfing once and he surfed over my mates head.

[borneng]

The only time its a bit tricky is on grey days on grey water when I sometimes cant see incoming sets properly.

I have the same issue. Both of my eyes are -2.25 and haven't been using anything so far (I tried goggle and it's just not to do). Apart from the grey days, I pretty much can't see people's faces clearly. Which results in me not responding to people's smile or greeting gesture unless the person gets close.

I'm going to give disposable contacts a try though. It's probably nicer to surf with good vision.

[Ellie]

Surfing with contact lenses has been fine for me - usually wear two-weekly disposables, but try to remember to put in dailies when I'm at the beach!

I'm -8 both eyes, so don't have much choice, unless of course I return to those nice goggles I had with lenses in!!

Seriously though, it should be fine for you - after all when you totally stack it you're probably not going to have your eyes open to see your baord smacking you on the head under water!!

[iomarti]

i was thinking of posting something similar to this thread myself...

I have always worn daily contact lenses and they surprise me every day by staying in my eyes.. about 9 out of 10 times.

I would love to change because dailys are so expensive but i think they are the only option if you surf a lot.

[Driftingalong]

I wear the 2-week contacts...no problems here...I just tend to keep my eyes closed underwater. I don't think I would do as well with out them.

[drowningbitbybit]

One of the reasons Ive resisted contacts in the water is that I do keep my eyes open underwater

Helps me know which way is up when Ive had a trip in the spin cycle

Although on smaller days I could get away with it... maybe I should think about it if it starts to bother me.

[borneng]

I'm -8 both eyes, so don't have much choice, unless of course I return to those nice goggles I had with lenses in!! ....

Now that's what I call commitment.

I would love to change because dailys are so expensive ....

I agree, daily ones are not as cheap. But have you compared lenses on the internet with your local opticians? Some of them are only at 60% of the retail prices.

My husband keeps offering me to get those laser eye surgery. But I'm skeptical about it. The study said that it's a million to one to develop cancer and go blind as result of the surgery. I know it's relatively small chance. But just like the lottery, "It could be you" and I really don't want to take chances on gambling with my vision. I don't think there's anyway a blind person can surf. touch wood.....

[iomarti]

contacts on the internet.... i have never thought of that before. Thank you so much for the idea, i'm gonna look now.

I've always been to Specsavers, myself

[surf patrol]

We've had a few good contact lens topics already - have a search for more info

[twizzly]

i have pretty lousy vision and even mild strabismus (weak eye muscles like wandering eye)...basically this sucks... but i bought a pair of http://silverfish.com/ sunglasses for about $200-300 with prism astigmatism correcting lenses and they work great. seem to stay on VERY VERY well and my eyes don't get irritated like they do when i wear contacts...

...either way, within 2-3 months i'm getting lasik -- sick of all this nonsense

[borneng]

... within 2-3 months i'm getting lasik -- sick of all this nonsense

Lasik.....is that laser surgery? My apology for the silly question.

[bluesnowcone]

the aslong as u can see the general directiong the blobs ( people) are in u should be ok, hopefully

[SDCali]

... within 2-3 months i'm getting lasik -- sick of all this nonsense

Lasik.....is that laser surgery? My apology for the silly question.

Yep, that's what it's commonly called in the US. I may do that as well, once my vision levels out, it keeps changing every time I have my eyes checked though.

[borneng]

Yep, that's what it's commonly called in the US.

Thanks for that information

I've always been to Specsavers, myself

So am I

[Ed McDead]

My girlfirend has always used contact lenses, for years and never lost any, not surfing anyway - usually loses one in a crowded pub or something and sends me on my hands and knees looking for it.

She doesn't have disposables but keeps older sets just for surfing.

[Kiwistarista]

hehe isnt that funny we're not alone

Just want to leave my comment, coz I sure had problems tryin to surf with contacts in... Tried it 10 times, lost them 10 times... So it's not allways a way.

So I just surf without any help and it works almost fine for me... the problem as boreng mentioned is, that i can't respond to smiles, which might be a bit rude sometimes, espacially here i bali, where the locals probalby think Im a fleshin' up arrogant tourist, which sometimes makes me feel bad... but once u get to know them on the beach its all good
And of course u might wink to the wrong girls on the beach

[borneng]

...Tried it 10 times, lost them 10 times... So it's not allways a way.

I'm pretty sure that's what would happen as soon as I give the contacts a try.

... the problem as boreng mentioned is, that i can't respond to smiles, which might be a bit rude sometimes, espacially here i bali, where the locals probalby think Im a fleshin' up arrogant tourist, which sometimes makes me feel bad...

Maybe you can just continue smiling at all time; I thought about doing that. But then again I don't know which is worse, being taken as arrogant tourist or a crazy person.

Taken for an arrogant tourist could get you beaten up where as crazy person could get you some space as people will stay away from you. Of course there's the disadvantage of people pointing and laughing at you.