How do Prescription Swim Goggles and Dive Masks Work?

Are you one of the millions of people around the world who enjoy swimming and other water activities in general?

Well, if you’re also one of the many people in the world who need eye correction, then your condition may take some of the enjoyment out of those water activities. After all, it’s hard to have fun when you can’t really see very well.

In fact, you might even get scared, especially when diving or swimming, because you might suddenly step into deep parts or dive deeper than you should - and the panic that may occur will definitely ruin the mood for what’s supposed to be something for leisure!

But you don’t have to worry. Nowadays, you can enjoy water activities and still see clearly thanks to prescription swim goggles and dive masks. They can sharpen your vision and also keep your eyes safe while you swim or explore under the water.

How do these work, exactly? Keep on reading - we’ll take a closer look!

Do you really need to buy swim goggles and prescription dive masks?

You might be thinking that these things aren’t really necessary. After all, you barely swim, and you can see just fine underwater. Do you really need to consult an optometrist in NZ and buy these?

Well, something to consider is that light has a different behavior in water as compared to when in the air. It has a tendency to distory what you see, especially when you’re swimming or diving. Object will appear to be bigger and closer than they really are, which you may find confusing.

Furthermore, your vision will be out focus if your eyes come into direct contact with water. This happens for people who have 20/20 vision on land - what more if you have actual eye problems? 

And what if you wear contacts? You will risk losing them as soon as you jump into the water if you don’t have the necessary protection. 

Wearing prescription dive masks or prescription swim goggles for adults (or for kids) means you don’t have to go into the water with unclear vision and you don’t have to deal with the risk of losing your precious contacts.

How do prescription goggles and dive masks work?

Generally, both of these work by making a pocket of air in front of you that will let light rays travel through your eyes in a more precise and focused way.

Do take note that whichever you get, you will need a new prescription for your goggles or dive mask, way different from your usual corrective lenses. Why? 

The reason is that the distance between the lens of your goggles or dive mask and your eyes is very different from the distance between your glasses and your eyes. It’s best to visit your local optometrist to get a prescription - don’t just guess!

Curious to know more? No worries! Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Prescription dive masks

Prescription dive masks are designed for either scuba diving or snorkeling, which also means they are designed to be watertight. The general design of a mask is of a large and rectangular shape. Most of these masks are composed of soft silicone, which is a hypoallergenic material and is very sturdy.

The masks are constructed in two possible ways:

The entire lens part is made of prescription lens
Prescription lenses are inserted between the mask face shield and the eyes

If the dive mask comes with the entire lens as prescription lenses, rest assured that the lens can be made to your specific measurements and correction. Whether you are nearsighted or farsighted, you will get your eyesight corrected.

For dive masks that allow insertion of prescription lenses, they’re much better for contact lens wearers, since the same diving mask can be used depending on your vision correction choice. You can either wear your contacts or the prescription lenses.

Prescription goggles

Prescription swimming goggles are smaller than diving masks, and are round or oval in shape. They’re also much closer to your eyes compared to dive masks. They can be composed of a variety of materials, such as glass, acrylic, and plastic.

Prescription goggles have corrective lenses integrated into their frames. They not only correct your vision but also protect your eyes from the water - something you’ll appreciate whether you’re swimming in the pool or in the ocean.

If you swim competitively, you’ll definitely appreciate having prescription goggles that correct your vision!

What should you get, swim goggles or dive masks?

It might be best to talk to your optometrist in North Shore, Auckland (like us at NVision Eyecare, for example) regarding this, but our general recommendation is to get which one will suit your needs. If you generally dive deeper, a dive mask might work better for you than goggles.

On the other hand, if all you do is swim on the surface, then goggles might be the better choice.

What problems may you encounter with either option?

One problem you might face with either option is a wrong prescription. Therefore, it is important to get a prescription only from a qualified optometrist! 

Another problem you might encounter is the fit. Don’t just pick one randomly - make sure that the one you get actually gives you a snug but still comfortable fit. Otherwise, you might end up not using it at all!

One more problem you might meet is fogging or leaking. Both are common, annoying inconveniences with either goggles or a dive mask. And while snugness is good, make sure that the goggles or the mask is not to tight because they might pull away from the face!

To prevent fogging, use baby shampoo or other gentle soaps to clean your goggles or mask, especially on the day you plan to swim or dive. You can also place them in the water before wearing them to prevent fogging from occuring.

You can also buy lenses that have anti-fog capabilities, or just simply buy anti-fog sprays, gels, or even drops.

Talk to NVision Eyecare for the best options for swim glasses and dive masks. 

When it comes to prescription swim goggles and dive masks, you can’t compromise on quality. After all, you need to be able to see even underwater, especially when you’re diving! It might be a matter of life and death.

That’s why if you’re looking for custom prescription swim goggles or dive masks, talk to us at NVision Eyecare. We’re not only led by arguably the best optometrist in Albany, but we’ll also be able to lead you to the best swimming goggles and dive masks for you. 

We guarantee that you’ll only get a high level of care - the best you can expect from any eye doctor in Auckland!

What are you waiting for? Book an appointment online, call us at 09-884-0034, or visit us at Apollo Health & Wellness Centre, Level 1, Suite 104, 119 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632. We’re open Monday to Friday from 9 in the morning up to 2:30 in the afternoon, and 8:30 AM up to 12:30 PM on Saturdays.

We look forward to seeing you!