By Greg Cook
waterhead.com
October 3, 2011

Whether you are a competitive swimmer or a weekend water warrior, goggles are an essential part of your swimming gear. Goggles can help you to see more clearly underwater and can provide a more enjoyable swimming experience, and are also an important way to protect your eyes. Specialty goggles for swimmers can help you tackle a variety of water environments and challenges. Before you jump into your pool or your local lake without goggles, consider some of the risks of swimming without them.

Many swimmers know that the chemicals used in pools are harsh and can damage your eyes. Goggles are the way to protect your eyes from chlorine and other chemicals used in pool treatment. They allow you to see clearly underneath the pool without the painful burning that you will get if you open your eyes without protection in the treated water. Being able to see underwater is important if you are a competitive swimmer and need to execute tight turns against pool walls.

Seeing under water in a pool is also important for new swimmers, especially children. Learners should be able to see everyone else in the pool and work on maneuvering around them. Goggles for swimmers help avoid painful underwater collisions. They can also help young swimmers gain confidence, as they will be able to watch their friends and parents swim underwater and can mimic their movements. Of course, protection from harsh chemicals is also important and parents should always remember to make sure their children have goggles on before swimming.

Parents of young kids and inexperienced swimmers should also use goggles to keep track of their little ones in the pool. Imagine how awful it would feel to lose track of your child in a pool. Being able to see young swimmers underwater can be key in keeping them safe. Parents will also enjoy being protected from sudden water splashes and flailing fingers and toes. Aside from their direct personal benefits, when parents wear goggles to swim, their children are encouraged to wear them, too.

Goggles for swimmers who tackle the ocean are also important. Like the chemically treated water of a pool, salt water can burn your eyes. There are a myriad of wonderful creatures and plants to see underwater that may be missed if you are unable to see clearly. Additionally, goggles can help you to see boats and dangerous animals before they do you harm. If you are pulled away from shore, you want to be sure that you can see adequately under and above the water so that you can navigate back to dry land. Water pollution can also lead to swimmers being exposed to nasty chemicals, none of which anyone wants to get in their eyes. 

Those swimmers who enjoy bathing in freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams may feel that goggles are not necessary since the water they are swimming in is generally not treated with harsh chemicals and contains no salt. However, this is a misconception. While bodies of freshwater are not intentionally treated with chemicals, runoff from accidents and heavy industry can pollute water. It is better to protect the delicate tissues of your eyes than to take a chance by not wearing goggles.

Swimming in bodies of freshwater can also present dangers to your eyes in the form of sticks, rocks, and debris. Goggles for swimmers provide some measure of protection against dangerous objects that might stab or poke swimmers in the eyes. They will also allow you to see underwater clearly so that you can anticipate danger before it strikes. Sometimes the current of a river makes opening your eyes underwater without goggles very difficulty. If you find yourself in a quick-moving river, you will want to be able to see what is going on under the water as well as above it. Goggles provide you a measure of protection and comfort that your naked eyes alone cannot.

Athletes in triathlons and other outdoors competitions may also enjoy using goggles for swimmers because they help hold other swim accessories in place. While swim caps are constructed to stay on your head, goggle straps can provide an extra measure of security. Goggles also give you a competitive advantage, allowing you to see ahead of the competition—literally. 

Given all of the benefits of goggles for swimmers, why are some athletes and casual swimmers still choosing not to wear them? Many people have issues with the fit of goggles. Many others use prescription lens or contacts and are worried that goggles will impair their vision. Both of these issues, however, can be addressed effectively.

Many young swimmers dislike wearing goggles because they pinch their skin or are uncomfortable. Whether you are buying a first pair of goggles for yourself or someone else, it is important that the swimmer who will be wearing the goggles tries them on. Check to make sure that they are tight enough to keep out water but not so tight that they are going to leave painful marks or give you headaches. Check the fit of the bridge piece on the nose. This piece is often adjustable, but it is still important to find one in the right size range so that you do not have to deal with uncomfortable slippage. Try to buy your goggles from a store that has a liberal return policy so that you can choose another product if they do not work well for you.

Swimmers who use corrective eye wear can find prescription goggles in specialty retailers and online. If you are concerned about how goggles may affect your vision underwater, talk with your optometrist and see what they suggest. Eye care professionals should be able to direct you to goggles for swimmers with vision problems.

Remember that no matter whether you swim ten times or three hundred times every year, goggles are an important accessory that help protect your eyes. Goggles also enhance your performance as a swimmer, improving your underwater vision. Do not miss a potential hazard or the wonder of nature by leaving your goggles behind next time you head out to swim. 

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