I am training to do sprint triathlons this summer and I am very near sighted. I cannot do the swimming, cycling, or running without glasses or contacts. I would simply wander way off course or crash into my fellow competitors. My options are to wear my contacts under my swimming goggles, however when I do this periodically one will come out when water gets in my goggles. The other option is wear my vision corrected Speedo goggles and then change over to prescription sunglasses for the cycling and running. Thank you for your recommendations.
LASIK or PRK. Did that myself 3 years ago, best thing I’ve ever done. I see 20/15 near and far now.
Did that myself 3 years ago
Wow, that’s impressive 
I raced in contacts for years before having Lasik without any problems. You should be able to find goggles that don’t get water in them.
Thom
I’ve seen plenty of people wearing their goggles all the way to their bike and putting on glasses in transition. In fact at really big events they have a table by the water for you to leave your glasses.
I doubt this is a big deal but everything feels like a big deal when you’re starting out.
Thats what I do - prescription goggles, take them off when I get to the bike and then put my prescription sunglasses on.
Or in an IM I wear the goggles to find my T1 bag which has my sunglasses
x3 on lasik. If you can afford it the best thing going. Did the contacts and goggles thing for years and only had a couple of problems but lasik is just awesome. If I had known how good it would work would have had it years ago.
In a local sprint race, no one will begrudge you if a family member hands your glasses to you coming out of the water. Spectators can generally get pretty close to the run to T1.
I wear contacts… goggles don’t let water in, so the only concern is getting them kicked off or whatever. BUT, if you keep one arm in front at all times like you’re supposed to, then you can mitigate that risk somewhat. You can also try to avoid the washing machine as much as possible by starting to the side or back of the pack (if you’re a fish, you can sprint and get out in front to avoid it)
The other option is wear my vision corrected Speedo goggles and then change over to prescription sunglasses for the cycling and running. Thank you for your recommendations.
This seems like your best bet. You won’t lose any time with this option (except maybe the second to put on your sunglasses if you don’t normally wear them), and you know it will be safe and it will work with no risk of lost contacts.
I too wear contacts and have never had a problem with them on the swim. This might be a goggle problem rather than the contacts themselves. I have a pretty cheap pair of goggles - ones that were purchased at Academy - and don’t have problems.
Yeah I wear contacts and have been worried about goggles getting kicked off. Knock on wood, hasn’t happened yet.
lasek.
If you don’t like the idea of a laser shooting in your eye, there is CRT.
http://www.paragoncrt.com/index.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthokeratology
I been using it for couple years and been happy with it.
I solely wear contacts. I have them on whenever I swim. My goggles don’t let water in.
You should get new goggles.
Yeah I wear contacts and have been worried about goggles getting kicked off. Knock on wood, hasn’t happened yet.
17+ years competitive swimming, 3-4 years of triathlons, I’ve lost my goggles twice and never lost a contact.
John
I am fantastically near sighted (-11 or so) and have never had any problems with my contacts (daily diposables) during a race. That said, I just keep an extra pair in my bag in transition in case it’s a long race and I felt the need to pop one in…
I too have been racing with contacts for 20+ years, when I do a 1/2 or full IM I just throw a extra set in my transition bag. Never had to use them but the security of knowing they are there if needed is awesome.
I race in contacts too. As has been said, a good pair of goggles is important. I also have extra contacts in my transition area/bags and during an IM in my special needs. I get the dailies so losing them when I don’t get my special needs back isn’t a big deal. I’ve had more problems with crud getting in them on the bike than the swim.
I always wear the Speedo optical goggles for the swim and then switch to my prescription sunglasses for the bike and run. I’ve never been able to comfortably wear contacts. The Speedo goggles have been a godsend and are available for under $20, which is a terrific bargain in my opinion.
I wear contacts, my googles sometimes let water in, but I’ve never had problems with a contact coming out.