Anyone use goggles w/ RX lenses?? Recommendations?
Thanks
HC
There was a guy at our masters swimming last year who had them. He didn’t wear contacts, and wanted to be able to see the work outs that were posted. From my understanding they worked well.
He also had perscription sun glasses for biking, and seemed to like them. Not exactly sure why, but he didn’t/couldn’t wear contact lenses.
I wear contacts under my goggles, and would recommend that unless you have a particular reason for not wearing contacts.
I consider my prescription goggles to be an essential piece of equipment. I love them.
I’ve tried 2 type:
Water Gear – http://www.swimoutlet.com/Prescription_Swim_Goggles_s/326.htm
Both are great googles but make sure you buy extra clips if you go with the Kiefer. They break easily.
Hope that helps! Let me know if you want any more info.
Steve
I have the Water Gear too. They are excellent and very reasonably priced. I wear mine for training only though; I race in daily contacts. Sweat issues on the bike and run made the Rx glasses difficult to manage.
I wear Speedo’s off the shelf prescription goggles for races, and they work fine, although I probably look a little funny running all the way to my bike before I take off my goggles and cap. See here for more information about them:
They do not correct for astigmatism, and do not come in my exact prescription (both of my eyes are -8.5, and I use the -8.0 model). They are a lot cheaper at $20/pair than custom designed ones. The website is not listing as many different diopter options as I recall it listing earlier in the year; perhaps they are currerntly sold out of some models.
holdenchain,
I second CTL’s advice.
The Rx Speedo goggles cost $1.00 more than the non- Rx goggles.
I, too, have astigmatism and use the Speedo Rx goggles. They work great. You can also buy individual pieces to get individualized correction for each eye, but why? Just buy one pair with correction of each eye. Swap out one eye (trade between pairs) and you then have two pair of Rx goggles! Such a deal and pretty inexpensive too!
You will have to go to a (specialized) swim shop to find these, however. The Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sports Authority, Dunhams, etc. don’t carry the Speedo Rx model.
I swim in a very bright outdoor environment, and none of the RX goggles I’ve seen are dark enough. Actually, no goggles – RX or not – are dark enough for my liking.
Note that if you get some, get 1.0 to 1.5 LESS RX than you normally use on land… the water somehow reduces the amount you need (at least for nearsightedness).
I use Tusa Liberator, they work great. www.kiefer.com has them.
Been using the Kiefer, WaterGear and Speedo for a long time…in fact two new pair came UPS today from Swim Outlet…good prices and good turnaround. Speedo has a new prescription race goggle in both smoke and clear. Check 'em out!
I need some help here. I really need RX goggles. Right now just use regular off the shelf goggles. My eye dr says I’m screwed because my prescription is so unique.
They read my RX off to me. It is…
Right eye: -1.75/-.75/40
Left eye: +1.25/-3.75/125
He said due to so many corrections none of the RX goggles would work for me.
Any suggestion?? Other than contact lenses I guess, which I’ve tried before but could never adjust to.
Thanks
I have the speedo and the View. The view are WAY more comfortable and seal better. I talked who had Lane4, if I recall, he thought they were great.
I swim in a very bright outdoor environment, and none of the RX goggles I’ve seen are dark enough. Actually, no goggles – RX or not – are dark enough for my liking.
Note that if you get some, get 1.0 to 1.5 LESS RX than you normally use on land… the water somehow reduces the amount you need (at least for nearsightedness).
My views are relatively dark/
Any one else out there. I’m always interested in a some new ones. I wish they made some Kaimans in corrective.
Hey Docfuel
I used to rep for Aqua Sphere - the Kaimans can be fitted with a thin 3M press-on lens. One of my accounts, Optical Heights, did a lot of these. Give them a call, they should be able to tell you what you need to do. Talk to Karen or Diane at 516-625-2555.
Rich
Muchas gracias! I’m doing that today.
As some others suggested, the WaterGear goggles are cheap (>$20/pr.) and work fine. To me, WaterGear has a good, tight, comfortable seal. I can never get other goggles to seal as well without getting that “vise-grips on the nose” feeling. If your scrip varies widely between eyes, buy two pairs and mix-n-match.
One drawback–I think the only come in full diopter increments. In that case, round down because, as someone else pointed out, the water tends to improve the acuity somewhat.
Oh–don’t drop any babies today!
LOL!! ooops, that wouldn’t be funny!
Funny story: One of my residents dropped a baby during a delivery…it was more like a sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip to the floor. Baby was fine. Our attending doc turned to the mom and said" don’t worry, sometimes we have to drop them twice before we can get them to cry"!! 
HC
LOL!! ooops, that wouldn’t be funny!
Funny story: One of my residents dropped a baby during a delivery…it was more like a sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip to the floor. Baby was fine. Our attending doc turned to the mom and said" don’t worry, sometimes we have to drop them twice before we can get them to cry"!!
HC
Ha! Ha! I little sick, but funny.
The keifer comes in smoked. They aren’t really dark but work pretty well.
~Matt
I called optical heights. The lenses are $99 plus $18 for the Kaimans. I’ll have to think about it, but the Kaimans that my daughter has are sooooooo comfy. I’d better take 'em for a ‘blind’ swim to be sure.
Many thanks.