UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello.

I had a graft 16 years ago, and have had no major problems since, thankfully. I started swimming about two years ago and love it. However, I noticed yesterday, a few hours after a swim, that my graft eye was red, weepy and paindul. I worried that I was rejecting and hot-footed it to my eye hospital this morning.
Luckily, the graft is fine. It looks as if I picked up something during the swim. The professor advised me not to swim in a pool becauseof the organisms there. I told him I wore goggles, but he said they offered no protection.
My question is thisL: does anyone know if there are any goggles that are totally waterproof and that can protect my eyes toitally when I am in the water.
It's either that or give up the swimming...

Many thanks.

Michael

Hello Michael,

My dad recently had an eye infection prior to going on holiday and had a similar problem of trying to keep his eyes dry whilst the anti-biotics went to work.

Anyhow the results of his trying to find suitable eye protection were that he ended up with a set of standard swimming goggles that cover most of his eyes but still left a gap near the bridge of his nose. He did try to get a full blown scuba mask from a dive shop, however when he explained that he wanted it for really just swimming in a pool, it was explained to him that most pools in the UK don't like people to wear the full dive masks and that whilst he might be alright using something like a full scuba mask in a holiday pool, it could prove a waste of money in a pool back home.

I can't remember the exact reason they gave now but the bottom line is, some of the pools can cause a bit of hoohah about wearing them unless you are learning to scuba dive or something like that, I suspect it probably has to do with the fact that your nose is covered by a full scuba mask where as with goggles you have more holes to breathe out of. Anyhow, dad's solution was to wear goggles and do only breast stroke and avoid strokes such as front crawl. He hasn't however had to have a corneal graft so whilst being a taxi driver it was important that the infection did clear up, there weren't perhaps any other problems he could be exacerbating.

Still I don't know how it is in Ireland for swimming rules, regulations, health and safety etc. Your best bet is probably to have a word with your local pool and the local scuba shop if you have one, I'm guessing you can probably find one at least in Dublin. Beyond that the only advice I can offer is to try and get a set of goggles that fit as well you can get them to and stick to breast stroke and to go steady with getting back into the pool if you intend to or can continue to swim.

I hope all goes well with your attempts to get some effective eye protection and you can continue to swim many many lengths in the future.

Jez.

Hello Michael,
I have had a graft( nearly 2 yrs ago) and have started to swim 3-4 times a week. I bought a pair of speedo goggles think they were about £16 and they are really very good the only problem I find is that I cant see anything when i have them on lol as i do not use contacts so I swim close to the wall as a guide lol.
I use artelac tears before and after I swim and this seems to help, I get them in 0.5ml single use vials so i always throw a couple in my bag for awhen I come out of the pool.
I have not been for a week and will not go this week as I have an infection in both eyes and ear's aswell lol , but I do find these goggles the best ones I have had, you could always get a scuba mask from a specialist shop and they can remove most of the nose piece but still keep a good seal then the pool will allow it.
anyway hope that helped a bit

nicola

Many thanks.