The BBC published an article recently (see here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39568781) about a lady losing her sight in one eye after an eye infection. There was some advice about contact lenses and swimming was mentioned:
‘a rare but serious eye infection caused by a micro-organism that’s common in tap water, sea water and swimming pools’.
All people who I swim with who need glasses either wear contacts as standard or switch to contacts and normal googles for swimming. I’m the exception as I generally wear prescription goggles apart from when I’m racing.
Admittedly, initially my main reason for this wasn’t protecting myself from infection (more to avoid having to faff around putting contacts in and ordering contacts) but as a result I have tried out a lot of the prescription goggles on the market.
Here are some I have tried / some I have seen recommended by several different people on DYST / OSS but if you have any feedback on the below or other recommendations then please put in comments.
View
The View Platina are my go to favourite. They are cost effective, last well and come in black or blue lenses so suitable for all pools and all weather. You can buy the matching strap and nose piece but I have always just used an old one I had. You order individual lenses so you can have different prescriptions for each eye if needed. A lot of sites only offer the black version but Jackson Sports have both and are run by a friendly team who will check stock etc for you.
http://www.jackson-sports.com/en/View-Swim-Goggles-Platina-VC510A-Lens/m-2976.aspx
1 x Lens cost: £8.00 (current price at Jackson Sports)
Total goggle cost (2 x lenses and brand specific strap and nose piece): £24.50 (current price at Jackson Sports)
Speedo
I originally used the Speedo Pulse prescription lenses which are very similar to the View ones. They then seemed to stop doing them so I tried out their Mariner googles, which are their cheaper* pair and you have to have the same prescription for both lenses. These didn’t work well with me and leaked badly. The good news is the Pulse ones are back on sale on the Speedo site, along with a couple of new prescription goggle options, but are more expensive than the View for what I believe to be the same lenses, so I think you are better off purchasing the View lenses.
*cheaper short term but not long term if you have to keep buying the full pair of goggles at £20 rather than just buying replacement lenses when needed.
http://www.speedo.com/uk/en/goggles/prescription-goggles
Pulse:
1 x Lens cost: £11.00
Total goggle cost: £33.00
Mariner:
1 x Lens cost: n/a
Total goggle cost: £20.00
Aquasphere
I really liked the look of the Eagle as they appeared very similar to the Zoggs Predator Flexes that I am a massive fan of and give you an increased field of vision unlike the standard prescription goggles available. I just didn’t find these comfortable on my small(ish) head but lots of people love them.
https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/aqua-sphere-eagle-goggles-prescription-lenses.html?options=cart
https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/aqua-sphere-eagle-goggles-blue-clear.html
1 x Lens cost: £9.49 (current price at proswimwear)
Total goggle cost: £35.00 (current price at prescription swimming goggles)
High street alternatives
Boots and Specsavers do offer prescription goggles, however I can’t find anything on their site. Prices sounds comparable, if not cheaper than the above, based on what people on OSS/DYST have advised so always worth checking them out.
Other places to buy:
http://www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk/swimming-goggles.html – this site sells the View, Speedo, Aquasphere and lots of others, however you have to buy the whole goggle (2 lenses and kit) from them so you might be better off sourcing elsewhere if you only want the lenses.
https://www.mailsports.co.uk/goggles/prescription-goggles – sells the Speedo, View and Aquasphere, as well as Sable and Swan.
http://shop.swimmingwithoutstress.co.uk/sws/swimming-goggles/prescription-lens-goggles.shtml – stocks the Aquasphere Eagle and View Platina.
https://www.simplyswim.com/departments/AdultGoggles/Prescription.aspx – stocks the View, Speedo and Aquasphere.
TEAM Mermaids 