Swimming without goggles is one of the most liberating experiences for any swimmer. It’s also a pain in the neck if you aren’t prepared! In this blog post, we will cover 11 tips to make your swimming experience more comfortable and enjoyable by avoiding problems that can arise when swimming without goggles.
1. Tie your hair
Tie your hair into a bun or topknot before going into the water! If you have long hair, you can tie it up and out of your face with an elastic. This will prevent any loose hairs from getting in your eyes while swimming without goggles.
2. Wear swim cap
Some people find that wearing a swim cap helps them stay more comfortable while swimming without goggles. It’s an extra layer to help protect your eyes from any stray hairs or small droplets of water!
3. Put Vaseline on your eyelids
This is a good tip for people who have sensitive eyes and can’t swim without goggles. This will help prevent any irritation that may arise from the chlorine or salt water in your face.
4. Choose a salt water pool instead of chlorine water pool
If you have sensitive eyes, a salt water pool is much more gentle on the skin and will help to prevent any irritation there. However, if you can’t find a salt water pool, always choose the pool with lowest chlorine ratio. You can always ask the lifeguard for this information.
5. Don’t swim too long in one session
It’s been recommended that people don’t spend longer than 15 minutes swimming without goggles at a time; otherwise your eyes may get irritated or develop redness.
6. Practice swimming without goggles
This is the best way to get comfortable with it! Start in a place where there’s less chlorine or salt water and gradually work up. If you are having trouble, try using breaststroke until you feel more confident.
7. Take a deep breath before putting your face in the water
This will help to eliminate any panic or anxiety that may come from not being able to find air if you sink underwater.
The deeper the water, the less likely it is for someone who doesn’t know how to swim well enough without goggles on, so maybe don’t start out too far away and work your way closer gradually!
8. Remove your contact lenses
Never swim with your contact lenses. Contact lenses are not designed for swimming, it does not provide an airtight seal which can lead to infection or irritation. Furthermore, under the effect of chlorine water, your contact lenses may suffer from a certain degree of damage.
9. Your eyes will slowly build tolerance
Your eyes will get used the burning sensation of chlorine water in a couple of minutes. It’s maybe uncomfortable at first, but it can be a good motivation to get out of the pool and let your eyes recover.
10. Stop & take a break
Stop if the feeling is unbearable. It’s better to stop and recover than swim with watery eyes. Take a break for few minutes and then try to finish your laps.
11. Eyedrops are your best friend
Use eyedrops after swimming. Eye drops will help to reduce the burning sensation and prevent red eyes. Eye drops will also remove bacteria, chlorine and other impurities that can damage your eyes. Rohto is always our go-to brand for swimming eyedrops.
Don’t panic if you do not have eye drops with you – an alternative is to use a wet towel or washcloth, which will also work as well. If possible, rinse your eyes for few seconds in the shower, it helps relieve redness and itchiness.
Final words
We don’t recommend swimming without goggles. It’s not healthy and can cause serious eye damage. But in order to protect yourself in case you don’t have a swimming goggles, it’s always a good idea to prepare yourself.
Have fun swimming.