Goggles make it easier to see clearly underwater. They also protect your eyes from pool chemicals and underwater debris. Professional swimmers rely on goggles for all of the above reasons, and to help improve swimming performance and personal comfort in the water. The type of goggles you choose will depend on the type of swimming you intend on doing and the location of your swim.
Scuba and Diving Goggles
Snorkelers and and deep-sea divers use scuba goggles and diving masks. These masks cover a large portion of your face, including your nose, to make a watertight seal for safe and comfortable swimming. They also have specially designed lenses that help you see. Light travels differently through water, and dive masks are designed to increase the distance and air between your eyes and the lenses. This air and space helps light travel to your eye closer to the way it would on land, according to All About Vision. If you wear prescription lenses, you will need prescription goggles or prescription lens inserts.
Recreational Swimming Goggles
Recreational swimming goggles are used in pools and at the beach. They're for people who want the convenience of better vision and the safety of preventing pool chemicals and debris our of the eyes. Recreational swimming goggles aren't built for performance, so they're usually made out of cheaper materials, according to YourSwimmingSpace.com. They usually consist of two large, protruding eye cups, a rubber or plastic adjustable nose piece and an adjustable rubber strap. They work by creating a vacuum on your eye that feels like light suction. Foam padding around the eye cups helps create the suction.
Competition Swimming Goggles
Competition goggles have the same components as recreational goggles but with a few improvements. Competition goggles are made to be sleek and small to prevent drag or resistance in the water. They feature silicone straps that are less likely to snap or break than recreational goggles. They also have silicon around the eye cups for a tighter and more reliable vacuum. Competition goggles often feature mirrored finishes or colored tints and can be made to your prescription if you wear glasses or contacts. Manufacturers make different sized goggles for women and children who might not find regular sized competition goggles a good fit.
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