Glasses for the pool: purpose, types and features of choice

Today, every swimming enthusiast uses special goggles that protect the eyes from water pressure and harmful elements from entering their mucous membranes. In this material you will get acquainted with the main functions of glasses for the pool, as well as their types and features of the choice.

Every professional swimmer, like an amateur swimmer, has good goggles in his arsenal. The main function of such accessories is, of course, to protect the athlete’s eyes from the ingress of water. In swimming conditions, a person’s eyes without special glasses can suffer from several harmful factors at once.

• In the aquatic environment, the human eyeball suffers from the effects of atmospheric pressure drops. This leads to blurry images and redness of the eye proteins.
• Different composition of water can negatively affect the condition of the mucous membrane. So, salt water from the sea can cause eye irritation. Chlorinated pool water has about the same effect, but much faster.
• A layer of air between the eyeball and the glasses helps maintain high definition vision and optimizes pressure readings.
• Glasses are able to restrain pressure from the aquatic environment and do not allow aggressive elements to fall on the cornea of ​​the eye.

Many people choose lenses in different colors and do not even suspect that their shade directly affects the usability of glasses. Today in the market you can find transparent, tinted or colored lenses - each of these options more or less suits certain swimming conditions.

The group of tinted lenses includes models made of dark or specially tinted material - in fact, this is a direct analogy with all known sunglasses.

Tinted lenses perform best on the sea or other open water.. These lenses protect the swimmer’s eyes from sun glare and allow them to navigate better in well-lit water.

This group includes standard, transparent lens options that do not protect the eyes from sun glare and amplified light, but also do not distort real lighting.

Recently, it has become popular precisely the color options for the lenses for glasses. It is believed that certain colors may have an additional effect on human pupils.

• Blue. Blue and azure lenses can simultaneously slightly darken glare and at the same time provide excellent visibility conditions. Through blue lenses, you will notice all underwater objects.
• Pink tones. Pink color will give objects in the water more contrast. This means that in conditions of good lighting, pink lenses will give everything even more light, and in dark conditions they will add darkness. Pink lenses are best worn when bathing in rivers and pools, sea water for such lenses will be too dark.
• Yellow. Yellow color focuses on individual objects in the water. Such lenses will soften bright cold light and give a little more light when bathing in the dark.
• Mirrored. Such lenses have a special coating that reflects even the most saturated sunlight. Despite the external mirror surface, the swimmer himself sees all underwater objects through a transparent lens.

This group includes modified lenses with special coatings, which can not only protect the eyes from the sun, but also change their color depending on the lighting.

• Polarizing. These are incredibly durable and durable lenses that effectively protect the eyes from even the strongest sunlight. Lenses of such a plan are recommended for use in open areas.
• Photochromic. These are the newest and in their own revolutionary models of lenses - they are able to change the color of their coating depending on the lighting conditions in the room. So, in the room, these glasses will be more transparent, but in open areas they become darker.

Professional athletes distinguish only 4 main types of glasses for swimming. Each of them is intended for use in specific conditions.

These glasses have several unofficial names - some call them "glass", others - "Swedes." Starting models today are used exclusively by professional swimmers and only during competitions or training sessions before performances.

A key feature of all starting glasses is a hard, literally eye-catching fit - in these models an additional soft lining may be completely absent. Most often, this is a thin, rubber or silicone cuff. In addition, accessories of this type have lenses with a reduced area, as well as an inclined, prismatic shape. This design allows you to minimize water resistance, eliminate the displacement of glasses and increase the swimmer's hydrodynamics.

Unlike starting models, training models are much more comfortable and can be used both during training and in amateur swimming in nature. These glasses are equipped with soft and thick rubber or silicone gaskets or seals that reduce pressure on the eyes and create a feeling of maximum comfort.

In addition, training models are equipped with wider lenses with a much wider viewing angle.

This group includes all varieties of glasses with special lenses designed specifically for people with low or low vision. Usually these are training models where there is the possibility of replacing lenses.

When choosing such glasses, athletes usually focus on the diopter lenses that they wear in everyday life. Such models are usually made to order., because they may require different amounts of diopters for both eyes.

Goggles for swimming in the form of masks are the least popular option among both professional swimmers and amateurs. They are distinguished by the increased size of the lenses and, when put on, can cover even more than half of the entire face. Obviously, such models are usually used when swimming in open and shallow water.

An obvious plus of these accessories is an increased viewing angle, as well as a reduced pressure on the area around the eyes. In addition, a denser air cushion forms in the masks.

Often, masks are equipped with an additional coating that protects the lenses from fogging, and the eyes from UV rays.

Among the most popular manufacturers that produce the highest quality swimming goggles, companies such as Speedo, Tyr, Arena, Zoggs and Aqua Sphere can be distinguished.

Below you will find a brief rating of the highest quality starting, training models and other swimming goggles.

Among the starting options can be distinguished Arena Cobra Core Mirror and Aqua Sphere Kaiman models.

• Arena Cobra Core Mirror. These points are used by athletes participating in even world-class competitions. Main advantages: anti-fog coating, wide lenses, hypoallergenic frame, nice silicone strap, excellent protection against light glare. The disadvantage is the high price.
• Aqua Sphere Kaiman. A universal model that is suitable for training both in open water and in the pool. It has a convenient lens shape, anti-fog coating, soft and airtight shutter, and also has minimal pressure on the skin.

A huge number of high-quality training glasses are sold on the market, and therefore there is no point in considering certain models. Among the training accessories with the ideal price-quality ratio, the Speedo Aquapulse, Arena Tracks Mirror and Joss YD3000 models can be distinguished.

It’s not so easy to choose good glasses with diopters - such models are made only by some brands. Among the highest quality models are Whale Y0703 (CF-703) and Speedo Aquapure Optical Gog Af.

• Whale Y0703 (CF-703). Despite the low cost, this model is used by both amateurs and professionals. Pros: only -1.5 diopters, a soft frame and an elastic strap do not exert pressure on the bridge of the nose, have relatively small sizes and are made in neutral black.
• Speedo Aquapure Optical Gog Af. An exceptionally female model with a maximum optical power of -8 diopters. The model fits snugly to the eyes, leaves no circles, has a flexible frame and purple lenses that effectively reflect glare.

Among the masks can be distinguished model Tyr Magna Swim Mask Lgmsma. These are quite expensive, but stylish swimming goggles with a hypoallergenic frame, a large viewing angle and high-quality mount in the form of easily adjustable clips. The model is available in several neutral colors, and therefore it can be used by both men and women.

Experts advise to pay attention to the choice of swimming goggles. This is especially true for children and young athletes who have just begun to get acquainted with the basics of swimming. Below will be described the main points that should be considered when choosing high-quality swimming goggles for both adults and children.

First of all, it should be understood that the main requirement for glasses is not comfort when using, and certainly not an attractive appearance, but the reliability of their fit to the skin near the eyes. Glasses should provide conditions for complete tightness, preventing moisture from entering the cornea of ​​the eye.

So, when choosing adult models, follow the instructions below.

• Attach the selected model for a couple of moments to the eyes and gently press. When you get the feeling that the glasses are firmly attached to the skin, just remove your hands. When if the model is kept in sight without the support of hands, this option is definitely suitable for you relative to size.
• Enjoy the comfort of wearing an accessory - glasses should not bring you noticeable pain. Pay particular attention to the sensations in the bridge of the nose or in places of tension on the straps.
• Appearance Is the very last factor you need to pay attention to. At this stage, it is also worth evaluating the color of the lenses of the selected model and asking if there is UV protection in them.

Choosing the best option for swimming goggles for a child is much more difficult - children's swimming goggles have a number of distinct differences from adult models.

• In the case of children, it comes to the fore when choosing glasses comfort in use. So, swimming goggles should not interfere with the review of the child, put pressure on the eyes or nose. Masks with a thickened edging show themselves best here.
• Besides, the accessory should firmly adhere to the skin and have a reinforced structure. During intense games in the pool, glasses can fly off or even break, which is why you should choose not only a comfortable, but also a durable, tough model.
• When choosing gaskets it is better to stay on models with bulk rubber, neoprene or silicone piping. Such options will not only be firmly attached to the skin, but will also increase the viewing angle in water.
• If you want to choose a model with a great overview, but do not find high-quality masks, you can try accessories where lenses extend beyond the temple area.
• It is most practical to dwell on cast or solid models.. They have a more rigid, less flexible, but reliable structure, which will save points from breakage and mechanical impact.
• Be sure to check with your child whether it is convenient for him to wear one or another model.. As soon as the child is 12 years old, he can safely try on already adult versions of glasses for swimming.
• Parents whose children have impaired vision should contact an ophthalmologist before buying - He should advise which models with which diopters are better to choose.

Glasses are not competent enough to choose and buy - they still need to be worn and correctly used. The easiest way to consider putting on swimming goggles on a child.

• Just grab the model in your hands, pass your hands between the elastic bands and pull the straps as tight as possible.
• Gently put the accessory over your child’s head. First, attach the lenses to the eyes, and then place and fix the strap on the back of the head.
• Check the position of the glasses - the lenses should fit snugly against the skin and be directly opposite the child’s eyes.If the size of the model was inconvenient for the child, simply adjust the length of the strap on the back of the head with the help of special clips or clips.
• In case the child uses a swimming cap, the cap is first worn, and only then the accessory itself.

On how to choose glasses for swimming, see further.