Hi All,

I'm trying to get my girlfriend out on the water this year (maybe not kitesurfing quite yet, she's pretty scared of being attached to a kite), and she's quite concerned about the fact that she wares contacts, and what getting her eyes wet/salty etc will do.

Is it possible to wear contact lenses and go out on the sea? Do you have to take any special precautions, or do you have to wear glasses?
Is there any appreciable difference between disposable lenses or permanent ones ?
Can anyone suggest a good solution? Is she worrying about nothing?

Cheers,

Peet

i normally wear glasses/lenses but take them off or out when i'm on the water. not tried with lenses in yet but would be good to know, i've swam in the sea with them in before without any problems but it was only swimming and for a short time, i would imagine that the salt could cause problems with all types of lens tho, especially if you land hard face first as you do as a beginner

Hi Pete
I know you can get prescription swimming goggles. They would also keep the salt water out of her eyes.

b e n

I've never seen anyone out on the water wearing prescription goggles/glasses! Even though i'm sure they'd do the trick!
Do we all have perfect vision? or just put up with a bit of blurriness!!!

My eyesight isn't perfect, but i can get away without wearing glasses for everything but driving.
James: surely you must have come accross this problem with your students ?

Pete

i've always worn contact lenses for kitesurfing (and scuba diving, and swimming etc) and they've been fine.

would recommend using dailies as i have had them pop out a couple of times during long epic sessions.

what getting her eyes wet/salty etc will do.

it will do nothing. your eyes are bathed in saline anyway (although not quite as salty as the sea).

paul.

hi paul,
How are the epic sessions in Oxford?

cheers for that helps me out too, might try them next time i go for a session might be able to see what i'm doing then

hey steve

i've had some amazing sessions in january - hayling is only just over an hour away and i went to porthcawl (rest bay/ogmore) in south wales a couple of times which is a fab wave spot.

although i'm landlocked i have some very good beaches in relatively easy reach - just like heading up to gullane really - and can make use of all the westerly wind we have.

february has been rubbish though


failing that, there's always this

http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/20 ... 040616.jpg

done here

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&h ... 8&t=h&z=14



paul.