Visually Impaired Merfolk

[Trade Winds]

I am looking to learn how us visually impaired mers handle being in water, and doing our thing as mers. I wear glasses. I can't wear contacts. I have a specifc pair of rx glasses for mermaiding (with purple scales to match my tail). However, during the summer I almost always need to wear my rx sunglasses. Underwater, of course, I can easily get rx googles or mask, but I personally feel ok underwater with my vision in normal goggles (I grew up on a lake so I am extremely used to murky water; ymmv). I have tried going without glasses (which is only feasible at home), but I end up squinting quite a lot involuntarily.

The thing is goggles can be a huge turn off for some, and/or you may have in mind it 'ruins the magic'. If I ever need to explain to a child who asks about this, my tentative story revolves around 'staying out on land/the surface for long hurts our eyes, and they are for protection'. Obviously that's got some loopholes but feel free to build upon it.

I am also curious about mers with even worse eye probs than me...like do have blind mers here?

So, mers of poor sight, how do you handle your vision issues when you're mermaiding?

[IllynReaver]

I haven't even gotten around to making my goggles more "mermaidy"? but I haven't once had them ask about the goggles, they're more interested in the tail I've found. I wear contacts and don't feel comfortable swimming without them outside of a familiar pool.

[Echidna]

My eyesight is very poor and I easily get infections, so I wouldn't dream of swimming without goggles in a lake or chlorine.

I use masks over my goggles.
I made them to fit any goggle/diving mask I own, and I have one for every style of routine I do.
One looks similar to this
37291

I don't think the goggles themselves are that noticeable, and can even look nice if you adorn them in a mermaidy way, but since I do waterballet, people get picky about goggles, as they are not allowed in synchro either (which I find dumb, btw, but that's how it is).

[KateyMermaid]

The hidden mask/giggles idea is really cool! What is the mask made of? Looks like Leather in the photo. That ant hold up very well.

I am very nearsighted. If I'm at a gig where I need to see above water AND swim, I just swim in my contacts and throw them away afterwards.
On occasion I will swim in my glasses. I teach swim lessons, and frequently just keep my glasses on. They have a sturdy plastic frame, and seem to do just fine.

Mostly though, I just go without corrective lenses for jobs. I'll bring my glasses to wear in between "sets" or when I'm on a break. It also helps keep me "disguised" when not in mermaid garb. If I have to interact with people when I don't have any corrective lenses, (or even if I'm wearing my glasses) I tell them that mermaids have bad eyesight on land. Just like humans have bad eyesight underwater. Kids find it to be an acceptable answer lol


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[Mermaid Arabella]

It also helps keep me "disguised" when not in mermaid garb.

Clark Kent style

[Unlimited_Betta]

I plan on adding some barnacles and tiny shells to my goggles. i try to swim without them but i'm so blind (also near sighted in my left eye, and far sighted in my right, and astigmatism in both) that its almost impossible. i would love to swim without goggles, but at this point in time, its sadly not an option for me. i plan on building a story for kids that ask why i wear them however :p

[Mermaid Cataleya]

My eyesight is very poor and I easily get infections, so I wouldn't dream of swimming without goggles in a lake or chlorine.

I use masks over my goggles.
I made them to fit any goggle/diving mask I own, and I have one for every style of routine I do.
One looks similar to this
37291

I don't think the goggles themselves are that noticeable, and can even look nice if you adorn them in a mermaidy way, but since I do waterballet, people get picky about goggles, as they are not allowed in synchro either (which I find dumb, btw, but that's how it is).

Would you make these to sell ?


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[Echidna]

No, sorry. I'm far too swamped with other projects.

But it's not hard to make. Look up a normal mask tutorial, and use waterproof materials instead.
If you have the skills, you can even make one from latex or silicone for that extra real, fishy look.

[Trade Winds]

Oh yeah, I remember seeing something god knows when quite a while back...something I bet even a lazy sack of crap such as myself could make. I can't help but wonder if all that extra stuff on the mask/goggles would annoy me when wearing.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I have a custom made prescription goggles insert from Sportviz, and one each of their swim goggle and snorkel goggle. I also have a regular style (two eye cups) prescription goggle, which I wear all the time now. Because my Sportviz goggle got old and yellowed and they're more expensive than the two cup one from Eyeline.

With my prescription, I don't have an option for those sexy looking goggles. Its either go blind or wear the ugly dorky looking ones. So I wear 'em so I can see where I'm going.

[Trade Winds]

I have a question for anyone with a decorated mask like Echidna's. Assuming you wear it for a long enough time, have you gotten tan lines on your face from it? I am dealing with that issues from my sunglasses, but luckily my normal glasses cover that up when I am out being 'normal'

[Echidna]

If you primarily swim outside in a sunny climate, yes I guess you would get tan lines.

I live in a cold, murky country, and apart from a few days during summer, swimming outside is not possible, so I don't have that problem.
I have worn full-face masks to avoid getting sunburn during the warm season, though, as I don't use sunscreen.

[Trade Winds]

See, I live in the exact opposite climate so I get to be concerned about weird tan lines. Guess the only way to find out is to do it.

I would love cold and murky myself. That's my favorite kind of water!

[KateyMermaid]

Trade winds-
Sometimes you can find a non-greasy face lotion that has an SPF. I just wear my normal makeup. I actually got pretty tan/burned recently everywhere other than my face because of my makeup.


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[Trade Winds]

I am not knowledgable about make up or facial stuff...do you mean wearing a certain lotion could stop weird tan lines and burns?

[KateyMermaid]

You can buy sunscreen formulated as a face lotion, yes.
You can also buy liquid makeup that has an SPF. Some drug store brands will carry it.


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[Mary Marine]

Something just occurred to me. If visually impaired humans wear glasses, why can't visually impaired mermaids wear goggles? They are basically under sea glasses anyway. You could even tell kids that the way we see on land is how they see when they open their eyes under water. So we have special mermaid glasses.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I've told kids that I wear goggles because chlorine hurts mermaid eyes as much as it hurts human eyes.