Opening eyes underwater

[mermaid_nixie]

Is there a trick? xD This is something I struggle with, but I want to be able to do it! Especially for underwater filming or performances.

Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks! :D

[Thalassa]

I couldn't do it for the longest time. I'd definitely try it without chlorine, that makes it much easier to see that it's okay and won't hurt too much. Also, give yourself something to focus on so you take your mind off of just keeping your eyes open. Then, practice! Open your eyes a little, then a little more next time.

If you wear contacts, like me, it may take a bit to get the hang of keeping them in your eyes.

[Claire the french mermaid]

It's not the same sensation if you open your eyes in a pool or in the ocean. For me in a pool is easier even if it is not good for the eyes, while in the sea it does not damage your eyes but the salt can be quite irritating... My advice is to be convinced that this is a normal attitude to have open eyes under water and do not rub your eyes when you rise to the surface. for the rest, it is a matter of habit and training :)

[Mizuko]

I think its different for everyone- pools hurt my eyes depending on the pH levels, but the ocean doesnt hurt me at all! :D Perhaps try in some clean water, like a bath or something? So there are no irritants to hurt you. Then you can practice without worrying about hurting your eyes! :)

[Ayla of Duluth]

Personally, saltwater or water with no chemicals in it irritates my eyes more than chlorinated water does. My suggestion would be to try all 3 if you can. Go to a pool, and calmly dip under the water and see how long you can open your eyes for. Do the same in a pool without chemicals, (or a bathtub) and a saltwater pool (or the ocean) if you have one in your area. Get comfortable with the least irritating one, and then slowly make your way up to the most irritating one.

Chlorine water is comfortable for me, but I can only stand it for so long. Usually it's an hour or so. And it only seems to bother me when I've opened my eyes underwater and then stayed above water for longer than 20 minutes. I go back down and suddenly the chlorine hurts my eyes. I dunno.

[Winged Mermaid]

I get asked this question a lot. Unfortunately I don't have an answer, and was honestly confused why people were asking. I just thought you go underwater and you open your eyes, just like you do above water. Coming up to the surface from salt water I get the major irritation, and irritation over long periods with chlorine, so I get that issue (see the dealing with chlorine's negative effects thread (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?4402-How-to-deal-with-chlorine-s-negative-effects) for help with that). But I thought it was as easy as deciding to open your eyes for everyone. Guess it's more of a person to person thing. Well at least I know why my fans are asking now! I hope you have success in learning how to do so :)

[Thalassa]

Sort of adding here: Every time up till this year when I tried to open my eyes in water it was in a super-chlorinated pool. It'd hurt every time I opened them only a bit, so I'd squeeze 'em shut again. My body would panic and NOT let me open my eyes. This year I used my apartment pool, which is minimally chlorinated. I decided to open my eyes, and cracked them open. To my surprise, it didn't hurt! So I opened them a bit more. It took me a bit to figure out what to do with my contacts, but once my eyes/brain got the idea that it won't hurt every time I open my eyes I could do it. I can even open my eyes in chlorinated pools now, too, although it really stings and I'm learning to tolerate it.

EDIT: I realized that that was all totally redundant and not useful, sorry. What I mean is that you should keep trying and be patient with yourself. It can take a while to retrain your mind and body not to panic.

[Kanti]

Seawater doesn't bother me, it stings but I don't mind because I don't believe that the seawater actually does anything bad to your eyes. I think it dries them out a bit but the saltwater induces tears(for me) so I feel like my eye is constantly re-conditioning itself. Chlorine REALLY bothers me because I've always hear it is actually bad for your eyes so I think I mindfuck my way into overthinking it and me noticing the discomfort a lot more, if that makes any sense.
I think chlorine only hurts your eyes because it dries them out so much and prevents you from tearing up properly? So maybe, if you keep some eyedrops with you or something of that nature you could probably at least prevent the redness/itch significantly and then you wouldn't have to worry about it as much?

[Ariadne]

So glad I found this thread! I have been practicing opening my eyes for the first time today...and it hurt! Was surprised and disappointed, especially after seeing youtube videos of the mers who make it look effortless. Especially since it's a small backyard pool with no chlorine! Ugh...am worried that I may never get past the pain long enough to get used to it. I want to be the best mermaid I can be and there will be no events for me if this is my underwater face:
11571

[Aziara]

lol on that picture! Does anyone have any tips on keeping eyes open while moving? I have this habit of coming to a complete stop underwater, looking around, then I have to close them again to move. It feels like the moving water is trying to pry out my eyes.

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Chlorine I can tolerate if I NEED to, otherwise I echolocate to get around. (No kidding, it freaks people out haha)

Saltwater... Well, I usually use a mask or goggles when snorkeling/swimming (dunno if it would be considered freediving... I usually ditch the snorkel and just dive around) I tried the other day, but I was like AUGH! It was cold and stung and just no thank you.

The one time I have opened my eyes with no discomfort whatsoever was during an underwater nude shoot! His pool is kept with minimal chlorine and a high pH! He said that's the trick for a clean pool and comfortable water. It was amazing! (photos are at uniquenudes.deviantart.com warning: they ARE nude. I'm the red head)

So, I dunno. I want to do more ocean swimming, but I can't see anything without goggles/mask, but if kids see a mermaid in the ocean with that on it's like "What? but she lives there, can't she see?" Urgh. DX

I'll try milk next time.

[Kumori Kitsune]

Thanks ill have to try it its a big fear for me because it hurts.

[Kumori Kitsune]

I opened my eyes under water a lot today.

[Anahita]

I get asked this question a lot. Unfortunately I don't have an answer, and was honestly confused why people were asking. I just thought you go underwater and you open your eyes, just like you do above water. Coming up to the surface from salt water I get the major irritation, and irritation over long periods with chlorine, so I get that issue (see the dealing with chlorine's negative effects thread (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?4402-How-to-deal-with-chlorine-s-negative-effects) for help with that). But I thought it was as easy as deciding to open your eyes for everyone. Guess it's more of a person to person thing. Well at least I know why my fans are asking now! I hope you have success in learning how to do so :)

My thoughts exactly... I just open my eyes like normal. I'm occasionally a bit concerned about debris hitting them when I'm in the ocean or a lake or river, but that's something I worry about after they're already opened and remedy by blinking and moving away from the stuff/pushing the stuff away. (Really, I can't even keep my eyes shut underwater. I don't like to not be able to see, so I feel like they force themselves open sometimes)

But I'm learning here that there's a lot of things I just "do" that I thought everyone did. Like, I didn't even realize water up the nose was a problem either, I thought everyone knew to hum to keep it out. Turns out I'm one of the few that does that.

I think what it comes down to is that you just have to build a tolerance to the way the water feels. It's a strange feeling, for sure, and sometimes it can burn if its chlorinated or very salty, but your eyes will eventually make the adjustment. And you can always add moisturizing drops to them after you're done swimming if it gets really itchy. I know that's not the greatest of help, but I think that's all that can really be offered. There's just no magical way to do it.

The one thing I was thinking of that might help is a "mermaid" version of "natural" goggles.... a piece of very thin, very clear silicone molded in a half-bubble and put over the eye-area (say like from the brow to the cheekbone) and adhered with special effects makeup adhesive. But the problem with that would be that I've never tried it myself, I'm not sure if it would be safe, and it still will mean something is over your eyes... and you'd probably scare kids away with how freaky you'd look wearing them.

[Nausicaa]

Well (and I can't remember if I read this somewhere or just made it up, but it sounds right, and if I'm wrong PLEASE correct me haha) your eyes are at a natural PH of 0 which is true neutral because of the balance between salt and water just like saliva (which is why people who wear contacts can put them in their mouth in a pinch if one falls out)

Fresh water (tap water, bathtub, lakes rivers etc.) is slightly more basic, where as salt water and chlorine/bromine water is slightly more acidic so when you're opening your eyes underwater it will be a bit uncomfortable at first just because your eyes need to adjust to the PH of the water.

I've been swimming in pools and lakes with my eyes open for almost two years now, and still every time that I get in, it takes about one or two dunks in the water for that uncomfortable feeling to go away.
I've found that when you wrap your head around the concept of it not really "hurting" but it just being a little uncomfortable like a tickle and that it wont last for more than a couple of seconds then it was much easier for me to practice.

True there isn't really any kind of magic "trick" where if you do this it wont ever be uncomfortable again, but I do have this little ritual that's helped me;
First I put my face underwater, and then I open my eyes a little bit so that some water gets in of course it prickles a little bit, so then I pinch my eyes shut until they feel better and that's usually all it takes for my eyes to adjust to the water and I can be good for more than an hour.

Sometimes though it can take me a couple of dunks, like in the ocean (and in a saltwater pool) as well as very chlorinated water, and in all honesty it does HURT then, but the important thing to remember is that it's only temporary until your eyes adjust, so I just do the same thing, letting a little water in and then closing my eyes until it stops hurting, eventually it does get better.
Unfortunately, there's really no graceful or attractive way to go about doing that, because it does hurt and every single time I put my face under until my eyes get adjusted I look like there's a jellyfish in my tail, and I'm making this face :O_o: the key is to get that part out of the way before you start filming or taking pictures haha.

[Winged Mermaid]

Actually neutral PH is 7 (anything below is more acidic, anything above is more base). Generally human eyes are at a 7.2-7.4, but it depends on the person too. (Acidosis is actually an extremely common thing thanks to modern diet.) So pretty close to neutral! Keep in mind that The pH scale is logarithmic, which means each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value, and each whole pH value above 7 is ten times more base than the next lower value. (For example, a ph of 4 is ten times more acidic than a ph of 5 and 100 times (10 times 10) more acidic than a ph of 6.)

The ocean is generally around 8.3 (though it's getting more acidic as a result of environmental damages). A well maintained pool is SUPPOSED to have a ph of 7.4 to keep in line with human mucous membranes, but it ranges from 7.2-7.8 depending on when it was last balanced (7 or below tends to corrode and damage metal and pool parts like filters, 7.9 and up will mean cloudy water and more chance for pathogens to thrive).

But I can see what you mean with the PH thing. I think there's something to that, but I think it's more just something that isn't your mucus membrane being in your mucus membrane. I mean even eye drops that are made for eyes make you jerk and your eyes sqeeze shut trying to get it out or limit exposure. The eyes just don't like having outside/alien things in them as part of how they function. I think your tip of getting the "HOLY CRAP STRANGE THINGS IN MY EYE" brain freak out out of the way initially like that is a very good tip though :)

[Nausicaa]

Actually neutral PH is 7 (anything below is more acidic, anything above is more base). Generally human eyes are at a 7.2-7.4, but it depends on the person too. (Acidosis is actually an extremely common thing thanks to modern diet.) So pretty close to neutral! Keep in mind that The pH scale is logarithmic, which means each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value, and each whole pH value above 7 is ten times more base than the next lower value. (For example, a ph of 4 is ten times more acidic than a ph of 5 and 100 times (10 times 10) more acidic than a ph of 6.)

The ocean is generally around 8.3 (though it's getting more acidic as a result of environmental damages). A well maintained pool is SUPPOSED to have a ph of 7.4 to keep in line with human mucous membranes, but it ranges from 7.2-7.8 depending on when it was last balanced (7 or below tends to corrode and damage metal and pool parts like filters, 7.9 and up will mean cloudy water and more chance for pathogens to thrive).

But I can see what you mean with the PH thing. I think there's something to that, but I think it's more just something that isn't your mucus membrane being in your mucus membrane. I mean even eye drops that are made for eyes make you jerk and your eyes sqeeze shut trying to get it out or limit exposure. The eyes just don't like having outside/alien things in them as part of how they function. I think your tip of getting the "HOLY CRAP STRANGE THINGS IN MY EYE" brain freak out out of the way initially like that is a very good tip though :)


Thank you! I knew part of that sounded a little wonky, turns out that I did actually make most of that up... So now that I've managed to look like a total doofus I've finally learned something hehehe. :$

[mermaid_nixie]

So glad I found this thread! I have been practicing opening my eyes for the first time today...and it hurt! Was surprised and disappointed, especially after seeing youtube videos of the mers who make it look effortless. Especially since it's a small backyard pool with no chlorine! Ugh...am worried that I may never get past the pain long enough to get used to it. I want to be the best mermaid I can be and there will be no events for me if this is my underwater face:
11571

Oh my goodness that is so my face too xD I desperately need to practice >_<

[mermaid_nixie]

(I really hope this thread is helping people out, it is me!)

[MermanJesse]

I found that after several hours in spring water, which is usually 72 degrees, my eyes become hazy from the cold of the water.

I am worried about opening them in sea water. I am a real crab when it comes to pain, so perhaps I will stick with the mask!

[Winged Mermaid]

Thank you! I knew part of that sounded a little wonky, turns out that I did actually make most of that up... So now that I've managed to look like a total doofus I've finally learned something hehehe. :$

Nah, not at all :) You were right about the eyes being neutral, and I didn't know that! I am a google fiend, so whenever I decide I want to know something or I start typing but can't remember where I heard supposed fact from, I go digging :P Not everyone has the time or patience for that. Plus, we're all here to learn together, right? :thumbs-up:

[Nausicaa]

I found that after several hours in spring water, which is usually 72 degrees, my eyes become hazy from the cold of the water.


Now that I think about it, I get that a lot too, sometimes when I'm not even swimming in cold water. My eyes don't hurt and there isn't really any sign of irritation or inflammation in the blood vessels, but sometimes for as much as an hour my vision is very hazy like everything has been whitewashed. It's never really bothered or worried me because I don't feel any pain or irritation, but should I be worried?

[Traveling Merman]

Hey guys RE: opening eyes, I used to be fine opening my eyes underwater in chlorinated pools but it has ruined my eyesight (so the ophthalmologist has told me) I've got keratoconus now because of it, keratoconus is a distortion of the cornea by that the collagen in the eye goes from being smooth to distorted like hills and valleys, and this is with UK pools which have a low chlorine amount anyway........ I was told distilled water and salt water are fine but in the same way salt draws water to it, if the sodium levels in the water are lower than the sodium levels in your eye then your body will suck up the water (not good) and if it is the reverse like in sea water the water is drawn from you! Although its not by means saying you can't swim in salt or river or spring water I was told to thoroughly rinse my eyes with eye drops afterwards, but I beg don't open your eyes in chemical filled water like pools otherwise you can lose sight over time (I started swimming and opening my eyes in pools infrequently round 6-7 yrs and I had 20/20 vision I'm 24 now and I'm near to being bind as a bat! I bump into things........on a regular basis now! Lol)

[Ariel-Starfish]

So glad I found this thread! I have been practicing opening my eyes for the first time today...and it hurt! Was surprised and disappointed, especially after seeing youtube videos of the mers who make it look effortless. Especially since it's a small backyard pool with no chlorine! Ugh...am worried that I may never get past the pain long enough to get used to it. I want to be the best mermaid I can be and there will be no events for me if this is my underwater face:
11571


This is EXCACT my face in underwarer pictures :')

[MermaidNami]

as someone who has worn googles for 22 years, the first time opening my eyes underwater was....not nice.
My pool uses a UV filter, so it has minimal chlorine, but it is still there. I find that 80F water is comfortable. colder than that and you can feel it against your eyes.
When I did it, I put on nose plugs so that I wouldnt have to worry about that, and just forced myself to do it. it stung at first. a LOT
with practice, I find I can stay under longer and longer. in chlorine I do get the "haze" glow around lights. my vision goes foggy. fresh water is the best, saline, if you can find it, is AMAZNG
to this day, I still cant open them in salt water.

[MermaidNami]

ALSO: I got this from my eye doctor, IF you wear contacts DO NOT SWIM IN THEM. there are a TON of very dangerous mcrobes that are water borne. they can get under your contact and eat away at your natural lens. take your contacts out, and then rinse your eyes with a sterile eye rinse to get the chlorinated water out.

[Aziara]

Hey guys RE: opening eyes, I used to be fine opening my eyes underwater in chlorinated pools but it has ruined my eyesight (so the ophthalmologist has told me) I've got keratoconus now because of it, keratoconus is a distortion of the cornea by that the collagen in the eye goes from being smooth to distorted like hills and valleys, and this is with UK pools which have a low chlorine amount anyway........ I was told distilled water and salt water are fine but in the same way salt draws water to it, if the sodium levels in the water are lower than the sodium levels in your eye then your body will suck up the water (not good) and if it is the reverse like in sea water the water is drawn from you! Although its not by means saying you can't swim in salt or river or spring water I was told to thoroughly rinse my eyes with eye drops afterwards, but I beg don't open your eyes in chemical filled water like pools otherwise you can lose sight over time (I started swimming and opening my eyes in pools infrequently round 6-7 yrs and I had 20/20 vision I'm 24 now and I'm near to being bind as a bat! I bump into things........on a regular basis now! Lol)
MEEP!!:jawdrop: This is why I always go nuts flushing my eyes with clear water after every swim.

[Merman Dan]

I loathe chlorine with a passion but I love to open my eyes in the ocean. Even when I used to scuba dive I'd take my mask off half the time. :)

[Gem Stone]

I have never had a problem opening my eyes in a pool, so you'd think I'd be fine in fresh water or salt water right? nope. I'm terrified to even try. especially in the gulf of mexico, our salt content is so high, I'm terrified it will just burn for hours

[Miyu]

My thought process - salt water is what lubricates our eyes... so wouldn't salt water not hurt so bad? It's been a few years since I was swimming in the ocean, I don't remember too much of a problem other than not being able to see, and they were a bit irritated later, but I attribute that to the fact that I was swimming at a beach in Boston...

Chlorine, well, I'm not fond of it, but I can open my eyes well enough to see. Then again, I used to pretend I was a mermaid in the bathtub as a kid, so I got a lot of practicce holding my eyes open underwater that way. I've never really used goggles, as they suck my eyeballs out (or at least it feels like they do).

Can't wait to get an underwater camera and see what funny faces I actually make :P

[Aziara]

My thought process - salt water is what lubricates our eyes... so wouldn't salt water not hurt so bad? It's been a few years since I was swimming in the ocean, I don't remember too much of a problem other than not being able to see, and they were a bit irritated later, but I attribute that to the fact that I was swimming at a beach in Boston...

Yeah, once you're used to it, salt water is much less irritating than chlorine. The absolute best for opening eyes though? Brackish water. I've gone swimming in a local bayou once, and the water was mildly salty. Human tears are only mildly salty as well, so it was very comfortable opening my eyes. However, there was really no point, as the water is so murky you can't see your hand in front of your face.
Hmm... I wonder if a saltwater pool could be made so that it matches the salinity of tears?

[MermaidNami]

there are saline pools. they're hgh maintenence, but feel incredible to swim in!

[Sarah Lotus]

How about those microbes? Do you know a good way to "google" the open water you plan on swimming in? I don't know exactly what I am looking at :)

[Nausicaa]

I totally second the brackish water!

For a good part of the summer every year I have a smallerish above ground pool that I maintain with salt rather than chemicals because with the dry air and climate of Colorado we usually don't get too many of the nasty airborne goopies that more humid climates get, and it doesn't hurt my eyes AT all. I don't even have to deal with that prickly uncomfortable feeling that you get when your eyes are adjusting. It actually just feels pretty weird because the water is quite a bit colder than body temprature, but it doesn't hurt haha.

The main problem that I've had with my salt water pool is that for the first week or so the water is crystal clear and absolutely beautiful, but after that because it's so stagnant it starts to get really cloudy and kind of gross looking. I've been assured by pool cleaning professionals that if the saline level is maintained and the PH is checked on a regular basis that it's still safe to open my eyes in it and that there shouldn't be any bacteria that would cause me trouble, but it still kind of ruins it for me XD

[Mermaid_Dominique]

Will try to open my eyes the next time I go swimming with my monofin, I am really afraid of the pain though, I tried to open them once when I was a child and remember it hurting pretty badly. I hate the fact that I can't wear my contact lenses underwater, I hate not being able to see things clearly. I will try it anyway, thanks for all the tips, it's really helpful! :)

[Mermaid Riia]

I use contacts because I'm blind as a bat, underwater or not :D and I feel like it helps my eyes tolerate better because the water is not in straight contact with my eyes (yes?) Swimming eyes open with contacts makes them stick into my eyeballs like they are hanging on for dear life. I think the major irritation comes when I'm trying to get them off..

[Mermaid Syrena]

Riiarin, aren't you worried about serious eye infections? Do they help you see clearly? I would LOVE to see clearer underwater, but I'm too afraid of eye infections to risk swimming with contact lenses.

I'm pretty myopic without my contacts, but I take them off when I swim. It sucks- the dichotomy: have safe eyes underwater BUT not see people clearly onland, or see better underwater (and possibly lose a lens or two in the water) and see people clearly above land.
The other day I swam in the extremely chlorinated water in my boyfriend's condo pool, though- and my eyes were so raw and swollen after that. And I couldn't see clearly for hours after. It was bad.

[Mermaid Riia]

Riiarin, aren't you worried about serious eye infections? Do they help you see clearly? I would LOVE to see clearer underwater, but I'm too afraid of eye infections to risk swimming with contact lenses.

I'm pretty myopic without my contacts, but I take them off when I swim. It sucks- the dichotomy: have safe eyes underwater BUT not see people clearly onland, or see better underwater (and possibly lose a lens or two in the water) and see people clearly above land.
The other day I swam in the extremely chlorinated water in my boyfriend's condo pool, though- and my eyes were so raw and swollen after that. And I couldn't see clearly for hours after. It was bad.

Yes I' am worried. I have had one mild infection due to nasty flu, not nice at all. That was before mermaiding..
I avoid using contacts in chlorinated water. Hate chlorine..
The ones I use when swimming is one day use only, very thin highly breathable lenses. I use one pair per swim and then throw them away. Plus use eyedrops after. They don't help me see clearly underwater. Everything is still a blur but a little less blur :D so to speak. And when it comes to losing lenses, well, you just learn how not to. I have lost a lens or two... or twenty :D

[Mermaid Syrena]

..Or twenty! HAHA.

[Mermaid Syrena]

And yeah it sucks. We don't have clean oceans/freshwater springs in Singapore, so chlorine pools really are the only option. I mean, it's good that they're clean- but the eyes stingggg.

[Mermaid Riia]

I see.. Oh bummer :/ we mostly have freshwater here ( land of thousand lakes you know eh eh :D ) but they are not so clear though more eye friendly

[Kumori Kitsune]

It's starting to get natural to open my eyes underwater

[mermaidm]

For me, I've only tried opening them in the ocean or a not heavily chlorinated pool. Salt water is not bad for your eyes (after all, your tears are salt water!) but it does sting a bit. For me, in the ocean, it did not sting until I came out of the water. By the end of the day my eyes were a bit red and watery but they didn't hurt.
In the pool, it didn't sting either. I could see better in the pool because the ocean was very seaweed-y that day.
i think it's definitely worth practicing! I had no technique, I just kept opening them underwater. Of course, it's blurry, but I can make out general shapes.
hope this helps :)

[Mermaid Syrena]

I'm wondering how mermaids who swim in aquariums see enough to be able to pick up their breathing hoses. (not being able to see it might be pretty dangerous...) Any opinions?

Also, what kind of eyesight degree dyou have to have in order to see relatively all right underwater? I've heard that people with onland 20/20 vision can't see well underwater. I have about 400 degrees for each eye, but I can't see clearly underwater either. I'm assuming it's people with low short sightedness and NO astigmatism who can see better underwater. T/F?

[MerEmma]

I would be able to see a breathing hose all right, I believe. I don't have *major* issues with chlorine water (major with saltwater but many many people prefer salt to chlorine) and I can see just as if I had astigmatism.

[Arella]

Kinda random but milk in your eyes before chlorine really helps, we do it for water polo (can't say anything about how safe or sanitary it is...)

[Anahita]

I'm wondering how mermaids who swim in aquariums see enough to be able to pick up their breathing hoses. (not being able to see it might be pretty dangerous...) Any opinions?

Also, what kind of eyesight degree dyou have to have in order to see relatively all right underwater? I've heard that people with onland 20/20 vision can't see well underwater. I have about 400 degrees for each eye, but I can't see clearly underwater either. I'm assuming it's people with low short sightedness and NO astigmatism who can see better underwater. T/F?

Hoses are pretty big, and they make them an obvious light color so the contrast against things like rocks makes them even more apparent.

As for personal eyesight underwater. I have an astigmatism that's bad enough to warrant special contact lenses (like, heavy-duty serious toric astigmatism lenses instead of the "average" astigmatism-designed ones) but I see underwater just like I see without my prescription. Things are a bit fuzzy - the details aren't so obvious, and small things like a bug, or crumbs - or underwater a little fish, or crab, or moon jelly - I won't really see as anything more than a fuzz; but I can actually see (like, the world isn't complete darkness or indistinguishable shapes like it would be for being blind)and I can read some things that are large enough font with a high enough contrast, but I'm going to totally miss sting-ray outlines (no biggie, I do the sting-ray shuffle anyhow) and small wildlife.

It might be because I'm used to having a degree of "vision difficulty" anyhow without lenses that it's not such an issue with me to notice it underwater rather than any physiological aspect. I think there is something to be said about being able to just be "used" to something so that your brain/body compensates for it... Like people who feel that the water goes up their nose and hurts and stuff.... You do get used to it, or just habitually do things to work around it.

If that makes any sense.

[Seatan]

It might be because I'm used to having a degree of "vision difficulty" anyhow without lenses that it's not such an issue with me to notice it underwater rather than any physiological aspect. I think there is something to be said about being able to just be "used" to something so that your brain/body compensates for it... Like people who feel that the water goes up their nose and hurts and stuff.... You do get used to it, or just habitually do things to work around it.

If that makes any sense.

Makes sense to me. Underwater I see about the same as I do without contacts (I have a -7.5 prescription), and it really doesn't bother me. As long as I can make out shapes, it's all good. If I'm swimming someplace where not being able to see small things might be dangerous (like around sea life which is easily damaged) then I will be wearing goggles anyway, 'cause I want to be able to see those pretty things! In a pool, I just open my eyes and see well enough not to hit people or the concrete sides, which is about all I could do walking around without glasses or contacts!

[Gem Stone]

well, I no longer have anything to fear about the salt burning my eyes. however bad I think the ocean will sting, it can't be worse than what I went through last night. the chlorine level in my gym's pool has gone up abundantly. I opened my eyes to swim and it felt like acid. my eyes started tearing up underwater to try to wash it out. I had to sit on the side with my eyes closed for five minutes for the pain to stop. after that, I don't think opening my eyes in the ocean is scary anymore

[Dee Tal]

I wonder if scleral contact lenses (the ones that almost cover the entire front of the eye could help with salt/chlorine irritation. Due to the size and now much they go under the eyelids I can't imagine them falling out.

[Mermaid Riia]

I wonder if scleral contact lenses (the ones that almost cover the entire front of the eye could help with salt/chlorine irritation. Due to the size and now much they go under the eyelids I can't imagine them falling out.
Well, normal contacts basically too do go under the lids :D that doesn't prevent them from falling when diving eyes open. I imagine same applies to larger lenses too. This time the size does not matter ;) When contacts happen to stay put they just suck in to your eyeball like a leech. Feels darn awful when trying to blink.

[Mermaid Melanie]

I have to wear contacts to see normally but have only kept them in once while mermaiding and they stayed in for about 10 mins then one popped out ... id recommend just leaving em out ! also I always encourage people to rinse their eyes and ears with fresh water after diving as there is plenty bacteria in the ocean just waiting to infect your ears and eyes ! its such a common problem with diving ! my eyesight is shocking - I tried to get laser eye surgery when I went home a few months back but sadly they are beyond laser help... the only other option would be to get the scalpel and insert a lens into my actually eye and stitch it up :( i had dreams of being able to see as well as the mokken people underwater but actually with practice you can learn to contract your eye muscles to focus more clearly underwater ... the sea gypsies/ mokken can see perfectly underwater - due to hundreds of generations working in the Andaman Sea diving for pearls, shells, lobster etc :) and since learning this ive been practicing and can notice a big difference !


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIKm3Pq9U8M

[Seatan]

My contacts will stay in when I am in salt water, but I agree that it can be dangerous--I only do it while wearing daily disposable contacts, and I wash my eyes out and throw those contacts away immediately afterward.

meraid Melanie, does it make you nervous to swim with such poor sight? My eyes are super bad as well, and ever since I hit the pool floor, I have been afraid to swim without goggles--swimming without being able to see at least when I come up is something I have found rather miserable. I wish my contacts would stay in during chlorine swims as well as they do in salt!

[Jessica]

Melanie,

my dad had a lens implant in one eye and he loves it! He can see incredibly well out of that eye now and was really thrilled with it. I'm very nearsighted without contacts + I have severe astigmatism. When I can save the $, I want to do the lens implant someday. My eye dr said that laser eye surgery will eventually be replaced by lens implant surgery.

It gives me hope that you swim without contacts! I'm terrified at the thought of going anywhere without contacts and wearing goggles isn't very mermaid like.

[Thalassa]

Yeah, I shouldn't but I wear my contacts swimming. I can keep them in by opening my eyes little by little so the contacts suction to my eyes. After that they stay put but they're uncomfy and dry as heck (the one time I got to swim in a saltwater pool they were comfy, but I mostly have to so chlorinated pools).

My eyesight is horribly nearsighted. I tried not wearing my contacts once. It was okay underwater, my underwater vision was about the same. The problem was above water. If a person was more than 2 feet away from me they blended into the wall of shifting color that is the background. I couldn't see my photographer, couldn't see bystanders, ran into a lot of people and poles and squinted ridiculously at kids who wanted to come ask questions. I felt really dumb.

Overall, I prefer goggles, but vanity doesn't let me wear them during gigs. I do have clear goggles, though, that block as little of my face as possible.

[Thalassa]

Melanie,

my dad had a lens implant in one eye and he loves it! He can see incredibly well out of that eye now and was really thrilled with it. I'm very nearsighted without contacts + I have severe astigmatism. When I can save the $, I want to do the lens implant someday. My eye dr said that laser eye surgery will eventually be replaced by lens implant surgery.

It gives me hope that you swim without contacts! I'm terrified at the thought of going anywhere without contacts and wearing goggles isn't very mermaid like.

Jessica: about how much did the surgery cost your dad? I want to save up for this but I can't seem to find even a ballpark estimate of the cost.

[Jessica]

Jessica: about how much did the surgery cost your dad? I want to save up for this but I can't seem to find even a ballpark estimate of the cost.


Hi thalassa,

my eye dr told me it's about $3500/eye in pinehurst, nc. He sends people to different surgeons based on their specific vision issues. The dr in pinehurst wasn't the cheapest, but he's one of the best for my severe astigmatism.

I don't remember what my dad paid....he had some other issues they were correcting too at the time.

I really want want to get it done someday but I'm going to wait a few years at least. Whenever you do LASIK or lens replacement, you do raise your risk of retinal detachment a little bit. My vision isn't 100% correctable with regular contacts....they don't make a contact strong enough for one of my eyes so reading far away is really frustrating! I've been wondering how to deal with swimming at parties with contacts....it seems like there's not a good option! My contacts get so blurry if I get water in them

[Thalassa]

That's me, too! *eyesight-challenged high five...most likely misses* ;-) My left eye is my bad one.

If I were you, I'd likely wear goggles and your contacts. (Although you can still get water in them, and goggles sometimes fog...you're right, there's no perfect option). You can always claim there are chemicals in the water that hurt your eyes. I came up with an elaborate story about how my eyes are made to see under water, but don't do well in the air, so I got contacts to help me see in the air (to see my friends the human children) but because of that I have to wear goggles.

Then I scrapped the whole thing and consistently ruin my contacts. XD

[Jessica]

That's me, too! *eyesight-challenged high five...most likely misses* ;-) My left eye is my bad one.

If I were you, I'd likely wear goggles and your contacts. (Although you can still get water in them, and goggles sometimes fog...you're right, there's no perfect option). You can always claim there are chemicals in the water that hurt your eyes. I came up with an elaborate story about how my eyes are made to see under water, but don't do well in the air, so I got contacts to help me see in the air (to see my friends the human children) but because of that I have to wear goggles.

Then I scrapped the whole thing and consistently ruin my contacts. XD


:) blind high five....oops! I accidentally slap someone in the face!

I've been thinking about this for awhile and I considered buying a bunch of $1 goggles for parties. Chlorine isn't good for your eyes, and I thought about giving every kid a new pair of cheap goggles to keep. That way the kids will protect their eyes and I could get away with wearing goggles too.

My other option because I like looking "real"....buy a box of daily disposable contacts and just deal with it! This is actually the cheaper option too....I can get daily contacts for $1 each/so $2 a party. It's not so bad if I keep my eyes closed underwater. Water still gets in my eyes when I come up for air, but it's not as bad as opening them underwater!

Oh what I wouldn't give to wake up and see clearly....

[Mermaid Melanie]

Hey guys ! When I first started mermaiding without contacts I found it very blurry but I could still make out coral , photographers , divers even a thin line from the surface to the weights at the bottom - when I do kids parties I generally don't wear contacts until it's over but if you like to be able to see clearly then I always carry a set of daily disposables -

Jessica - that's great your dad got it done - I'm kinda afraid if the whole procedure ! Hopefully one day I'll have the courage for it !

Also if you can't see when underwater simply put one hand stretched out in front of you to protect your head - we use this method in diving if you loose your mask

[Seatan]

Overall, I prefer goggles, but vanity doesn't let me wear them during gigs. I do have clear goggles, though, that block as little of my face as possible.

Thats why I made the masquerade mask goggles. They're still not the same as nothing, but at least they don't look quite as silly!

[Echinacea]

I love your masquerade goggles, Seavanna! I am going to get a mask and do that with a pair of mine! I was also thinking about glueing some rhinestones or something on a pair, as a sparkly but simple idea for when I don't want a mask, but do want something a bit fancier than just plain swim goggles.

[MermaidStormy]

My opinion is I don't see anything wrong with a mermaid wearing goggles. Im trying to open my eyes underwater at the moment just doesn't work out that way haha so I'm a proud mermaid to wear goggles I'd rather be able to see than not. My eyes are very bad in chlroinated water without my goggles.

[Ilyena]

I use the excuse that we mermaids are from salt water and the pool water is chlorine hence we have to protect our eyes also

[MermaidStormy]

I use the excuse that we mermaids are from salt water and the pool water is chlorine hence we have to protect our eyes also

Hehe nicely put :D

[Echinacea]

I am a big wuss when it comes to opening my eyes underwater! I decided that I would try and sparkle up my goggles some, so I used E6000 and added some rhinestones around the outside edges for Merfest. I only had one rhinestone come off! I think I may try and add a few more, though.

[MermaidStormy]

Haha your like me then a complete wuss haha !!!! Sounds like a brilliant Idea. I can open them only for a few seconds underwater if someone is taking a photo of me but that is about it haha lol

[Dee Tal]

Normally when I swim in a chlorine pool I can open my eyes fine. It stings a little when I surface but is alright. Last Saturday though I swam underwater with my monofin for the first time and holy carp! It felt like a garden hose turned on them while underwater and there was tons of burning upon surfacing. I found that squinting while underwater helped a lot but I imagine looks a little silly.

[Miyu]

I use the excuse that we mermaids are from salt water and the pool water is chlorine hence we have to protect our eyes also


Heehee that's a great excuse! I may have to adopt that :P Chlorine is just so harsh!

As for which goggles I use: Speedo Holowonders (http://www.recsupply.com/eSource3/items/itemDetail.aspx?siteId=0&bulkexists=0&itemNum=MM50357PH&store=&node=). Yes, they are for kids, but as anyone who knows me will tell you, I'm mostly kid-sized, LOL... thus the nickname of The Baby Mer :P ... Plus, it's very easy to tell which goggles are mine when everyone else's are black!

[Ilyena]

Adopt away :D, chlorine is such a pain...why can't they all just be salt chlorinated...soo much nicer

[SIF]

Is there a trick? xD This is something I struggle with, but I want to be able to do it! Especially for underwater filming or performances.

Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks! :D

Dear Katie,
The trick to opening the eyes under water is something I like to call "Subaguaoptosisobia" which breaks down to Under-water-eyes-psycosis/phobia. Smaller way of saying it: It's all in your head. Starting out comes in small steps, starting at just some 2-count flashes and opening little longer each time. I began in a river, but also open my eyes in every body I swim in(Sea, Salt, Chlorinated, Baquasiled, and Flourinated.) and can tell you that it's really nice to use a sink or bathtub filled, place something in the bottom and stick your head in. We taugh my sister that way when I was little. Just took a basket of different little figurines, knickknacks and toys and put them next to her. AFTER she had her face in the water she could choose one to put in the bottm of the tub, without looking, eventually letting her curiosity defeat her brains signals not to open her eyes. Hope this helped.
~Nyssa

[Maethor]

I know no one has posted on this thread for a while, but I wanted to say that I tried Lubricant Eye Gel Drops last week and they were amazing!! I have poor vision so they made it a bit blurrier, but that was the only downside. My eyes didn't hurt at all while opening my eyes in the pool! It was such a magical feeling. I wholeheartedly recommend buying them!

[Mermaid Nerida]

26758
This is where I swim regularly in the summer. The spring is located in that circle, and I LOVE opening my eyes down there, it's so clear, and the fish aren't afraid of you (even without tail they usually follow me around.) And the rainbow trout are HUGE they hang out near the spring, and it's just... AHH.....It's just magic. And for some reason, the water (which is freezing!) feels great to my open eyes.

[Fun123joker]

there is only one body of wateer where i can open my eyes an thats in oqunquit, maine. idk why i think the water is so cold you dont really notice it. and it has a bunch of rocks and coves! the down side is that you may have to watch out for sharp barnacles on the rocks but yeah

this reminds me of this creepy pasta. its a scary story but its not that long http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Water