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Swim Goggle Choices for Swimmers - Protect Your Eyes With Swim Goggles

All About Goggles for Swimmers

By Mat Luebbers, About.com

The styles of goggles are always changing, and there are hundreds of brands and models around the world. Sized for children or adults, designed for oval or round eye sockets, tinted, clear, hypoallergenic, prescription, or anti-fog, these little things make opening your eyes underwater much more comfortable. They also protect your eyes from corneal damage.

  • Swedish Style
    Goggles with no gaskets are commonly known as Swedish goggles. These are very popular, are very adjustable, and can be inexpensive. Just make sure you are comfortable with the feeling of the goggles edge around your eyes.

  • Foam Gasket Style
    Adding foam gaskets can make goggle fit easier. It softens the contact point between the goggles and your skin and can conform to irregularities. However, the shape and size of the goggle will affect how well they fit (round, oval, big, small, etc.) and the foam could separate from the goggle with age, making the goggle useless.

  • Hard Rubber, Silicone, or Other Gasket Style
    When the side portion of the goggle is manufactured from a softer plastic the contact point between the goggles and your skin can be softened by forming a gasket-like seal out of this same material - an integrated gasket. These work well for many people and avoid the problem of gasket.

  • Other Styles
    There are many other types of goggles out there, from scuba mask-like styles to goggles designed just for kids. One of those might work for you, so consider them, too.

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