Shop prescription swim goggles with corrective optical lenses for clear vision in the pool. Prescription swim goggles use step-diopter lenses in half-step strengths for nearsighted and farsighted swimmers, in adult and junior fits. SwimOutlet carries corrective swim goggles with anti-fog lenses and soft silicone gaskets.
Prescription swim goggles correct your vision in the water without contacts, using step-diopter optical lenses set into a standard goggle frame. They come in adult and junior fits and in clear or mirrored lenses. Use the questions below to match a diopter strength to your eyeglass prescription. For non-corrective options, see all swim goggles.
Prescription Swim Goggle FAQs
Are prescription swim goggles worth it?
Yes. If you wear glasses or contacts with a prescription of -1.5 or stronger, prescription swim goggles make a real difference. You can read the pace clock across the pool, see the wall on your approach, and follow your coach from the water. They also remove the risk of losing a contact lens in the pool. Step-diopter goggles start at a low price point, an affordable upgrade over swimming blind or risking contacts in chlorinated water.
What are the best prescription swim goggles?
It depends on your budget and swimming level. For everyday lap swimming and swim team, budget optical goggles with soft silicone gaskets and anti-fog coating are the most popular choice, and they are easy to replace when the anti-fog wears off. For competitive racing, look for a low-profile prescription racing goggle with a firm gasket and wide peripheral view. For outdoor pools and open water, mirrored optical lenses reduce glare while still correcting your vision.
How do I choose the right prescription for swim goggles?
Use your eyeglass prescription as your starting point, specifically the sphere number (the first number, like -3.25 or +2.00). Step-diopter goggles come in half-diopter increments, so pick the closest available strength. If you are between two diopters, round toward the weaker prescription, since slightly under-corrected is more comfortable than over-corrected in the water. If your left and right eyes have different prescriptions, some brands let you order each lens separately. Step-diopter goggles correct nearsightedness or farsightedness but do not correct astigmatism.
Can kids get prescription swim goggles?
Yes. Junior-sized optical goggles use the same diopter range as adult versions in a smaller frame designed for children's faces. They help kids on swim team see the pace clock and scoreboard during practice and meets. Junior prescription goggles use the same soft silicone gaskets and easy-adjust straps as standard kids' swim goggles, with the corrective lens as the only difference.
Do prescription swim goggles work for astigmatism?
Standard step-diopter swim goggles correct nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia) only, not astigmatism. If your astigmatism is mild (under 1.0 diopter of cylinder), most swimmers find that correcting just the sphere component gives enough clarity in the water. For significant astigmatism, custom-ground prescription goggles from an optical lab are the only option, but they typically cost $60 to $100 or more and need one to two weeks of processing time.
