You know, after all this, what helped me build the confidence to try swimming at 60? These swimming goggles. I have high myopia and astigmatism. That means I cannot see anything once in the water. I am also claustrophobic. So that doesn’t help at all. I just want to come up, be able to see everything, and take a breath.

Talked to my doctor, and he suggested getting prescription swimming goggles. I didn’t even know you could get those. He showed me a few sites and suggested the same number for both eyes. He figured as long as I could somewhat see, it would be fine.

After some research, I came across this site – e-optician.com. They wanted the full prescription. I had to go back to the doctor and get it. What is crazy is they got me progressive glasses and to the exact prescription – right down to the detail of nosebridge size.

I was a bit skeptical. And it was not very cheap. But the company kept me updated on the progress. I realized it was coming from Hong Kong.

And a couple of weeks later, it was delivered!

It has made a complete day-and-night difference to me. Now that I can keep my eyes open underwater, I am less afraid and have progressed so far that I’ve made it halfway through the pool in freestyle. So about 12-15 yards. It’s the side breath that I still can’t master.

But very happy and highly recommend them to anybody who wants to try our prescription swimming goggles.

One funny side story – when the goggles came, I tried them on, and things were fairly hazy. I was muttering under my breath that these things weren’t what they were advertised to be, when my daughter pointed out that maybe I had them on the wrong way. Unlike normal glass arms, a headband in swim goggles is symmetrical.

Switched it up and voila!!

Now all my excuses not to learn swimming have apparently been removed.

P.S. When I took this picture after coming out of the pool, I forgot to tuck the band loop in – I am looking like a dork here!!