Bruising under eyes from tight swimming goggles?

[buni1961]

hello -

I wore a new pair of swim goggles with suction to prevent leaking I'd estimate about 25-30 times this summer, 20-40 minutes per swim.  I am a long distance swimmer, female, age 447.  I noticed at the end of August I was developing these marked "troughs" under my eyes and I stopped using the goggles.  I also would have reddish discoloration/ bruising under the eyes after I removed the goggles which seemed to dissipate within a couple of hours.

I now have deep dark circles with discoloration under my eyes that is marked. I was sick for a couple of weeks with a cold/post nasal drip in October which may have made this worse.  Anyway, it has been two months since I stopped using the goggles.  I am very very worried about these awful looking troughs.  

A friend asked me three weeks ago if I had a black eye and someone else remarked I looked "very tired".

I'm very concerned that I have done permanent damage to the skin under my eyes by wearing these suction type goggles with the resultant pressure and and I'm wondering if you have ever seen this problem.  Is there anything I can do?   What is the prognosis and is it possible I have done permanent damage?

[kaysee279]

Well, funny enough I just got home from an hour swim with my new goggles to Google my embarrassment. I finished my laps, and I finally felt so wonderful that I found an exercise that made me pain free, that helped my poor back, and my poor ballet ruined joints and my anxiety. To my horror, as I passed by the bathroom mirror, I saw that I had bruising, and red welts wear the goggles were. It looked as though I had been punched in the face several times. I was mortified. I covered myself with a scarf, I had to get home without scaring anyone. Now reading all of these posts, I am saddened, that, (I am 37) wearing goggles is not a good idea. Right? It is still painful--two hours later, and I can still see the dents...it is horrible.

[lizardlb314]

The foam backed goggles are still made by a few companies. I use the ones by Barracuda which are marketed with a "positive pressure" seal (aka ergonomic fit) rather than suction to keep them in place. I can't say I've ever had an issue with them. Got mine here: http://www.aquagear.com/barracuda-medalist/

[NursePeta]

Thanks for the tips but why or where are the old foam type of goggles. I want to avoid that bruising and goggle marks on the fat deposits. I train for an hr 5 days a week and don't think a bigger mask would suit the training. I'm getting fitter quickly but miss those foam backed goggles. I'm in Australia and train in the pool after some of those Olympic types...I can't see them with any of the foam type goggles either...maybe I'm just too old(49), and remembering about 15 years ago when they were on the market.

[dt1234]

Amazingly, Mark Spitz trained and competed throughout his entire illustrious olympic career without goggles, ever!

Goggles will always cause "raccoon eyes" appearance.  I've been a competitive swimmer my entire life, ocean surf lifeguard and triathlete.  So be it, goes with the territory.  

Are we swimming for vanity or for sport, health and fitness?  What's the big deal?  In America, people are so concerned and consumed with their looks,  especially on their faces, most of the world, place their focus on overall health and well-being and not superficialities.  

Don't focus on this......unless there is any sort of health issue involved and/or causing the problems, why make such a big deal over some rings under your eyes after swimming?

I have a friend who was involved in a car accident and had to have plastic surgery on her face, including the eye areas.  She had to have some dermal filler injected used to help reshape/restructure her face from the damage done by the accident.  Oh, I forgot to mention she was a former competitive swimmer......Well guess what, she refused to give up swimming, because of the accident and that she had filler around and under her eyes, every time she uses her swedish style goggles, she gets deep imprints because of the filler under the eyes becomes compressed.  She doesn't care, she laughs about it............she is alive and she deals with it by living life and making life happen!

It's great and wonderful to be alive, being able to getting up each and every day and being able to swim, in the first place, enjoying and appreciating the more important aspects of life, life itself, embrace it and stop focusing on goggle lines, marks, etc!  

All the Best!

[lindae329]

Having just got into swimming at age 50, after 5 one-to-one lessons with a brilliant teacher in central London, I have been concerned about the marks caused by my Speedo goggles.  I found this thread and became even more concerned!

After reading the comment from Catalina I immediately ordered a pair of View Selene goggles specially designed for women.  I have just tried them out today and I am delighted and relieved by the result.  I wore them for 25 minutes and they only left very slight marks which had disappeared when I looked 2 hours later.  Definitely recommend them.  I'm also trying to spend part of my time in the pool doing back stroke, without goggles.  Hope this helps!

[Mariabr]

I joined the club of goggle eyes.  I've been swimming for about a year, twice a week, for 40 mins.  I am 51 yrs old.  Last Friday night, I swam. Saturday, I noticed the area below the eyebrow of my right eye, swollen;, Sunday, it got worse, now also the temple area was swollen, as well as under my eye. By Monday AM, I ran to the doctor. After many, many questions and examination, she concluded it was a bruise.  It looked like someone had punched me on the eye, but it was only swollen, not black and blue.   I have small face, so I've been using goggles kind of tight because otherway I get water.  My husband mentioned a couple of times that I was wearing them too tight.   I'm going to reduce swimming time to 30 mins. and I'm buying a mask.  I've been using an ice bag twice a day, taking ibuprofin and it's getting better.  I hope I don't keep the bag under my eye.  Thanks for sharing.   Love, Maria