I had a prescription scuba mask and it was worth it. They didn't bother with the astigmatism, which kept things cheap.

I haven't tried the goggles.

Why not wear disposable contacts with regular goggles? I think you can get them in that strength.

I had a sort of perscription scuba mask (not matched to my own perscription, but very curved lens) and they do make a world of difference. I'm afraid I can't tell you about those cost, since my mother bought them for me for a family Hawaii vacation years ago. It was great swimming in the little reef at our hotel's beach and being able to properly see all the fish. The downside is that I felt a bit silly walking back to where we were sitting while wearing the mask the whole time, but that was certainly better than staggering about blindly.

This site says $21.95 for prescription googles, but I don't know anything about them. (they were just one of the first google results for "prescription goggles") You probably be better off finding a sports shop or specialty swim shop where your kid can see which kinds fit best and so on.

Lastly, about goggles: Tell her to take off her goggles completely when she wants to empty the water out of them. I had a PE teacher in middle school who wound up with a glass eye because the one of the lens in his goggles shattered when he tried to empty water out of them while they were on his head.

The problem is she's only four, so she's completely dependent on glasses.

small_ruminant--where did you get the scuba mask? At the optometrist or through a specialty store?

On preview: Thanks kosher_jenny. I googled, but none of the sites were familiar to me. If I finally figure out where to get the blasted things, I'll definitely warn her about taking them all the way off.

I used such googles a few years back. The quoted price seems right as, if I recall, each lens was $8 or so and could be replaced as one's sight weakened.

They didn't correct for astigmatism, but they let me see how far an approaching lane mate was and where the wall was for clumsy flip turns that didn't include head bonking.

Mine certainly weren't ground in the manner eyeglasses are ground (or however they do it in modern times) and worked on a system not unlike that used for drug store reading glasses).

You might dig up the number for your local Master's swim club (start with the Y). It will be made up of, for the most part, serious swimmers 25 and above. They can direct you to a store near you that can help you find good swimming gear.

Good luck.

saf- my scuba mask was the same.

jrossi4r, I got them from my scuba teacher, who got them from a specialty stores.

I bought the mask and then mailed it in. They mailed in back with the lenses in and the old ones in a bag, so I could switch the mask back to standard if I ever wanted to give it away or anything.