DAN Medics and Researchers Answer Your Dive Medicine Questions
Q: Is it safe to wear soft contact lenses while diving?
A: Many divers wear contact lenses without issue during their dives. It’s crucial, however, to be aware of potential challenges, such as increased dryness or irritation due to factors like dry air in the dive mask, prolonged wear, mask squeezes, or exposure to saltwater. Maintaining good hygiene practices, including thorough handwashing before handling lenses and avoiding contamination, is essential.
The general recommendations for divers who wear contacts include using preservative-free lubricating drops, ensuring the dive mask fits properly to minimize leakage, and having a backup pair of glasses in case of discomfort or issues underwater. Individual tolerance and experiences may vary, and divers should be attentive to any discomfort, redness, or irritation during a dive. If any of those signs occur, discontinue the dive and seek medical attention.
If you have specific concerns or problems related to wearing contacts while diving, consult an eye care professional or an ophthalmologist, especially one with expertise in dive medicine, who can provide personalized advice and recommendations.
— Shannon Sunset, AEMT, NCPT
Q: Does DAN have information regarding diving for individuals with low iron levels or who have undergone an IV iron infusion?
A: Anemia itself may not categorically prohibit diving, but your doctor should clear you for diving only after considering multiple factors, including identifying the cause of your anemia. One concern revolves around the impact of anemia on exercise tolerance, a crucial aspect for divers who may need reserve strength and endurance for emergencies. Anemia diminishes the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity, potentially affecting stamina and the ability to respond effectively in challenging underwater situations.
A significant worry related to anemia is its potential to induce a rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). When coupled with exercise and the vascular fluid shifts that occur with diving, anemic divers may face an increased risk of heart problems, particularly if they are predisposed to or have existing cardiovascular conditions. Anemia imposes an augmented workload on the heart as it compensates for decreased oxygen levels.
Factors such as anemia severity, response to the infusion, and overall health affect the waiting period before resuming diving after a required IV iron infusion. Following an iron infusion, the body requires time to replenish and utilize iron, enhancing hemoglobin levels and oxygen-carrying capacity. The recovery period varies; it can take weeks to months for the body to fully adjust and stabilize iron and hemoglobin levels. No diving should occur soon after receiving iron infusions and during recovery.
Clearance for diving hinges on individual response to iron treatment, normalization of iron levels, improvement in anemia, and the restoration of exercise capacity. Close monitoring and assessment by your physician team are essential to your return to diving. AD
— Shannon Sunset, AEMT, NCPT
© Penyelam Siaga – Q4 2024