Four eyes question

[Josh Levinson]

For all you glasses-wearing divers out there... I've heard a lot about having a spare mask with you when you dive tech, but what are the views on wearing contacts? Is that preferred over prescription mask lenses? Or should we physically inferior divers just not be setting foot in the water? Thanks.


Josh

 

[DennisW]

Josh.

My wife and I both use prescription lenses. I also just added a stick on bifocal to one of my lenses so I can better read my gauges and computer. For the past six months I have been wearing contacts normally, but I still intend to use the prescription lenses for my mask.

I know some people that are very comfortable using contacts and diving with plain lenses in their mask. I have never tried it, but prefer not to. If you want to, try the contacts and see how it works for you. Everyone has different preferences and whatever works for you is what you should do.

 

[scubaturek]

I've done both. Currently, I use the color-correcting (red) SeaVision prescription lenses in my Aqualung mask. The lenses are great for shallow, clear, sunny conditions, but I think they cut out too much available light in darker conditions. And they're wierd on night dives.

I keep my contacts and and a non-Rx mask for backup on dive trips, but I'm gonna get regular Rx lenses in a new mask, and turn my SeaVisions into backup.

Joe

 

[voln]

Josh - if you take part in a lot of sports you might want to consider lasik - it is the best thing I have done. Before that I used to have prescription masks but the problem is on the surface you are then hunting around for your glasses before you can see. If you have a good secure mask you may be better off with contacts, they don't always slip out if your mask comes off, but it is a risk you have to take....


V.

 

[Lloyd]

I am a Dr. in this field (eyes). I have been diving with contacts since '83 without ever losing one or having a problem. Wear disposables and carry spares if you are worried about losing one. They are also safer. LASIK is about 90% successful, but 10% of the time you end up with complications including worse vision.

 

[D.I.R.Lizard]

And I just about had myself talked into Lasik.
Maybe I will keep thinking.

I cannot wear contacts, so I have prescription lenses in my primary and backup mask. Even though while underwater I really don't need them.

I agree once on the surface I always have to leave my mask on until I can get to my glasses or walk/swim around half blind.

That says alot that Lloyd is a DR. for eyes and has not had it done.
My dive buddy had it done and loves it, I also know several others that had it and swear by it. I would be the first one I know to get screwed up worse.

 

[Josh Levinson]

Thanks for your input guys. What about in technical diving? The problem here is that if you lose a contact, it may be somewhat more severe than in a typical recreational diving scenario. Do tech divers generally wear contacts?

As for the laser surgery, I don't know how anyone can actually do that at this stage? 10% is relatively small, but just think... 1 in 10 people that do it muck up their vision even more than it already is. By the way, is it in fact as much as 10%? I've heard more towards 1 or 2%.

Thanks again.


Josh

 

[Ontario Diver]

I had LASIK two years ago. It worked great for me. I went from 20/infinity to slightly better than 20/20.

My wife did not get a perfect result - had a problem; but this was cleared up by a no-charge follow up procedure (My Dr. does not charge for "touch ups" for the rest of your life - and his practise has been in place since 1914 - aint going out of business!)

I never heard of LASIK complications as high as 10%. Most of the literature I read suggested between 1 and 3%. One resource stated 6% but also quoted that you could reduce that to less than 1% by choosing to use a full O.D. rather than using a technician and using one that had performed more than 100 procedures. (I am remembering this from a few years ago so do your own research) LASIK has been around for almost 15 years now so it is pretty advanced from the way it was 10 years ago.

Check out your Dr. tho..

 

[SunshineFish]

Originally posted by Josh Levinson
As for the laser surgery, I don't know how anyone can actually do that at this stage? 10% is relatively small, but just think... 1 in 10 people that do it muck up their vision even more than it already is. By the way, is it in fact as much as 10%? I've heard more towards 1 or 2%.

I dove with contacts until I decided to get LASIK last November. Like Ontario Diver, I was 20/infinity and now I am 20/20. Worth every penny not to have to find my glasses to see the alarm clock in the morning, fall asleep watching TV and not worry about crushing my glasses....and the list goes on.

Depending on your current presciption, the % success rate will vary. I was told that 10% of patients with my prescription don't get 20/20 but that 90% do get 20/25. Best advice I can give is to consult with a couple of reputable doctors and weigh the pros and cons for yourself.

 

[Lloyd]

Where I work we get the failures from the other docs. The success rate will be higher with a very experienced Dr. but it is still there. Check out www.surgicaleyes.org for the possible complications.

I have had several students(family practice, ophthamology and optometry) get Lasik. Most have done well, but one went from 20/20 vision with glasses to 20/40 with glasses. He was one out of about 10 students with the procedure.

If you get it done, find a corneal specialist who has done alot. His complication rate will be lower and he can handle the complications that occur better.