Help for older eyes needed

[stuartv]

That's exactly what I'm thinking of doing? Do you recall what brand you got? Are you able to defog them ok too?

Not sure about Storker, but these are the ones I use:

https://www.amazon.com/Hydrotac-20-Magnification-Reusable-Bifocal/dp/B01B508ZC8/

 

[Dark Wolf]

Disclaimer-i have not read the entire thread.

Are you open to contacts? I am near sighted, but recently got to the point that I need "readers". My optometrist recommended "mono vision" contacts. One eye is for distance, one is for close up. Takes some getting used to, but I love em.

Second disclaimer. If you hunt, or ride a motorcycle, this may not be for you. I noticed downsides in regards to those two a activities.

DW

 

[aquacat8]

For those who wear contacts: Be careful about cleaning, or even consider just wearing dailies for Scuba diving: critters that are in the water can get trapped between your eye and the contact and cause infections. Remember, as scuba divers we are exposed to a gazillion micro organisms that are actually unknown to science, uncatalogued, not in the taxonomy. It’s still a wild blue world out there!

 

[Storker]

That's exactly what I'm thinking of doing? Do you recall what brand you got? Are you able to defog them ok too?

I don't remember the brand.

I use spit for defog, and I don't have any issues with the stick-on lenses. I am a little more careful when I rub the defog onto the glass, though.

For those who wear contacts: Be careful about cleaning, or even consider just wearing dailies for Scuba diving: critters that are in the water can get trapped between your eye and the contact and cause infections.

If a critter get caught between my contact and my eyeball, I'm pretty certain I'd take that contact out long before any infection had time to develop.

 

[caruso]

If a critter get caught between my contact and my eyeball, I'm pretty certain I'd take that contact out long before any infection had time to develop.

If it was microscopic you wouldn't know it was there.

 

[inka]

That's exactly what I'm thinking of doing? Do you recall what brand you got? Are you able to defog them ok too?

Bought them from this site in Canada:
Lentilles autocollantes - Lee Valley Tools

 

[scrane]

I use the Trident Aqua Optics product, which is optical glass and glued to the inside of your mask. No worries about fogging or coming loose and is removable by heat or a single edge razor, depending on what adhesive you use. I used the UV cured optical cement for a secure mount.
I tried the stick on plastic lenses and didn’t like them.

 

[ReadyDiverOne]

I've never liked the vinyl stick ons that can come off in the bucket and are, optically, not that great. They are better than nothing, but you get what you pay for.

These are a little more expensive, but far better: https://www.amazon.com/MAGNI-VIEW-M...UTF8&qid=1549570859&sr=8-3&keywords=magniview

The pictures in the listing are not that helpful, but it's a round piece of glass, flat on one side and ground on the other. Comes in a couple of strengths. You use the included adhesive, which cures in UV light (a couple of minutes outside in the sun). It works really well if you're careful and the cheater can only be removed with a lot of effort. It will never come off by accident. It's basically permanent and the clue is crystal clear. Once installed, it looks like it was ground along with the rest of the lens.

The optics are way better than the cheaper ones. I put in the bottom of the mask, one on each side, to read computers or camera settings. Crystal clear and works great. You can buff, defog and clean to your heart's content without worry. It's more expensive (and only one comes in the package), but I have them in 3 or 4 masks and love them.

Only caveat is that while its perfect for reading a computer or camera, it's a smallish "porthole" of correction. If you're looking for something that will let you look for small critters and need a broader field of view, then a corrective mask is about the only option.

Hi, can you tell me, the package for this product says it contains ONE lens for the LEFT eye. So am I correct in understanding that you buy two and just install the second one in the RIGHT dive mask lens? If so, does that work ok? Thanks for responding.

 

[jgttrey]

Exactly. There is only 1 lens in each package. I have no idea why they advertise it as a "left eye" lens other than I guess they assume you wear your computer on the left wrist. It doesn't matter what side you put it on. It's perfectly round, flat on one side and convex on the other and works equally well on either side -- I mount one on each side, which means two kits. I've done at least three masks, two lenses each, and all worked perfectly.

Three installation tips:

1. Because one side is convex, and it is subtle particularly in the 2.0x version, it is important to make sure you are mounting the FLAT side against the inside glass of your mask. You can easily tell by setting the lens on a hard surface. If it rocks, that's the convex side. If it doesn't, you've got the flat side and that's what glues to the inside of the mask. I think some folks (including my dive buddy) inadvertently attach it with the convex side against the mask lens, which (a) is not very secure and (b) doesn't work. Properly applied, it will not come out unless you pry it out with a razor blade and a lot of gentle persuasion. It is very, very secure.

2. The glue is very thin and only a drop or two is necessary to fully cover the area of the lens. Until you expose it to UV light (a sunny day is perfect), you can move the lens around very easy and it is easy to get all the bubbles out. Until you take it outside in the sun, there is no adhesive effect at all. The lens will slide around freely if you even slightly tilt the mask. So, be careful to make sure the lens is exactly where you want it before you expose it to the sun because the glue almost instantly starts to set.

3. What worked best for me was to clean the mask and lens well, apply a drop of two of the glue inside the mask and get the lens exactly where I want it -- all while inside and out of sun. Then go outside, expose it to direct sun (making sure not to tilt the mask and move the lens) for about a minute. Then I go back inside and use a toothpick to remove any excess glue from around the lens - because the lens has been freely moving back and forth on the glue, there will be a smear of it around the perimeter. Another few minutes in the sun and it is more or less permanently attached.

It is not hard to do, just take your time. Optically, its 1000x better than the vinyl ones.

 

[Geobound]

I had the same problem and my LDS showed me the stick on lenses and the XS Scuba Gauge Reader Mask.

I decided to just go with the gauge reader mask and save myself the hassle of having to stick things on.

So far I'm pretty happy with them.

XS Scuba – Gauge Reader Mask – Aquarius Scuba

And here is the writeup on the mask.......

Have you ever looked at your computer while diving and wished the numbers looked bigger? With the new Gauge Reader mask, that wish has now become a reality. Our newest mask incorporates magni-fication lenses of +1.75 into the bottom of each lens. This allows you to see normally through the main lenses and yet, the ability to look down and see everything BIGGER. Ideal for photographers, videographers, “mature” divers and just about anyone who could use a little extra visual boost.

• New design for 2013
• Improved closeup magnification with new single plane glass
• Unique design with +1.75 positive diopter magnification in lower one third of the lenses
• Double feather edged sealing surface
• Durable split window polycarbonate frame
• Includes mask storage box (p/n AC110)