I can't see!

[Paddles]

:11: Hi ya'll

I tried doing a search of various forums before posting this but came up with tons on non-related posts, so sorry if this is redundant...

I can't see my gauges! While diving today, I could not see my depth or air gauges. Had to have my buddy help out.

I wear reading glasses (Yep, the over-40 thing has hit home) and when I recently went to the eye doc about prescription glasses, she said, no you don't need them; just use over-the-counter reading glasses when you need them until things settle down. I guess my eyes are going to get worse before they stablize to a particular prescription? Okay. Fine.

My last 5 or 6 dives were fine, but today was frustrating! My watch was ok to read, but then again it glows in the dark and there aren't any numbers anyway...kinda know my way around the clock...but I could not see my depth or air...not a good feeling...

My question is: I'm currently renting gear (a newbie) and looking to buy. A friend suggested my getting a prescription mask (but I don't have a prescription!) and I was wondering if someone can recommend a compass, depth gauge, air gauge, and/or computer that I can get that has larger than average numbers...Do "they" make 'em?

Thanks for the input.

Paddles

 

[lairdb]

My question is: I'm currently renting gear (a newbie) and looking to buy. A friend suggested my getting a prescription mask (but I don't have a prescription!) and I was wondering if someone can recommend a compass, depth gauge, air gauge, and/or computer that I can get that has larger than average numbers...Do "they" make 'em?

Here's an alternative thought -- when I was coaching target shooting, we were experimenting for a while with stick-on magnifying membranes that adhered to the inside surface of the shooter's glasses and provided magnification, much like reading glasses.

[time passes]

Digging around in the shooting bag produces "Optx Hydrotac reading lenses".

[time passes]

Googling on them not only produces several online sources, but I feel very clever -- I found an Australian dive equipment website promoting them for exactly this purpose: http://www.underwater.com.au/listing.php/id/1295. I have no commercial connection, etc. etc. Not sure they'd stay in place if you flodded, but at $15 the pair, that's not an impossible risk.

--Laird

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

For an out of the box remedy, that you don't have to fool around with trying to stick them on and hope they stay, you might try the SeaVision "gage reader" model. It has small magnifiers in the lower inside portion of each lense.

My arms are a bit too short now myself, and they solved the problem straight away.

 

[MgicTwnger]

Here's the stick-on lenses: Diveoptx. I have the same over-40 eyesight as you. They work fine for me.

http://s1059kxm.leisurepro.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1224&prmenbr=946

 

[scubatoys]

The only thing I can tell you about the Dive Optix is some of our customers put them on and they stay on for years... while others have lost them on the first dive. Make sure the glass is very clean before installing them... Do the toothpaste rubbing thing to get them squeeky clean.

I also know someone who did not have good luck keeping them in place, so he put a little tiny dab of aquarium glue along one side.

You can probably get along fine with the 2 - I find the only difference between the 2 or 3 etc is how far I hold my gauges away to see them - and it doesn't really matter it me if its 12 inches or 15 inches... so I just use 2's....

 

[RICHinNC]

One other solution is to purchase your own guages and computer that are in a format easy to read. In the 50 realm myself, I find that the Genesis and Oceanic guages are pretty good in that department....and pretty good guages overall. Just a thought
rich

 

[miketsp]

See my cheap DIY solution.
Much cheaper than changing instruments...
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=597104&postcount=8

 

[Kim]

The doctor had it right! In my case it took two years to settle down, it can be different for different people. Whatever you do use cheap solutions now as things will change quickly. One thing to remember is that cheap, temporary optics, are much cheaper than new gauges. In my case I also need to read the display from a digital camera for the settings. I have just ordered a prescription dive mask, but my prescription has now stayed the same for over 5 years. If you want to know what your prescription is now I'd suggest just going to an optician (not a doctor - that's overkill!). They have machines that read your eyes in a couple of minutes - and everywhere I've ever been it's free. Your general purpose vision probably won't change too much - but close up changes quite a bit quite quickly.

 

[The Kraken]

Paddles,
When I hit that magic number the same thing happened to me - couldn't read my gauges!!
Like some many men, I opted for the cheapest rememdy first, the little thingies that stick onto the inside of your mask. In my opinion, pure crap!. One flood out and they're gone. DON"T EVEN THINK ABOUT rinsing your mask out with any water force at all.
I took the plunge and bought one of SeaVisions "Gauge Reader" masks with the color correcting lenses. I absolutely love it!! +2.0 diopter.
I since have gone to bifocals and had to get prescription lenses. Because of my satisfaction with the "Gauge Reader" I elected to order my new mask from SeaVision. I love this one as well.

 

[DI_Guy]

I have a Mares ESA mask which has six separate lenses.... two in the front, two at the sides and two at the bottom. I have "over 40 eyes" too and I plan to put reading lenses in the bottom two len locations.

Bubblemaker