Maskless and disappointed.. for now

[oreocookie]

To the OP, you have astigmatism( that's the last 2 of the 3 numbers)...If the 2nd(cylinder) is greater than 1.25 or so, you'll need this presciption in either a mask or contact lenses(ctl's)..do yourself a favor and be fitted with ctl's, sounds like that is what's needed.........

Yup, the cylinder in both eyes is greater than that (2.00 and 2.50, i think,). Judging by the amount of comments about getting contacts, I may get a second opinion about it, but I'm still not sure how comfy I'd be with them.

 

[diver 85]

to clarify, my doctor warned me against wearing contacts, because one eye is much stronger than the other and if I were to get an infection in my good eye, I could probably say goodbye to driving, reading... not a good situation. The explanation makes sense to me, so I've never really questioned it. I'm thinking of going to the local drugstore, find a pair with the right correction (what i would get if i ordered the lenses through the lds) and see if they're even a possibility or not. Will also probably check with an optometrist or optician to see if any of the Rx could be left out without too much problem. Hopefully I'll have it figured out in time for my first class, because I know that I cannot read the SPG they use on their rental gear without help (found that out when I did a Discover Scuba).

The 1st part of your post makes no sense ie are you talking about anisometropia(unequal powers between the 2 eyes) or are you talking about amblyopia(noncorrectable weaker vision in 1 eye compared to the other eye not due to pathology---there is a BIG difference between the 2).....please give more info......

 

[diver 85]

Yup, the cylinder in both eyes is greater than that (2.00 and 2.50, i think,). Judging by the amount of comments about getting contacts, I may get a second opinion about it, but I'm still not sure how comfy I'd be with them.

There are new (soft)ctl's out now that correct this amount VERY easily........get another opinion, probably doc #1 is not a ctl specialist......I've had many patients come into my practice in the past wanting ctl's but said the last eye doctor said they could not wear them-----lol, 3 weeks later they were some of the happiest, best seeing (without glasses) people in the world........Don't take just one person's advice on this, IMO.........

 

[oreocookie]

The 1st part of your post makes no sense ie are you talking about anisometropia(unequal powers between the 2 eyes) or are you talking about amblyopia(noncorrectable weaker vision in 1 eye compared to the other eye not due to pathology---there is a BIG difference between the 2).....please give more info......

I'm not even sure I can pronounce those words let alone understand them (or really the difference between them), so I'll give a bit of info, and hopefully you'll get your answer. I had crossed eyes when I was born, surgery to fix that, wore a patch on my left eye when I was little because it was stronger than the right eye. Now, as far as I'm concerned about 90% of what I "see" is coming from my left eye, the right just gives me for periferal vision and makes me not a cyclops. As far as the Rx is concerned, I have a different prescription for each eye, with the right having .5 diopters higher in both sphere and cylinder. (if it matters, off the top of my head, the left is +2.00 sph, +2.00 cyl, and the right is +2.50 sph, +2.50 cyl)

I hope you can find the answer to the question somewhere in there.

 

[jimmysdevoted]

Ia hve a very high index RX.
here steh funny part, so does the man at the local LDS. I can see wonderfully out of his mask!

So heers what they said at Rheas,
buy any mask that fits right and your comfortable with. get a copy of the RX, give the mask and RX to them. they will get the mask done. It costs about the same as a pair of glasses.
They havent had a pair come back in all the years they are doing this.
So thats where I am heading, trying on masks, ordering the same mask online at a discount price and giving it to him. Some LDS are matching online pricing now..

I had some interesting events wearing mask with contacts, I dont reccommend it. I had a lens stick to my eye because it dried out, and caused some scar tissue.
I had a few eye infections that caused problems.


julie

 

[spectrum]

oreocookie

First of all let's separate the vision correction from the starter package deal. Get the discount if you can and move on.

Regarding the Rx the clerk was either trying to sell what they had or was totally ignorant on the topic. Nearly any Rx can be replicated in the form of inlays that get bonded to the inside of your mask. A shop that is on the ball will send it all out and get it done for you, no doubt they get a wholesale break or mark it up a bit.

A popular provider that has been mentioned is Welcome to Prescription Dive Mask and there are others. If you study the site you will see how to mark the mask to let them know how to position the lenses and that's about it. If you have persistent concerns about them being able to do your Rx I'm sure you can fax or email a copy of the RX to them for confirmation. The off the shelf standard diopter lenses frequently are not what divers need and this closes the gap. I have had masks such as this done with single and bi focal lenses and they work out great.

The only downside is that it keeps me trying (and buying) more masks just because they may be new or vintage. In the end that may be a blessing $$$ !

Since you will be committing more $$ to this mask it is best that you get it in the water to make sure it really works for you.

A little more can be found here.

Pete

 

[donnad]

i just had my prescripton mask done by Prescription Dive Mask as well. i have astigmatism as well, and wear progressive lenses. i had them do a bifocal in one eye, for reading my computer/guages. my mask turned out great. these guys know what they're doing and can do all kinds of rx. give them a call. and it only takes 10 business days

 

[pasley]

to clarify, my doctor warned me against wearing contacts, because one eye is much stronger than the other and if I were to get an infection in my good eye, I could probably say goodbye to driving, reading... not a good situation. ...

OK, doc said not to wear contacts because of fear of infection. With the old style of a few years back you have to soak and wash them to sanitize the contacts that was reasonable. I too once had a Eye doc tell me contacts were not recommended. But contacts have changed a lot in the past few years especially with the soft contacts and the high moisture contacts and one day throw away soft contacts. Therefore I would suggest you revisit the concept of wearing contacts (only while diving) with your doctor discussing specifically the one day throw away contacts. This would dramatically reduce the possibility of an eye infection caused by the contact as compared to the old soak and wash contacts. With the price of one day throw away lenses under $1.00 (closer to $0.50) they are an economical alternative.

....I know that I cannot read the SPG they use on their rental gear without help (found that out when I did a Discover Scuba).

Try the peel and stick reading lenses they make for dive mask. When diving I wear one contact for distance and one for reading. Recently I stopped wearing the reading one as I can now actually see better without it underwater (don't forget the effect of water on your eyes, everything is bigger.).

 

[offthewall1]

A good LDS can get you your prescription mask - no problem.

The only problem with prescription mask is like glasses - at some point your script will likely change leaving you to once again have new lenses made.

I guess that's part of needing corrected vision... Most masks w/ prescriptions run from around $185 and up... If you continue having trouble... I recommend the Sea Vision Classic 2000 Mask with corrective lenses. In six years I have yet to find a face the mask doesn;t fit comfortably.

 

[rshreader]

I would consider doing that, however the other mask I tried at the lds, was, I think, basically another company's version of the same mask, and it only fit well until I tried the second one, at which point I realised the fit wasn't quite so good. If I knew the HydroOptix mask fit just like the one I was going to buy, there would be no question, but I don't know that.

Thanks for the report. I thought that many masks are actually made by the same manufacturer and just repackaged with different colors, graphics etc by the named "manufacturer" so that they would fit the same.