masks and corrected vision

[Biodiversity_guy]

I would like to have my mask deliver exceptional vision for me. I wear glasses/contacts.

What do others of you do to correct your underwater vision? Wear contacts and don't worry about losing one or two? Use Mares X-vision and their corrective lenses? HydroOptixs? Have custom lenses glued on the inside of your mask?

How is it working for you? What would do differently now if you were doing it over?

Thanks for all your input!

(My ideal solution would include custom lenses /bifocals :11doh: )

 

[TheFoggyMask]

I use soft contacts, they're going to be the least expensive of your options since precription masks don't come cheap. With contacts you have the flexability of changing masks at whim until you find the one you like best.

Another option is this mask from http://www.hydrooptix.com. It sounds lke it would work awesome for me since I lie in the area of being naturally corrected by the mask(http://www.hydrooptix.com/images/ML_45_guides/M45_RxConvChart.pdf). Its not cheap, and I haven't heard anything from anyone! And I've got other nessesities to buy before I go getting toys I don't need.

 

[bradshsi]

I also use soft contacts. The daily disposable ones are cheap enough that I don't worry if I loose them. Although they could float out when you do mask off drills, I haven't found this to be the case for me.

Corrective lenses in the mask are ok as well. I used a mask with corrective lenses during my OW training. The only issue with that is that I had to put the mask on to see stuff on the dive boat or keep swapping between my mask and my glasses, which can be inconvenient on a busy boat.

 

[spectrum]

If contacts do not work for you as they didn't for me consider a prescription mask.

There are a few flavors here:

Some masks are made to take single focal swapable lenses. The dive shop can (if well stocked) set you up on the spot.

Overlays including bifocals can be bonded to the inside of your mask, This is what I have. There are mail order opticians you can deal with and most shops have someone they ship out to for this work.

Getting the overlays bonded to a mask with removable lenses will let you move the glass should the mask structure become damaged.

In any event to get corrected for safety and for the extra comfort you will nejoy during the dive and afterwards.

Pete

 

[seaviper]

I initially had special lenses made for me when I started diving. Later, As I moved into the technical stuff and wanted a lower volume mask, I picked up some off the shelf corrective lenses at the dive shop. To my surprise they worked just as good and were ALOT cheaper.

I use a Tusa Liberator Plus (I keep two on me) so finding lenses is easy and its a good, rugged, low volume mask. There are others though. I used a Sherwood Magnum (which I believe is about the same mask as the Liberator) before the Liberator. It uses the same lenses.

 

[divingjd]

I use the soft contacts and always take a couple of spares, although I have never had to use them. My correction is pretty minimal, a little astigmatism and a little near-sightedness. Lately, I need bifocals. My contacts are not bifocal, but the natural magnification through a mask seems to work fine.

 

[TSandM]

We sent our masks off to get bifocal inserts put into them. My understanding is that this can be done with masks which have two completely separate glass panels in them. It cost us $140 per mask.

 

[Sea Dragon]

We sent our masks off to get bifocal inserts put into them. My understanding is that this can be done with masks which have two completely separate glass panels in them. It cost us $140 per mask.

Are you sending them directly to the company or do you do that through a shop?
Can you forward the company info or a link to me?
I am in need of their services also.
Thanks
Mardie

 

[CompuDude]

http://www.prescriptiondivemasks.com/

Did the job for me. (My LDS just sent my mask in with a copy of my prescription, and a week or so later I picked up a perfect prescription mask.)

My old mask, which I bought in '87, is a Tusa Liberator. Same lenses fit in a number of current-issue masks, such as the Tilos masks I have now. I finally updated by prescription for the new mask, however, and moved the old lenses (which still help but are not as sharp) into a newer mask so I have a backup.

 

[Divers Direct]

We have a couple of different mask that you can put your Rx in. If your RX is in the negative then we do have the lenses here and can send them out in the mask the same day you order. If your RX is in the positive then we have to send the mask out to have the lenses cut to your specific RX. If thats the case you should have your mask with corrective lenses within about two weeks