prescription mask

[Ahughes]

Hey,
just wondering if any one knew were in the UK I could get prescription lenses on my scubapro fino mask, only problem is my prescription is preety bad something like +9 and +7 or something, I know eh blind as a bat.

Normally wear contacts and I know some people swear by them but my optician said its a bad idea and I value what little eye sight I have .

any ideas?

and I havnt got the cash for laser eye

 

[spectrum]

A Google search using prescription dive mask UK yields a ton of options.

Pete

 

[paulithepin]

Sea Vision has done my masks for over a decade...two great masks that have stood the test of time. My newest is my primary and my oldest is my backup. No problems, excellent grinding. Could not give a higher recommendation.
PC

 

[Ahughes]

Would it be easier just to buy a whole new mask?

Problem with just searching on google is my prescription is bloody strong mate..

Sea Vision arnt they a US company though Id rather them done in the UK.

 

[spectrum]

You will not buy your corrected mask or lenses right off the internet. You will find a shop or optician that specializes in fitting corrective overlays to dive masks. There are masks that will accept off the shelf interchangeable corrective lenses in round number diopter increments that OK for simple correction.

I use a prescription mask and here is what I have done..

I had a nonprescription mask that suited me fine less the correction. I went to the dive shop and bought a brand new identical mask and gave the shop my prescription. They sent it of and within 2 weeks it was back as the store waiting for me. I could have sent the original mask but I couldn't see investing the lens money on the old mask which is now my back-up.

You can also take your old mask or one you purchased elsewhere and send it with your prescription to the optician you locate on the web or perhaps by recommendation. Here is an example of a US provider.

The one thing that the dive shop does that someone can help you with at home is marking your eyeball center on the lens with a marker, this guides the optician in "aiming" the lenses to suit you. They should be able to coach you through this as you make arrangements. This sort of correction will be in the form of lens overlays that get bonded to the inside of your mask.

Pete

 

[jmichaels]

Sometimes peoples RX changes or they scratch a lens.

Some places do sell just the lenses. I just don't know if they have exactly what you need. are you sure those numbers are +7 and +9.... not -7 and -9?

Here is one that ships.....
123Scuba.com Prescription Masks

 

[mislav]

Would it be easier just to buy a whole new mask?

Yes, it would.

Some manufacturers offer prescription glasses for diving masks to be ordered in 0.50 increments. Cressi is one of them, that's what I use - Cressi Focus mask and strongly recommend it.

 

[spectrum]

If you have astigmatism and your prescription calls for a CYLINDER correction of 1 or greater then custom grinds will serve you better that off the shelf diopter only lenses.

It's not only about your immediate vision correction. You want your eyes to be comfortable and rested after 90 minutes in the water.

Pete

 

[JonKranhouse]

Hi Ahughes,

For safety sake and business ethics, given your very high + power Rx, NOBODY should sell you a flat mask with a bonded-on Rx!! It is not safe and a waste of money. Since you are already comfortable wearing contact lenses – you should seriously reconsider SOFT contacts for diving.

The challenge with your very high + power (hyperopic) Rx is the geometry of a conventional Rx dive mask lens – which is flat on the ocean-side. This would force your inside Rx to be steeply convex, whereas your eyeglasses are “meniscus” shaped (concave on the inside), to allow a decent field-of-view. Even with expensive high-index material, bonded on, your views, even slightly off-axis, will be horribly distorted vs. a plano (non Rx) mask. True, a narrow cone of view down the center of the lens will be OK. But starting 15-degrees off-axis you will see an unacceptable degree of color fringing. Not to mention that your field-of-view will be narrowed in the extreme, far worse than what happens with a non-Rx flat mask (below).

For Hyperopes over +2.50 we make an internal “carrier” – the front portion of plastic-framed eyeglasses, without the temples – that fits inside our conventional Rx-1 flat mask. The face skirt prevents it from falling out, but the carrier can be removed for cleaning. This allows normal eyeglass lenses (meniscus shaped) to be used, which greatly improves the quality and range of vision. You have to be diligent with anti-fog application, because now you have 3 potential fogging surfaces. All things considered, this is the smartest choice for hyperopes over +2.50 who cannot wear contacts.

BTW, the US Navy allows their experienced EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) divers to wear soft contact lenses on actual combat missions – which speaks highly of the reliability of soft contact lenses to not pop out when water gets in your mask; just squint while you’re clearing. Soft disposable contacts have a far broader diameter than gas permeable semi-rigid lenses, which makes it very difficult to fall out by accident. Avoid all risks of eye infection: remove your soft disposables right after diving (e.g. whilst the boat’s heading back to port). CibaVision makes a +10 weekly-disposable lens, “Precision UV,” about $3.50 USD per lens in a box of 6. That said, your “CYL” must be taken into account.

There are companies that can custom-lathe soft contacts that can include astigmatism / toric (CYL) correction; they’re surprisingly affordable. BTW, they freeze the lens material to lathe the shape.

If you choose the soft lens route, remember to instill some eye drops both before putting the contacts in, and BEFORE removing the contacts (prevents “tugging” on your cornea).