Reading gauges UW suggestions

[Bandman]

My wife and I are at the age where even with contacts, reading up close is a little difficult. We have been having trouble reading our gauges underwater and we are looking for some suggestions. Other than getting prescription masks, which is out of our budget range, does anyone have any suggestions for magnifying gauge consoles underwater to better read depth and pressure remaining?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Fogest]

Are you wearing the contacts while underwater, or no?

 

[Bandman]

Yes we are.

 

[Fogest]

Yes we are.

Is the prescription correct? I am no expert on glasses/contacts in anyway, but I assumed that the prescription on them should be adequate so that you can read things up close?

 

[Dogbowl]

Here's a thread that might be helpful. Stick on reading lenses for dive mask

Fogest, I'm going to guess you are under 40 (lucky duck!) because OP is talking about presbyopia, which some people get when they're over 40. Their distance vision is fine when appropriately corrected with distance contacts, but they need "reading glasses" for reading close things.

I have the same problem. OP, are you wearing reading glasses for close distances? I do too. Underwater, I choose to wear multifocal contact lenses. They're not perfect and do not provide me with 20/20 images near or far, but they are a reasonable compromise.

 

[Bandman]

I am wearing multi-focal contact lenses as well and it is still difficult to read the depth/pressure gauges (numbers are small), even when I hold my gauges as far as I can away. I only wear readers when I need to see smaller text or for fine work with my hands up close. For instance, I am typing this response on my phone and its relatively close. The letters/words are a slight bit fuzzy around the edges, but clear enough to read well. We were diving yesterday and I was struggling to read the gauges. I have looked at the magnifying stickers you can place on the mask lense, but the reviews I have read lead me to believe I would be constantly replacing them, and constantly purchasing new ones. I am interested in hopefully a more reasonable and cheaper solution if possible.

 

[Fogest]

Here's a thread that might be helpful. Stick on reading lenses for dive mask

Fogest, I'm going to guess you are under 40 (lucky duck!) because OP is talking about presbyopia, which some people get when they're over 40. Their distance vision is fine when appropriately corrected with distance contacts, but they need "reading glasses" for reading close things.

I have the same problem. OP, are you wearing reading glasses for close distances? I do too. Underwater, I choose to wear multifocal contact lenses. They're not perfect and do not provide me with 20/20 images near or far, but they are a reasonable compromise.

Ah that makes sense. Yeah, I am 20, so I have not experienced that kind of thing yet. But the idea I was trying to get at is that with prescription glasses you should be able to read that close. But I guess like you mentioned there may be a separate pair of reading glasses for that.

 

[Dogbowl]

Bandman...if you are already wearing multifocal contact lenses under water, and still can't see the gauges, that's a toughy. Seems like every option I can think of will cost a bit...like getting Rx masks or a bigger gauge...hopefully someone else has a better idea, cause I'd also like to know.

Currently, I have a really big computer (Shearwater Perdix) and don't have any problems reading my computer, but I do understand it's a lot more difficult to read the gauges.

 

[SCRedWolf]

My wife and I are at the age where even with contacts, reading up close is a little difficult. We have been having trouble reading our gauges underwater and we are looking for some suggestions. Other than getting prescription masks, which is out of our budget range, does anyone have any suggestions for magnifying gauge consoles underwater to better read depth and pressure remaining?

Thanks for any advice.

I'm guessing if prescription masks are out of the budget then computers with larger displays are also out? I'm almost in the same boat as you (just with reading at this point) but lucky enough that I can still read mine when I put them in front of my face. I've been thinking of upgrading my computer to the Sherwood Wisdom since it's a decent balance between what I have (it adds air integration and a quick detach so I'm not hooking my whole reg set to my laptop for downloads) and what I can afford (they sell for less than $700, sadly still more than a prescription mask). The display is relatively large compared to the puck-sized computers. At least with computers they have residual value that you can either sell what you have or use them as backups. Prescription masks unfortunately only have value to you.

 

[Dogbowl]

I wonder if there are gauges that have a really big face and easy to read. I know there are several options for computers but not sure about gauges. But then again, all require $$$.