Prescription mask or contact lenses

Hi All,

I think my world of denial has to end. As I can no longer see the controls on my camera or my dive computer. So should I get a precripton mask or Bi Focal contacts? Wadda ya think

Joe

I wear glasses on land and just went blind underwater as my vision was not that bad plus everything far away underwater is blurry anyway since water is not all that clear. But when I got a DSLR and found I could not see through the viewfinder without glasses I had to make a similar decision. I ended up getting contacts for diving.

But I'm young and don't need bifocals. Bifocal contacts are a whole other story. It takes a long time to get used to using one eye for close up and the other for far away. In less you are willing to switch to contacts full time, a presription mask is your only choice.

I wear glasses on land and just went blind underwater as my vision was not that bad plus everything far away underwater is blurry anyway since water is not all that clear. But when I got a DSLR and found I could not see through the viewfinder without glasses I had to make a similar decision. I ended up getting contacts for diving.

 

But I'm young and don't need bifocals. Bifocal contacts are a whole other story. It takes a long time to get used to using one eye for close up and the other for far away. In less you are willing to switch to contacts full time, a presription mask is your only choice.

I may have to get a presription bio focal mask. I have an over the counter one but the bottom part is way to low in the mask and you have to put what you want to see down by your waist

JD

as a fellow old guy I'd love a referal on where to get a precription mask

I have a bifocal SeaVision mask, works great, except I now have to get a new prescription after only a year or so. Sucks getting old(er)

www.seavisionusa.com

Can any mask be outfitted or do you have to use only Seavision?

Can any mask be outfitted or do you have to use only Seavision?

Call the folks (Linda Young) at Prescription Dive Masks in San Diego. They have made 4 masks for me (one is on the bottom somewhere off Komodo) all were great. They make custom lenses (bifocal or trifocal even) for any mask.

Bill

I have a bifocal SeaVision mask, works great, except I now have to get a new prescription after only a year or so. Sucks getting old(er)

www.seavisionusa.com

so when you look in the camera viewfinder you use the magnified part of the mask?

Contact lenses are a good choice UW. You MUST take them out as soon as practical after diving. This is to avoid a nasty bug named Amoeba Kanthatitis. It is I should note very rare.

Daily disposable lens are a good choice. You can have one eye focused for far and the other for near. Though if you lose the far one you may have trouble seeing the boat depending upon your RX. Note I have dove with CLs for over 20 years and lost a total of 2.

I use bifocal contact which are fine for diving and digital photography.

You can get bifocals mounted in most masks. The place in San Diego is the only place I know for sure though most dive shops have a source. If you don't need bifocals you can use stock lens inserts. Even if you have some astigmatism you should be okay for diving. If you get custom lenses installed and you have a high prescription watch out for low volume masks. The lens edges may be too thick. This actually happened to me when I was younger.

Since I always use contact while diving I don't actually have a source for mask lens inserts.

Consumer digicams that rely on LCDs are not a great idea for those who need bifocals. If you use one you may want to think of adding an external magnifier. I can't remember the name but I had one that I velcroed on my housing when I started with a Nikon CP 5000. If you use a dSLR pay for the magnified viewfinder. Don't listen to Alex who is too young to understand.

Ok, I guess I'm somewhat the odd duck here. I have to wear contact lenses on a daily basis. Have been for the last 43 years. In my mask all I needed was a gage reader lens. I have the SeaVision and like it alot, but I sent my Cressi sub Big Eyes in and had it fitted with +2. gage reader lenses. I did this with a local dive shop and am not quite sure where they sent it too. But I love it and it makes a big difference for me.

Hope this answers some questions

Stephen

One of the better spots to send them stateside is prescriptiondivemasks.com

I just sent in 5 for various clents all for readers installed-they do whatever you need and well. Not ceap but worth it. As an over 50 old guy welcome to readers in masks you young bucks .If you want to really see well try a nikon sportfinder on a f-5 body- Hey its still shooting film but man it is clear. Mark

Another commendations especially for people from Europe is Proteye from Netherlands.

They have a list of supported masks but you can send them your mask and get it back with the optical lens.

I have a very good experience with them.

Contact lenses are a good choice UW. You MUST take them out as soon as practical after diving. This is to avoid a nasty bug named Amoeba Kanthatitis. It is I should note very rare.

Can you elaborate on that: google never heard of it. And if it has to do with infection from the water: most of the time your eyes are supposed to stray dry, even with som mask leakage.

Gerard

PS: i use concacts as well, but dont need the bifocals at 34

Joe-

Have you looked into a HydroOptix mask? http://www.hydrooptix.com/ They look a bit wierd, but my wife swears by hers. If there is a shop in your area that carries them, ask to give one a try. Personally, I would need to wear contacts if I were using this mask because my eyes are 20/20, but for those needing RX's, this mask really offers a unique option.

Acanthamoeba Keratitis

Sorry for screwing up the name. At least I'm going to a continuing ed meeting tomorrow.

Read the following link:

http://www.revoptom.com/handbook/oct02_sec3_2.htm

Primarily an infection of fresh or brackish freshwater. This according to a fellow Optometrist I knew when I was in the Navy. He was also a microbiologist.

It is however very hard to diagnose and treat because it is a protozoan not a bacteria.

You may have heard of some infections associated with some Contact lens solutions. These were Acanthamoeba Keratitis infections. Note they were almost all associated with tropical countries with suspect water purity. Exactly the kind of place we like to dive.

Bottom line is take your contacts out as soon as possible after diving. Replace your contact lens cases every time you get a new bottle of solution and wash your hands before touching your contact.

I have been very pleased with the bifocal lenses I have purchased from Ozbob Custom Face Masks Australia.

Contact Rob Hamilton email: Ozbob@bigpond.com Website: http://geocities.com/ozbob2003/

Initially, I ordered both mask and prescription lenses from him. When my prescription changed, I only ordered the new lenses for the same mask. Rob was very quick in responding to any inquiries.

Good luck!

Jett

Contact lenses are a good choice UW. You MUST take them out as soon as practical after diving. This is to avoid a nasty bug named Amoeba Kanthatitis. It is I should note very rare.

 

Daily disposable lens are a good choice. You can have one eye focused for far and the other for near. Though if you lose the far one you may have trouble seeing the boat depending upon your RX. Note I have dove with CLs for over 20 years and lost a total of 2.

 

I use bifocal contact which are fine for diving and digital photography.

 

You can get bifocals mounted in most masks. The place in San Diego is the only place I know for sure though most dive shops have a source. If you don't need bifocals you can use stock lens inserts. Even if you have some astigmatism you should be okay for diving. If you get custom lenses installed and you have a high prescription watch out for low volume masks. The lens edges may be too thick. This actually happened to me when I was younger.

 

Since I always use contact while diving I don't actually have a source for mask lens inserts.

 

Consumer digicams that rely on LCDs are not a great idea for those who need bifocals. If you use one you may want to think of adding an external magnifier. I can't remember the name but I had one that I velcroed on my housing when I started with a Nikon CP 5000. If you use a dSLR pay for the magnified viewfinder. Don't listen to Alex who is too young to understand.

Thanks !! I dont understand the one eye focused for far and one for near please explain

Joe-

 

Have you looked into a HydroOptix mask? http://www.hydrooptix.com/ They look a bit wierd, but my wife swears by hers. If there is a shop in your area that carries them, ask to give one a try. Personally, I would need to wear contacts if I were using this mask because my eyes are 20/20, but for those needing RX's, this mask really offers a unique option.

wow!! funny a freind of mines friend invented these

I had two prescription masks made with bifocal lenses. The one I like the best was made in the Bronx by RX divemask The optician was very fast with returning it to me, and it has larger than usual bifocal inserts. I had to ask him to make them bigger, as I already had a mask made with the small semicircular bifocal near the lower mid edge of the mask, and could not see thru them for focusing the camera. With the ones made by RX divemask, I not only see my gauges, camera viewfinder, but also can look for and see the critters I want to shoot!

The cost was comparable to other places, and I got excellent fast return on the mask. He can make lenses for most masks. Call him and you get him...

I use Seavision gauge readers since I had laser surgery (gained distance and lost my close vision... ) With my old Aquatica F100 housing, I had to look through my readers to see the viewfinder. Now with the D200 housing, I have to look through the distance part (uncorrected) part of the mask. I'm assuming it's because the old system had an optical magnifier. Frankly, I liked it better, but I guess I'll get used to the new one, or eventually buck up for the new viewfinder.

I use a yellow lens SeaVision Mask for cold water. Tried the pink one down south and found it was too weird and full of colour fringing. I'm ordering a colourless one now, as I'd rather shoot with unaltered perception of colour. I must also say that the Ultra mask is the best fitting mask I've ever had. It took some getting used to as the skirt is really thin; it feels like it's not sealed when it is. It is extremely comfortable. The 2000 series is too low volume and too small for me; like a child's mask.

Cheers,

Marli