Bad Vision and Snorkeling

[peachygreen]

Would you invest in prescription snorkel mask if you had bad vision and wear glasses only? I'm thinking about going ahead and buying our snorkel gear before we go on our cruise so that my husband can get a prescription mask. His eyes are bad and he can only wear glasses for correction. I wear contacts or glasses and figured I could wear my daily disposibles with a snorkle mask, but wanted to make sure I had one that fit properly so it wouldn't leak.

 

[truck1]

your on the right track, on buying your own gear.
If you wear contacts, no big deal. The biggest thing is a mask that fits properly and doesnt leak
How bad is your dhs eyesight? If its bad enough that he has to wear glasses all the time, and hes over say 20/50 un corrected (Im 20/400 -10 in both eyes) then hed either need contacts or corrective lenses in his mask.Most dive shops, can have a perscription mask made up, though it can get expensive.some eye doctors can do it also.Shop around a little bit after you get the mask, and see who has the best deal on putting the script in. If you know his script, you may be able to add inserts on your own for a fraction of the cost. Assuiming you can find it, and its not a off size.
If you need help picking out a mask set, let me know,since Im a diver, and spend a lot of time, helping finding the right size mask and snorkel set.

 

[BigHugsForEeyore]

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[jkrislc]

3M makes a product called "press ons" that are a type of vision correction lens that applies to standard snorkeling masks. It is much like those clingy decorations you apply to windows. You might ask your eye doctor about them as you might be able to save money and have more choice in masks.

 

[tvguy]

I'm extremely nearsighted, and the water corrects my vision, so I don't really need a prescription mask. Some of the scuba excursions I've been on have had masks available with the prescription in them. Didn't do much underwater, but did make it possible to see better out of the water (went snuba diving in Hawaii within sight of the ship so it was nice to have better vision above water there to see the ship)

 

[Fyrefly]

I'm not sure I'd use contacts if there was a possibility of getting salt water in my eyes...ouch!

When we went to the Great Barrier Reef, I was sort of resigned to not being able to see that well (I'm nearsighted) and to go under for a closer look if I had to. To my surprise, they had a few prescription masks available! I'm not sure how good they would have been for someone with super bad eyesight but I was able to try a few until I found one that worked for me.

Is it possible for you to contact the company you will be going on the excursion with to figure out if they have prescription masks? Buying your own can really cost a fortune and if you can find a way to just fake it for the one trip I think it would be better.

 

[BealsRwe]

I wear my contacts when snorkeling, and never have had a problem. My mom and I went snorkeling in Nassau once, and they had her close her eyeglasses and wear accross her face...needless to say the mask didn't leak, but it wasn't comfortable at all. On a subsequent snorkel excursion, my mom took a pair of her old eyeglasses and took the sides off, and wore them that way. She could see, and it wasnt uncomfortable. If she had the option today, and knew she would be snorkeling, I would urge her to get a prescription mask for comfort, ease, and best vision.

 

[Anal Annie]

I have a RX mask and LOVE it - but we do go snorkeling often enough that it was a worthwhile purchase. It makes me feel that much more confident & relaxed in my swimming abilities to not be concerned about my sight. Go to your local dive shop & get him fitted properly so it doesn't leak. Last time I went without an RX mask I split off from my DH and then couldn't find him when I surfaced. I also couldn't tell the water depth & was afraid of touching some fire coral. It was unnerving and I couldn't relax & enjoy it AND I missed seeing a lot of things that my DH asked me later "did you see blah blah and the blah blah". I won't go without one now.

 

[AnnOminous]

DH and I both wear our contacts with masks (and I wear mine with swim goggles).
I would recommend that whatever route you go, you practice a bit in the pool with the mask so that you can figure out what is most comfortable and don't waste time doing that on the actual snorkel trip.

 

[firstcruise]

I opted to go with contacts instead of the RX mask. Mainly because once I get out of the water want to take the mask off and couldn't see to walk around. lol

A tip to stop a leaking mask is vasoline. It works great for those of us with facial hair to keep a solid seal. Just put a thin amount where the mask goes on your face and that's it. I put it on my goatee too to make sure it won't leak.

 

[stevenpensacola]

I'm not sure I'd use contacts if there was a possibility of getting salt water in my eyes...ouch!

Actually, salt water does not bother your contacts...what do you store your contacts in? Saline...salt water.

Fresh water WILL bother your contacts though.

I also agree with a previous poster...I'm also nearsighted, and it does seem that when underwater, with a mask, somehow the water does seem to correct my vision.

 

[LKFan]

Actually, salt water does not bother your contacts...what do you store your contacts in? Saline...salt water.

Fresh water WILL bother your contacts though.

I also agree with a previous poster...I'm also nearsighted, and it does seem that when underwater, with a mask, somehow the water does seem to correct my vision.

Salt water will bother your eyes just as much with contacts as it does without. It is not the same pH as your tears or saline so won't feel the same.

The big concern about salt water (or any water) is contamination. Soft contact lenses are like sponges. They soak up the organisms in the water and grow on the contact as if it were a petri dish.

If you can get away with it, one day contacts are the best option for snorkeling/swimming. Wear the lenses, contaminate them and toss them.

 

[threebeesatdisney]

Or make sure you snorkel on your last day of the week to wear the weekly ones.
Then toss them like you would normally. Just plan ahead.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have a friend who has very bad vision who did the "prescription" mask and she says it's WELL worth it. (She had tried the contacts with the mask etc... she said this was better!) Probably depends on how "blind" you are (she's pretty bad without glasses )

 

[jeffl]

I have been going back and forth on this myself. After several less than optimal contact fittings (one last try today with toric progressives) I am thinking that the Rx mask may be the way to go. With regards to the RX masks, any thoughts on getting a custom Rx made or using the inserts that do not correct for astigmatism? I am 70 miles from the closest dive shop, so I will likely have to go mail order.

 

[stevenpensacola]

 

[Bruins]

I have been going back and forth on this myself. After several less than optimal contact fittings (one last try today with toric progressives) I am thinking that the Rx mask may be the way to go. With regards to the RX masks, any thoughts on getting a custom Rx made or using the inserts that do not correct for astigmatism? I am 70 miles from the closest dive shop, so I will likely have to go mail order.

If you need toric contact lenses, you probably have enough of an astigmatism where you should get a custom rx mask done.

 

[peachygreen]

I'm happy to hear all the positive input on wearing contacts and also getting a prescription mask. My husband has to go to the eye doctor in January for a new prescription. How long does it normally take to get a prescription mask? We cruise the end of February. Also if his prescription changes over the years can we get new lenses put in or would he need a new mask. He has a degerative eye disease so I'm just hoping that they can continue to correct his vision over the years.

 

[LKFan]

I have been going back and forth on this myself. After several less than optimal contact fittings (one last try today with toric progressives) I am thinking that the Rx mask may be the way to go. With regards to the RX masks, any thoughts on getting a custom Rx made or using the inserts that do not correct for astigmatism? I am 70 miles from the closest dive shop, so I will likely have to go mail order.

If you want contacts for swimming, don't mess around with monovision, multifocals or progressive lenses. For snorkeling, you just need your distance vision corrected.

If you are just interested in contacts for snorkeling, you might even be able to get away with just correcting your near/farsighted Rx and not worry about the astigmatism.

 

[truck1]

I have been going back and forth on this myself. After several less than optimal contact fittings (one last try today with toric progressives) I am thinking that the Rx mask may be the way to go. With regards to the RX masks, any thoughts on getting a custom Rx made or using the inserts that do not correct for astigmatism? I am 70 miles from the closest dive shop, so I will likely have to go mail order.

If you know what your vision is now, you can get the inserts thru onine dive shops. They are basically peel and stick. If your vision chnageslaterm you can take the old ones out, and replace them, you dont need a new mask. If you have an eye doctor put them in, chances are at least youll have to replace the lenses, as they glue for lack of a better term, the correcive lenses to the mask lense.
This is a list from one online dealer, that has masks with compatible inserts for that style mask.