Opticians

[yazzyfooty]

I would be interested to know if people think its worth trying to locate an optician that specialises in prescribing optical lenses for divers or should I just go to my normal Spec Savers for a check up.

Just in case, can anyone recommend a specialist in the North West Area?

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by yazzyfooty

I would be interested to know if people think its worth trying to locate an optician that specialises in prescribing optical lenses for divers or should I just go to my normal Spec Savers for a check up.

Just in case, can anyone recommend a specialist in the North West Area?

I just went to Boots the other day. I told the optician i was a diver, and she didn't seem to adjust her thinking any. Although if I was to get a prescription mask it might make a difference.

[triplefin]

Yazzy, if you have a complicated type of sight problem you may have to go the specialist route but start with the opticians and get your prescription from them then see if your LDS stocks or can get the right prescription to fit your mask. Not all types of masks will take prescription lenses.

[Ferg3333]

If you are short or long sighted buy a mask and lenes off ebay. Seac Sub do a good one online, withe Divingniknaks knocking the lenses out cheap aswell. Or tusa do a few good options but are quite pricey. Otherwise if you need bi focals I don't know what can be done.

As for wearing contacts uw, you need to be careful in fresh water. If you get water in you eye, replace your lenses at the first opportunity.

As for diving and opticians, it never makes a difference you just need to be a little more informed when wearing contacts. I can't find the link, but there has been some good discussions on this in the past.

Ferg

[yazzyfooty]

Originally Posted by triplefin

Yazzy, if you have a complicated type of sight problem you may have to go the specialist route but start with the opticians and get your prescription from them then see if your LDS stocks or can get the right prescription to fit your mask. Not all types of masks will take prescription lenses.

Jane I wear vari focal glasses for everyday use. As I am short sighted but then need correction for reading.

Originally Posted by Ferg3333

If you are short or long sighted buy a mask and lenes off ebay. Seac Sub do a good one online, withe Divingniknaks knocking the lenses out cheap aswell. Or tusa do a few good options but are quite pricey. Otherwise if you need bi focals I don't know what can be done.
As for wearing contacts uw, you need to be careful in fresh water. If you get water in you eye, replace your lenses at the first opportunity.

As for diving and opticians, it never makes a difference you just need to be a little more informed when wearing contacts. I can't find the link, but there has been some good discussions on this in the past.

Ferg

I wear contact lenses when I dive but the prescription is just correction for my short sightness so sometimes I forget to take one lens out and then I am jiggered reading my dive computer

Spec Savers here I come then to get a new eye test.

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by yazzyfooty

Jane I wear vari focal glasses for everyday use. As I am short sighted but then need correction for reading.



I wear contact lenses when I dive but the prescription is just correction for my short sightness so sometimes I forget to take one lens out and then I am jiggered reading my dive computer

Spec Savers here I come then to get a new eye test.

Same as me, although i don't seem to have a problem reading the computer, so I just leave the lenses in.

(I was gobsmacked at the cost of the varifocals )

[Ferg3333]

If your around a -4.0 I have two lenses spare for
a tusa platina mask, I am now a -6.0 and just go along with my lenses.

[wibble32]

Yazzy, why go for lenses in a mask? Have you considered or tried contacts? How bad is your eyesight? If you dont need good eye correction when on the surface you wont need it underwater.
I am -7 and -6 and found that, I needed to see all the time, not just when I had a mask on, getting in a RIB final part of kitting up. etc. Handing kit to people at the end of the dive etc.
So that I can see all the time, I have gone for soft contacts, I buy them in 60s and use and discard as needed. I do not buy them monthly. Which saves money.
Are you not concerned at losing or damaging your mask and screwing the diving day? I was worried about being on a live aboard and finding half the week wasted. Or will you plan to buy two sets of lenses?
When I went to be checked for lenses I expalined the reason I wanted them and mostly that I wanted to be able to clearly read my DC on my wrist, this actually changed the prescription a bit. It all works, and so far no eye infections, perhaps because at the end of the dive I whip them out and slap on my glasses, of which yes I do carry two pairs.
Worth thinking about.
Wibble

[witchieblackcat]

Yazzy,

Slaters in Preston send your mask away for lenses to be fitted. I don't know what they can do for complicated prescriptions but it might be worth giving Ken a call and discussing it. His contact details are on his website.

HTH

Alistair

[yazzyfooty]

Continuing with this thread following an eye test this morning my sight has changed so I will probably take up Fergs offer of his lenses but this will still cause me some problems with my ability to read my computer. I have rang Suunto to see if they do a magnified protector for the dc and was informed that though they do a protector it isnt magnified but another company does make magnified ones but he wasnt able to tell me who!

So does anyone know who does? Cheers, Yas.