I need prescription mask help!

[Carolyn]

I have access to a dive shop and want to get a Rx mask. Before I go, what do I need to know from those of you that use them?

[sailorgirl]

Both hubby and I have Rx lenses in our masks. One problem with advancing years is that I now need reading glasses so it makes it harder to use an underwater camera, I have a hard time seeing the screen with just the distance correction the RX leneses provide.

[PA Girl]

Hubs got his about 5 years ago. His Rx is really strong and he is just thrilled with his mask.

I don't really know why (fit maybe?) our eye doctor basically refused to order one for him so I went on line to Snorkelmart.com and ordered from there.

Hubs never had a problem with fit when he used loaner masks so he was willing to take the chance in ordering on line. I am sure a dive shop will be a good resource for you.

[sapphirecat]

Hi Carolyn,

I got the snap-in kind. I'm near-sighted, so I just needed a little distance. Don't over-correct if this is your case or you'll have a hard time seeing your gauges.

Cat

[gizmolady]

I am nearsighted and I had a hard time finding a reasonable RX mask in time for our trip. Instead, on the advice of a guy in the dive shop at home, I wore a spare pair of contact lenses and a regular mask -- much cheaper. No problem with losing the contact lens as long as you close your eyes just before you take off the mask. No big deal!

I was also worried that the salt water might cause my eyes to sting, but that was not a problem at all.

So maybe this will work in your situation -- worked for me!!!! And I saved a lot of money -- all the better to spend on a nice dinner at Lime Inn and drinks at Woody's and burgers at Skinny Legs!

Even if your hubby does not wear contacts, he might be able to get a good deal on disposables for less than the cost of an RX mask....just a thought!

[KathyMN]

My entire family is very nearsighted, so this has been an issue for us for years. Before our first trip to STJ (guess that was about 14 years ago), I "gave" my husband scuba lessons and a prescription mask for his birthday. At that time, about the only option available was to actually have glass lenses ground, and then bonded to the inside of a regular mask. This was about $200 at that time. Works fine, but looks kind of goofy. For the next several years, my son and I just rented prescription masks... most good dive shops have them... in single diopter increments... but still better than nothing. But expensive. Then, before the last trip (4 years ago), I finally said "enough". I shopped around on the internet, and found several sites with "prescription masks"... which are not really true prescriptions (eg. no astigmatism adjustments).. but close enough. I finally wound up ordering masks for the 2 of us from snorkelmart.com. They weren't that expensive, and actually cost about the same as a 1 week rental of a prescription set. The nice part was that the models have separate lenses for each eye, so if (like me) your eyes are quite different, you can adjust for it. So... what you need to know (from your optometrist), is what your diopter adjustment is for each eye. (eg. -4.25, -3.0, etc.). Then, follow the instructions on the website... they tell you how to adjust up or down to a round number. I ordered the mask and snorkel sets, and have been very satisfied with both. Not necessarily the top-of-the-line for the diving elitists... but perfectly good for us (and we average about 4-6 hours of snorkeling a day on-island). If you're leery about on-line shopping, I believe that one of the dive shops on STJ sold these masks as well (at least they did 4 years ago)....not LowKey .. but the other one... DiveSTJ???). You buy the mask, and they install the lenses for you. Don't remember the price--- it was more expensive than on-line, but not ridiculous. So, good luck. It makes a HUGE difference.
Kathy

[gimpiegirl]

i don't have much experience with this, but thought i'd add this comment in case anyone ever needs it! while sailing around stj in july this year, we had someone with us that needed prescription lenses. she ended up having some done very quickly - and reasonably priced!- at the dive shop at caneel bay. the staff was really knowledgeable and helpful. they even let her try a pair for a snorkel to see how she liked them.

[irbgolfin]

Here's another $.02...
My wife and I each have presc. masks. We went to a dive store, they gave us a few choices, we picked the actual mask based on fit and gave them our prescription. They have blanks that fit the mask which are ground to spec and then swapped in. Don't recall cost since it was several years ago but it seemed fine. We really like them. While we both wear bifocals we don't dive so didn't bother with that part of the prescription.

Tips - first, if you have any eyeglass insurance coverage, these are just eyeglasses with special frames. Go for any insurance payments or health care reimbursement to help with the cost. Worked for us 10 years ago, anyway.

Second, keep the blanks! My wife had a cataract removed recently from one eye, there's nothing in the other. When they put in the replacement lens during surgery, they pick one to handle most of the correction, so the prescription changes but is very mild. We put the original blank back in the one eye and left the correction in the other. She says it's a little odd but almost like having glasses.

irbgolfin

[lazylane]

I have very bad eyes and used a rental prescription mask and it was wonderful! They had several different prescriptions available at Cruz Bay Watersports. I really had planned on NOT snorkeling because I didn't know there was even such a thing available, but the lady there helped me find one and it was great!!! Another trip we went sailing with Capt Phil and I didn't have a prescription mask with me and I just used one of his and with the magnification in the water I was still able to see quite a bit even with my bad eyes!! I have had a lens replacement in one eye and can't see a thing out of the other without my glasses!!!

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[sapphirecat]

Glad you brought this up. My wife uses magnifier glasses (the $10 dollar ones you buy at CVS) for everything . Is something like this available to put into her mask?? John

Not to put into her mask, unless it's the kind where the lenses can be snapped out (if it has only one lens, then you know it's not that kind). But you can find the masks and snap-in "Rx" lenses at nearly any scuba shop.

But tell her to make sure she can read her gauges before she buys. (Hold up a lens and look at her watch.)

Cat

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[Carolyn]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I wear progressive lens all day every day. Can't see much of anything w/o them. I have worn glasses for less than 10 years, beginning w/ the need for only reading glasses and relatively quickly lost distance vision. My husband has worn glasses since childhood and his vision he feels is fine w/ the normal magnification that a normal mask gives. He actually takes off his glasses to read sometimes, so we have very different "problems". I think I am missing out on what I can see underwater ,so that is why I am investigating Rx masks.

I do have contacts but I rarely wear them as they don't correct all of my deficiencies.I did think I would try using them last trip but never tried it...probably a mistake. Good suggestion.

I looked at snorkelmart and am not at all opposed to buying online. I think we bought our current masks online and were just lucky that they fit. Thanks for the info as to how to buy online. I will seriously consider that route.

I won't get to the dive shop for at least a few more days. I wanted to go in w/ some kind of info and not be swayed into something I don't need or can't afford.

Thanks again...I feel better informed already!