Doing better than bifocals for dive masks?

The current thread about gauge readers got me thinking about trifocals.

My farsighted and astigmatic wife has prescription bifocal lenses in her standard and spare masks. Her previous correction, which is now in her backup mask, allows her to see at mid-range (bottom half-lens) and to see at a distance (top half-lens), but isn't adequate for her gauges. Her current correction allows her to read her gauges (bottom half-lens) and to see at a distance (top half-lens), but isn't very good for mid-range objects.

Does anyone know of any businesses that sell either prescription trifocals or (unlikely, but) varilux inserts for dive masks?

Try giving Dive Sight, located in Milwaukee, a call at 414-476-3483. We use them for all our mask sight correction needs at the Shop

Jack :roll:

I have been diving 50 years. I have tried prescription masks, "glue in" lenses, contact lenses, but this is the very best solution.

How are the glasses mounted in the mask?

Wedged.

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Originally Posted by Arctic Mike

How are the glasses mounted in the mask?

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Russell is right. I picked a mask and glasses size that allow me to just tuck the glasses under the skirt. My nose holds them in place. All I did was remove the temples.

FWIW, in the "olden days" of large oval masks, I used aircraft safety wire to hold them in place. The wire went around the glass, under the skirt, and up to the hinges on the glasses. Wedging them in works a lot better.

Try this place, and you do not need a dive shop to deal with.

http://www.prescriptiondivemasks.com/


Most of the time they have the msk you want or you can send them one to fix for you.

SLIM

I've started wearing multi-focal length contact lenses. I have worn contacts for years and these work pretty well for normal use and for diving. I used them last month diving in Florida with good results; I could read my computer!

I'm just not ready to don the bifocals yet, holding out as long as I can :yawinkle:

I have tried the multi-focal contacts but with a different result than you had. I wear multi-focal glasses and they are fine topside but the best that I have found thus far underwater is a mask with my distance vision and a computer with BIG graphics. I like Forrests idea but my glasses cost me about $800. That would make for an awfully expensive mask. I've thought about the possibility of attaching a magnifying glass to my computer, just not sure how well that would work.

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Originally Posted by Arctic Mike

I like Forrests idea but my glasses cost me about $800. That would make for an awfully expensive mask.

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Mine run almost that much. I just use my old ones, with the temples removed. I can switch them to another mask, too

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I've thought about the possibility of attaching a magnifying glass to my computer, just not sure how well that would work.

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That won't work, because the refractive index of water and glass are too close to each other. Lenses have to be in air to work.

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Originally Posted by FW

That won't work, because the refractive index of water and glass are too close to each other. Lenses have to be in air to work.

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So much for that idea! I don't think my old glasses would work because they are very small frames but I will try to see if they'll wedge into a mask.

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Originally Posted by Arctic Mike

So much for that idea! I don't think my old glasses would work because they are very small frames but I will try to see if they'll wedge into a mask.

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Try adding stainless steel "safety wire" to the hinges, to make them "bigger" so they will stay in place. It doesn't have to be too tight, just enough to hold them in place until you can get the mask on. Your nose will do the rest :-)

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Originally Posted by SLIM

Try this place, and you do not need a dive shop to deal with.

http://www.prescriptiondivemasks.com/


Most of the time they have the msk you want or you can send them one to fix for you.

SLIM

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I'm in the same camp as Slim. I've used PDM for my last 3 masks and had bifocals (distance and gauge readers) added. They work well for me. It's been two years since I bought a mask from them and I'm due. They may have progressives by now.

I've used a Tusa Visulator all 3 times. When I'm due I order a new glass plate from Tusa (about $15.00) and send the new glass and old lense/mask back. They return the mask with the new glass and lenses installed and I pop the old one into an older mask as a backup.

Jack, Forrest, Slim, Pwl -

Thanks for replying; it's most appreciated.

I phoned DiveSight today. The person with whom I spoke said that no one manufactures a trifocal or a varilux lens for dive masks.

I also phoned Prescription Dive Masks. The first person with whom I spoke said that PDM would grind a trifocal, but was reluctant to do so, because (some?) divers found the extra line disorienting. I then handed the phone to my wife, who spoke with (another) Linda-- Linda Young?-- about her vision at some length. This person offered to work with our optometrist after my wife's next annual eye check. My wife was impressed by Ms. Young's helpfulness.

Ms. Young also said that progressive lenses like Varilux would exhibit "considerable" distortion under water, but didn't elaborate.

I was curious about one other thing, Forrest. Are your glasses trifocals? I'm guessing not, but it's hard to tell from the photo.

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Originally Posted by phil_p

I was curious about one other thing, Forrest. Are your glasses trifocals? I'm guessing not, but it's hard to tell from the photo.

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No, just bifocals, but there wouldn't be any difference. The glasses are in air, like they were designed, so would work the same.