Good eyes gone bad...

[DaveB]

Well...the once perfect eyesight has deminished since hitting my mid forties.

Gauges and computer screens are getting more and more difficult to read. I have been looking at these flexible magnification lenses that stick to the inside of your mask. One brand is Hydro Optx. Are there others?

Has anyone used these and if so, were you satisfied with them?

Happy Friday!!!

[Wizard]

I've heard good and bad about them. I've had a set over a year and have never used them. I bought a Nitek Duo (which was obviously designed by someone with poor eyesight) and have got by fine. A couple of friends have gone the route of sending a mask off and having the prescription lenses glued into the bottom of the mask lense, they seem happy with them.

One brand is Hydro Optx.

I tried them. They work. If they get wet they fall out.

In other words, defogging the mask is a major production. When I got home I threw my mask in the rinse bucket without thinking. I had to empty the bucket carefully to retrieve them.

I put them somewhere. Maybe I'll find them and try a couple drops of super glue. I don't really need to see my gauges, do I?

[Jim Clark]

DaveB,

I've been using Sea Vision masks for several years with their bifocal lens, made to your prescription. And I also use the Nitek Duo computers.

Jim

[Jordan]

Check out the Dive Rite ES125 mask with gauge readers. They are a little pricey, but well worth it. I know of one guy on this forum who uses them, Jim Wyatt. Maybe he can give you some feedback. They are the sort that have the gauge readers ground into the lens'.

Cheers

[FW]

I have been diving for around 40 years, and have always worn glasses. I have tried stick on lenses, glue in lenses, ground in lenses, and contact lenses. What I have found to be better than *any* of these is my own prescription glasses. I just found a frame that fit inside a good low profile mask. You just remove the ear pieces, and stick the rest into the mask. I actually have a pair I only use diving, so I don't have to keep removing the temples.

If you only need glasses for closeup, take your mask to a display of reading glasses, and find a pair that will fit inside.

[Angie Reim]

Hydro Optx work okay. My usual routine is one diving weekend per month (~4 dives per weekend) so the lenses stick well enough. When I clean up the gear for the month I just remove the lenses, clean the mask, reset the lenses and I'm good to go for the next month.

If you are diving far more often I would look for a more permanent solution.

That reminds me....I've had these lenses for a couple of years and now my reading correction needs to go to a higher#. At least I don't have to buy a whole new mask. 8)

[Gary]

About the only time I can comfortably wear contacts is underwater - otherwise my eyes are too dry. I understand there are various problems with that though.

I bought a mask more then 10 years ago with replacable lenses - the lenses are sold by the mask company and come in various diopters (just match your eyeglass perscription) I wore them until the lenses got foggy and the mask fell apart. Last year I went back to the same shop and bought a new mask frame for the old lenses (so I'd have a cheap spare) and bought another new set of mask and lenses.

The mask and lenses are sold by "Cressi" (or maybe "Cressi-sub"?) and aren't very expensive. Try them - you'll love them.

If you only need glasses for closeup...

I was considering putting a magnifying glass on a lanyard around my wrist...

[DaveB]

A magnifying glass on a lanyard...you guys really crack me up sometimes. Although that almost sounds like something I would do.

I appreciate all the responses! My eyes are not that bad...yet. I have trouble focusing on things that are closer than an arms length away. Yes...when you see that guy doing deco in the Eye with his arm outstretched...that's me.

I can get by with a pair of reading glasses, so I don't want to spend the cash on a prescription. I guess I'll just try a couple of things and see how they work.

Thanks again!

Dave