Cant See!!

[freewillie]

gauges with really big numbers!!

 

[diverrex]

I switched to the Atomic Cobalt computer because even with my bifocal contacts when the light was poor (usually down deep exactly when I really want to see my gauge) I had trouble reading my other AI computer.

 

[Johanan]

I have the same problem - my hands are too short to read my wrist computer. Thanks for the ideas how to deal with this. However, it didn't become fully clear for me - can I install optical lenses in my mask (Oceanic Titan) or better to order a mask with lenses from the maker?

 

[altaskier]

Laser eye surgery

my wife's answer to the issue was lazik, and she swears by it.

Laser eye surgery or Lazik only corrects for distance vision, like single-correction (non-bifocal) glasses or contacts. It does not correct for presbyopia, which is the loss in range of accommodation (ability to adjust between focusing on near and far objects) that accompanies aging. I would expect that a person age 50+ who gets Lasik would still need reading glasses.

In my case, I wear bifocals but for diving I have been happily using an inexpensive ($80) off-the-shelf prescription mask from SnorkelMart. Works fine for me, and not too expensive to replace if lost. I have a Suunto Cobra 3 dive computer and the digits are big enough for me to read without a bifocal inset if I hold it at least 10 inches away (I'm 52 years old). I would not use a computer with smaller digits like the Suunto D6, because I would find this hard to read.

There are variants like PresbyLASIK but based on a quick look I would not sign up for that.

 

[la_diver]

if you can wear contacts do. I wear the bifocal type and have had no problems

 

[billt4sf]

if you can wear contacts do. I wear the bifocal type and have had no problems

I too, wear contacts (the multifocal type) while diving. I had a prescription mask (which worked OK, but not as well as contacts) until I lost it then it didn't work at all.

- Bill

 

[Mike1002]

Being over 50 I wear +2.00 drugstore glasses to read. I wanted the "perfect" solution for diving and have tried several things from the stick on bifocals to special lens. None of these solutions were great. A lot of times I would see double images with the bifocal lens and this seems to be a common problem.

I went to my eye doctor and told him I read about these progressive contacts. He said they work ok from some people but not all and suggested I try a single +1.75 disposable contact in my non-dominant eye. I first tried the progressive contacts and for me they were horrible so I decided to try the single contact. I did not really like it but he said give it some time and it was certainly better than the progressive contacts. I wore them for a total of 1 day before my dive trip.

I took 30 of these single day lenses to Bonaire last week to try them out. Like I said out of water I did not like them that much but on my first dive I was absolutely amazed. It was like I was not wearing a contact at all. I could see near and far naturally( no sense of a difference between eyes) which was not the case on land. I could see my gauges clear as day and I could even use my digital camera with no problems(prior to this it was very difficult to use since I could not see the image or settings). Not only could I see up close but could also see mid and far distance as well.

Since they were disposable I took my mask off to see what would happen. The contact stayed in my eye but I only tried this once.

This is the perfect solution for me and I hope this helps someone else.

 

[Krazytomdiver]

Lasik eye surgery called "mono-vision"... They correct your dominate eye to 20/15 and your other eye to 20/40. It has worked for me for 15+ years.

"Living life without a hard bottom"
KT

 

[Moray]

I wear prescription glasses,but I need to adjust them up or down my nose depending on what I'm looking at.my mask is also a prescription but for obvious reasons I can't move it up or down my nose, and have trouble seeing.any solutions to this?

 

[susanlouise]

Fwiw, I am 57, nearsighted, and need bifocals now. I use monovision contacts (disposable) and they work well for me. But for my dive mask and swim goggles - I have optic lenses (not custom prescription) a little less strong than my prescription, so I can read the gauges and also see respectably far. For example, my prescription is about -3.5, so I put -2 in my mask. Works great and not as expensive as prescription.