newbie looking for a prescription mask

[pimp.daddyo]

Hi everyone, im completly new to snorkelling and i would like some advice.
My wife and a few friends are off to cuba in just over a week and im looking for a mask which i can fit prescription lenses. my prescription is pretty normal -2.75 and -3.00 which from what i've read on the web is not going to be a issue. the problem i have is where i can get the mask and lenses from? i need to try masks on so i can find one that fits correctly but they also need to stock the lenses too. does anyone know where would have them in stock ? im located in corby, northants. the closest shop i've found is stoney cove in leicester. i've emailed them but not had any responce yet. there seems to be quite a few dive schools/centers about but not too many shops and the ones that do have websites dont seem to have much infomation on them. so any advice anyone can offer will be super helpfull.

many thanks

[Coralcop]

You might check to see if your LDS has TUSA masks. They have prescription lenses that interchange with the supplied non prescription lens. You just buy your diopter and pop the lens in. An optical lab nearby may be able to fit you with the type you glue to the inside of your mask if you cant find TUSA, but that is usually more expensive and cumbersome.

[cutlass]

When available from the manufacturer, mask lenses are usually come in dipoter increments of +/- 0.5. So -3.0 isn't a problem, but for -2.75 you'd have to choose between -2.5 and -3.0. Personally, I'd go with the -2.5 because unless you're diving in crazy unreal clear water (e.g. caves), it's unlikely you'll ever see detail beyond 30m anyway.

No factory lens will suit your eyes perfectly and so you may experience a bit of eyestrain at first. This could become a problem. I personally can tolerate a bit of fuzziness. I find that the lens on my dominant (right) eye is good enough to overcome the fuzziness from the non-dominant (left) eye). You might be different. If it's a real problem, then you may have to go to custom lenses or use contact lenses. Factory mask lenses can cost $25-40 each.

Sorry I can't help you with your particular location. But fit-test whatever masks you can, find out if corrective lenses are options with the mask model, and if not available locally, mail order them. Usually a dive shop or training center can do all of that for you.

[daniel1948]

I had a similar problem: It's hard for me to find a mask that fits my face correctly. The prescription-ready masks tend to be expensive, even without the prescription lenses, and they didn't want to let me try them out in a pool without buying them.

My problem was solved when a local LDS told me they could install prescription lenses in any mask. I found a mask that fit, and after confirming that in the pool, I got my prescription from my optometrist, and the LDS had the lenses made and glued into my mask. It's heavy, and was not cheap, but it works great.

Another solution is to get disposable contact lenses. They are good for six days of use or so (supposedly longer, though I find they get uncomfortable after 5 or 6 days). I pay around $100 for six pairs, which is a little over $16 per pair. Considering the cost of a diving or snorkeling trip, another $32 for a couple of pairs of contact lenses isn't bad. Of course, the original fitting is also expensive, and not everyone can wear contact lenses due to the psychological issues. There is the risk of losing them under water if your mask comes off, but at $15 a pair, that's not a disaster. Just pop in another pair when you get out of the water. -- That said, I prefer my prescription mask.

[spectrum]

There are some masks that accept interchangeable lenses and they are stocked at some shops. This really limits what you can have for a mask. If you have significant astigmatism, cylinder correction greater than 1 you really ought to go with true script overlays. You send the mask away and they bond them to the inside. Prior to shipping you mark your pupil centers and they factor that into the lenses and the mounting of them.

The ideal scenario has you buy them mask and take it diving a time or 2. Once the fit is validated send it away to add correction.

Welcome to Prescription Dive Masks 1-800-538-2878. is a common provider.

In your case you have cut yourself short for time so making do or trying off the the rack pop in corrective lenses will have to do.

Pete

[orfreediver]

Take a look at this one-
Spearfishing Masks

[Altamira]

My wife had lens installed by Leonard Maggiore at xdivemask.com and he put custom lens in the mask we sent him. I can highly recommend his work. I believe this is the same prescription dive mask company noted above. The cost was @$250 for the set installed, and he gave me a very fast turn around. Make sure you call him first because you will have to put dots on the mask where the center of the pupil is located to he can correctly grind and mount the lenses.

[Dory42]

Greetings. My opthamologist and was able to make a custom mask for me. My mask is used for snorkeling, but, I was told it was the same mask as for diving. Good luck finding the perfect mask; it makes all the difference.

[Marek K]

If you have significant astigmatism, cylinder correction greater than 1 you really ought to go with true script overlays.

Not necessarily. I've got cylinder (astigmatism) correction of -1.75 in one eye, and -2.75 in the other -- on top of spherical correction of -9.75 and -10.00.

Trust me, I do know what astigmatism does to my vision in air.

But in the water, my off-the-shelf -9.5 sphere mask lenses do just fine, with ~100-ft visibility.