Reading Prescription Dive Masks

[Flycaster]

I have a basic reading prescription in my normal progressive glasses of around +1.75.
Can anyone recommend a dive mask to suit this my needs?
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[stuartv]

I use these:

Masks - SeaVisionUSA

I have 1 of each color lens (magenta, clear, and yellow), all with their gauge reader lenses. They are great (for me) for fit, not leaking, and seeing stuff that is close up.

My reading glass prescription is the same as yours.

My only real complaint with them is that the place where the strap connects to the frame is a plastic flange that is 90 degrees to the plane of the lenses. It sticks directly back towards your ear. It is not hinged, so it won't fold flat. I broke one of mine. It only happened because I had it in my drysuit thigh pocket as a backup, and I must have leaned against something on the boat. I've never had an issue with one when I either wear it or put it back in its storage box or in between. I repaired the one I broke by supergluing it. It has been fine ever since. Seavision quoted me $45 to transplant my lenses into a new mask frame. That seemed reasonable, but I decided to try Superglue first and then do that if the glue didn't hold.

Also, the mask strap itself, where it goes through the frame slot, is slightly skinnier than other mask straps. I bought a "slap strap" to replace the stock silicone mask strap and it turned out to be too wide to fit. So, I can only use the stock mask strap.

Lastly, the reason I have all 3 lens colors is that I heard that I could use my Health Savings Account to pay for the masks, since they have prescription lenses. I had extra money in my HSA, so that's exactly what I did. It was kind of like getting the masks for free. The magenta lens is especially awesome in blue water.

 

[Doctorfish]

+1 for seavision. I use the bifocal lenses to correct for astigmatism and presbiopia. Works well. I have not had any breakage problems over 10 years and 2 masks. I am not sure that the color correction is of any additional value.

 

[Bert van den Berg]

I use a single contact lens for close up vision in my left eye. The brain figures it out almost immediately and it works well for me.

 

[2airishuman]

DGX has a "Rio" mask available with gauge reader lenses for $50. I have the mask but without corrective lenses. In practice either the +1 or +2 lenses will probably work out just fine for you. The +1 will give you clear vision at about arm's length and the +2 at about 15".

 

[taimen]

I received my first Seavision mask today, and already went diving with it. Optics are great and spot on. Exactly the same prescription as my glasses (myopia and astigmatism). Unfortunately the mask (Ultra 2200) does not fit me very well and is leaky. I had to order it without trying first, so this was an understandable risk I took.

 

[Doctorfish]

Contacts are all well and good until the mask floods and they float away.

 

[sigxbill]

I just ordered all three masks SeaVision makes in their non-prescription versions to try on for fit. Then I plan on picking the best one and sending them back for refund to apply towards my prescription mask that I️ like best. They only charge $20 more to make your full prescription as opposed to just guage readers

 

[Rred]

"Contacts are all well and good until the mask floods and they float away."
If I'm on the bottom, or close enough to just land on it, I can close my eyes and purge and there's nothing floating away. Replacement contacts (for simple dailies) are way cheaper than getting an rx made up for your favorite mask, too.
I wouldn't buy a "stock" mask with rx lenses in it, since they can't even guess at what the proper interpupillary distance is, and any "real" glasses are built around that.

No, nothing's perfect, but it can be a very good compromise. As can Hydro-Optix, the stick-on reading lenses that you can stick into your mask, or glasses, for about $25. And yes, they stay put even when wet.

 

[ibj40]

I had Seavision readers for about 5 years, until my eyes changed so much that I was using that segment of the mask lense for distance viewing.

Just got my new full prescription into my Seavisions, what an experience!