I
idocsteve
Guest
Hi folks
I've been on the board for quite some time, and I often see questions asked by divers about contact lenses and diving. I have provided some fairly comprehensive answers, either on the threads or via personal messages, and I'd like to post them in one place where they're easy to find.
Divers are welcome to post questions and comments on this thread where I will answer them to the best of my ability. Note that I do not have much to say about prescription diving masks, I do not handle them in my office because divers usually send them directly to the companies that provide this service.
I'm a New York State Licensed Optometrist and certified Scuba Diver. I will also post a disclaimer that information provided by me on this thread is to be considered "for entertainment purposes only" and is not to be taken as medical advise. There is no substitute for a complete and thorough eye examination by a licensed eyecare professional.
Having received their permission, I'll start with a question asked to me by a fellow ScubaBoard member last night, in regard to bifocal contact lenses.
"Thanks for all the help. Just got contacts Yesterday and wore them for 4 hours. Today about 6. She said we may have to tweak the script. I"m suppose to go back in 3 weeks to let her know how things are. Vision is not too bad at distance but reading is another story. Because my trip is at the end February not to sure what my next step should be. Don't want to jump the gun,but also don't want to ruin the dives. Also with the new contacts when looking around, seems like things are foggy. I know for sure they were not baush & lomb . My last dive in August was in Freeport and dove with about 10 reef sharks and just blew me away. One of the most amazing things I have ever done. Thanks R-"
R-
I have several suggestions for you.
You don't have all that much time before your trip and of course you'd like to get your vision as clear as possible before your vacation.
3 weeks is WAY too long to wait between trial lens tweaks. In general, one week is sufficient, and usually less after the first followup. I have found that some bifocal contact lens patients need to try several pairs of contacts before the fit is finalized or rarely, to the point where we run out of options and discontinue the fit altogether. There are just too many combinations of Rx's and different lens types and brands available. If you wait 3 weeks between checkups, and you require, say, 3-4 trial lens pair replacements and tweaks, you're looking at MONTHS, and it's completely unecessary to wait that long.
If distance vision is good, and near vision is blurred, my next step would be to "over refract" the patient, meaning I would flip lenses in front of them with the contacts worn, either using the refractor (lens instrument) or loose trial lenses to see if I can add or decrease power that would help BOTH distance and near. If it's not possible to improve the reading vision without sacrificing some distance vision, I will add near vision power to the nondominant eye by either changing the overall lens power in no more than half diopter increments, or just increasing the bifocal part of the lens to the next available level. I suggest you discuss these options with your eye care practitioner.
I have found the best success with the new Acuvue Oasys bifocal contact lens, but the Baush and Lomb multifocal lens is a close second. The latter lens comes in a 1 month extended wear option. Other brands such as Ciba Vision and Coopervision have been somewhat disappointing in my experience but they are viable alternatives for some patients.
I've been on the board for quite some time, and I often see questions asked by divers about contact lenses and diving. I have provided some fairly comprehensive answers, either on the threads or via personal messages, and I'd like to post them in one place where they're easy to find.
Divers are welcome to post questions and comments on this thread where I will answer them to the best of my ability. Note that I do not have much to say about prescription diving masks, I do not handle them in my office because divers usually send them directly to the companies that provide this service.
I'm a New York State Licensed Optometrist and certified Scuba Diver. I will also post a disclaimer that information provided by me on this thread is to be considered "for entertainment purposes only" and is not to be taken as medical advise. There is no substitute for a complete and thorough eye examination by a licensed eyecare professional.
Having received their permission, I'll start with a question asked to me by a fellow ScubaBoard member last night, in regard to bifocal contact lenses.
"Thanks for all the help. Just got contacts Yesterday and wore them for 4 hours. Today about 6. She said we may have to tweak the script. I"m suppose to go back in 3 weeks to let her know how things are. Vision is not too bad at distance but reading is another story. Because my trip is at the end February not to sure what my next step should be. Don't want to jump the gun,but also don't want to ruin the dives. Also with the new contacts when looking around, seems like things are foggy. I know for sure they were not baush & lomb . My last dive in August was in Freeport and dove with about 10 reef sharks and just blew me away. One of the most amazing things I have ever done. Thanks R-"
R-
I have several suggestions for you.
You don't have all that much time before your trip and of course you'd like to get your vision as clear as possible before your vacation.
3 weeks is WAY too long to wait between trial lens tweaks. In general, one week is sufficient, and usually less after the first followup. I have found that some bifocal contact lens patients need to try several pairs of contacts before the fit is finalized or rarely, to the point where we run out of options and discontinue the fit altogether. There are just too many combinations of Rx's and different lens types and brands available. If you wait 3 weeks between checkups, and you require, say, 3-4 trial lens pair replacements and tweaks, you're looking at MONTHS, and it's completely unecessary to wait that long.
If distance vision is good, and near vision is blurred, my next step would be to "over refract" the patient, meaning I would flip lenses in front of them with the contacts worn, either using the refractor (lens instrument) or loose trial lenses to see if I can add or decrease power that would help BOTH distance and near. If it's not possible to improve the reading vision without sacrificing some distance vision, I will add near vision power to the nondominant eye by either changing the overall lens power in no more than half diopter increments, or just increasing the bifocal part of the lens to the next available level. I suggest you discuss these options with your eye care practitioner.
I have found the best success with the new Acuvue Oasys bifocal contact lens, but the Baush and Lomb multifocal lens is a close second. The latter lens comes in a 1 month extended wear option. Other brands such as Ciba Vision and Coopervision have been somewhat disappointing in my experience but they are viable alternatives for some patients.
