Seasickness - a conjecture

Amulet

Amulet

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I just got varifocal spectacles and they made me feel slightly seasick - wearing off now.

Seasickness is sometimes attributed, at least in part, to a disconnect between what the eyeball sees and the balance sensors feel.

I know a number of lucky people who seem immune to seasickness. In all cases (but one) they have crappy vision corrected by hefty specs since childhood.

Might it be that they are used to screwed-up vision and balance relationships and so resistant?

And also... we have seen these weird glasses that help with seasickness (?). Maybe we should get specs that make you seasick until you get over it while you ashore. Puke at work rather than on your boat.
 
I now wear varifocals but wore contact lenses for years before i retired. can't say i noticed anything different sailing. never suffered from sea sickness although i have been short sighted sice i was a child.
 
Only been seasick twice, once when I was very drunk off Thailand and then on the Irish ferry when everyone else was being sick around me.

Not normally seasick and I had 20:20 vision until the last ten years or so when I have been using reading glasses.
 
colind3782 said:
Only been seasick twice, once when I was very drunk off Thailand and then on the Irish ferry when everyone else was being sick around me.

Not normally seasick and I had 20:20 vision until the last ten years or so when I have been using reading glasses.
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This more of less mirrors my experience. I've only been seasick either after "drink had been taken" or I've been surrounded by others puking.
 
It's an interesting theory. I've never been sea sick, and have worn glasses since I was nine. Shortsightedness, astigmatism, wear varifocals. I fit the pattern. :D
 
Was sick as a child, but had spent WAY too much time in a dark, stinky engine room...... so ... to be expected.
Since then, as an adult..... never....

I too have worn glasses since I was five. Shortsightedness, astigmatism, wear varifocals. I fit the pattern too. :-)


PS. The queezynes from the new varifocals goes after a few days, a few weeks later and you will forget you are even waring varifocals.
 
My eyesight was fine until the usual old age failings, since when I have worn reading glasses. I have always been liable to become badly seasick. Even with my eyes shut!

Extrapolating a bit, can anyone spot any correlation between seasickness and deafness or hearing impairment?
 
Strong prescription for astigmatism, varifocals, sick as a dog on far too many occasions. Sorry to contradict the rule. However, such is my desperation to find a remedy, if I have crew to keep a lookout, I will try removing my specs next time and report back with my findings.
 
"Conjecture", not "rule". I'd say replies thus far are mildly consistent with some correlation, but not overwhelming. NB the cases I refer to are those who have been wearing jam-jars since childhood.

Hoopdriver said:
Strong prescription for astigmatism, varifocals, sick as a dog on far too many occasions. Sorry to contradict the rule. However, such is my desperation to find a remedy, if I have crew to keep a lookout, I will try removing my specs next time and report back with my findings.
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Most of my life (until my arms got too short) had 20/20 vision. Sea sick once - one choppy night when trawling off Whitstable, I got a whiff of unburnt Calor gas.
 
My anecdotal evidence contradicts the op's.

My partner, my older sister, and several friends, were all born very shortsighted. All suffer badly from seasickness.

My dad, and several close friends, have excellent eyesight, and are seldom seasick.

Me? I'm shortsighted, have sailed for over 50 years, and have only ever been seasick about a handful of times.

So...... I think the theory needs more research!
 
Have also worn thick specs since childhood. If it's really rough for a long time I cannot go below unless to immediately lie down - otherwise it's puke time.
The other factor is rain and spray on my specs. This will cause me to feel ill in rough weather. Easily avoided with a hood and tea towel in a pocket to clean em up every 10 minutes. Plus ginger nuts in extreme conditions
 
Amulet said:
I just got varifocal spectacles and they made me feel slightly seasick - wearing off now.

Seasickness is sometimes attributed, at least in part, to a disconnect between what the eyeball sees and the balance sensors feel.

I know a number of lucky people who seem immune to seasickness. In all cases (but one) they have crappy vision corrected by hefty specs since childhood.

Might it be that they are used to screwed-up vision and balance relationships and so resistant?

And also... we have seen these weird glasses that help with seasickness (?). Maybe we should get specs that make you seasick until you get over it while you ashore. Puke at work rather than on your boat.
Click to expand...

The image through varifocals distorts a bit depending on where you are looking through them so until you adjust I suspect it fools your brain into thinking the image is moving a bit when your ears are telling you its not. I found if I looked off centre there was a definite curving effect so as my eyeball moved the curving effect changed. I now don't notice it, even when switching from glasses to contact lenses (multifocals) to reading glasses, so my brain must instantly adapt now.
 
The only time I felt queasy on a boat was the beginnings of a diabetic hypo. When I realised we'd been on the go since Oh God double O and I'd had nothing to eat, a couple of biscuits sorted it.

As for vision, at 65. I've needed reading glasses for the best part of 10 years, but I'm normally the first to spot a distant buoy.
 
Reading this thread from the start, I wasn't going to respond, but now, reading all these replies I think (?) I feel quite fortunate in a way.

I do wear varifocals, but do not suffer from sea sickness, even when out in Mid-channel in my 22 footer. I've suffered some serious bouts of Vertigo over the past 10 years, and the last one 3 years ago left me unable to walk properly for nearly 12 weeks, and with Tinnitus in both ears. Even now, on land I find keeping a balance when out walking can become quite difficult, and I absolutely hate crowded shops, which make me feel very bad.

So, it's strange how I can go to sea, in a small boat, in rough weather (not planned to do so of course!), and yet neither feel seasick nor off-balance/giddy. It's only when I get ashore again that I feel wobbly, but then I think many of us do anyway.

So now I will be asking the doctor and optician questions about varifocals, as they could be causing me the difficulties on land, bearing in mind that on open water, although there is an horizon, it is usually far away. Needless to say that as I am aware of my balance situation I do take extra care once on board, and especially when getting on board.

As for the seasickness, as said, Ginger Nuts are good, but never Garlic - it's one thing that will make me sick!
 
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