Spectacles!

[petery]

Vision Express do prescription ski goggles with a comfortable nose 'cushion' and a substantial elastric strap. I paid £99 for mine. I imagine they do them with varifocal lenses. Prevciously I lost three pairs of specs overboard, but these havc lasted a year so far.

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[Salty]

I've had some pretty nasty weather thrown at my contacts and never had a problem with them staying in. I guess in practice you tend to blink when anything is about to hit you in the face (including a big wave) which is probably what saves them from getting washed out. Using disposables means you don't need to worry too much if they do go awol. The only time I've had weather problems was ski-ing once when it was so cold they froze solid in my eyes and then flew out like frisbees when I blinked - but hopefully not conditions you get when sailing, unless you do a lot in the Southern Ocean!

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[BrendanS]

I've worn contacts for over 20 years, and have even swum in them, with eyes open under water, but I seriously believe I'd have lost them when those waves came over, the force was unlike any waves I've taken over my head before. The point about caked salt being washed into my eyes, and being almost blind for 2 minutes, would have been exacerbated with contacts

Don't get me wrong, I love contacts for many reasons, but this one hit made me rethink. If my contacts had been washed away, I'm blind as a bat, and finding my glasses down below would have been a not inconsiderable challenge

Still interested in finding out whether anyone has had laser surgery, and if they have had any problems at night

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[robp]

Thanks for these replies all. Some varied solutions. It actually seems that I've less to complain about than the regular wearers. I'd also been considering Laser surgery but hadn't heard of the poss night time problem! Given that I don't like wearing the varifocals (or any specs) either whilst sailing, it seems that more of the robust reading glasses dotted around will have to be my answer. Actually those old fashioned Pinz Nez? things would be good. (Specs on a stick). Just hold up for the compass/instruments and then drop. Maybe Teflon coated?? What a pain!

Rob

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[pugwash]

One eye both the same

Here's the solution. I met a senior professor and surgeon of eye stuff a few months ago who also sails. He saw that I wore specs and asked how I got on. I told him it was murder. It's quite easy, he said. Order disposable contact lenses with different prescriptions for each eye. Long focus in one, short focus in the other. The brain adjusts to the difference and your sight (except in cases of extreme myopia) will be good enough for sea-going (as distinct from the greater demands of driving). When you need a better view of the supertanker bearing down on your port bow, close the appropriate eye. When you need to read the chart, close the other. He added that it's by no means a good solution for the long term but is perfectly okay for a weekend or so. I haven't tried it yet but I intend to do so.

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[vyv_cox]

I surfed wearing contact lenses for years and only ever lost two, one in Brittany and one in South Shields, both times in very big surf. I always keep my eyes open underwater.

I now need reading glasses at the chart table but find cheap ones bought at Boots perfectly adequate. The half-height ones work quite well as a kind of bifocal.

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[stephenh]

As you get older and gittier it may well be that you have to wear spectacles all the time - this is easier when sailing than wearing reading glasses only!!!
When this happens ( I'm another 'since-a-sprog-spexer') do the following :-
Buy frames with spring hinges - less damage when (not if) you crush them.
Use a neck string so you don't loose them, when (not if ) they fall off.
Have glass rather than plastic lenses as these do not scratch so easily when you wipe droplets off with or without gloves. In 40 years of sailing with specs I have not broken a lens on board ( he said, tempting fate...)
Lick the lenses clean of salt from time to time. A film of saliva is clear to see through and causes the rain / spray to run off.. ( got that one from a fisherman - and it works)
Don't bother with the fancy patent anti-smear sticks that are sold at boat shows etc - I have yet to find one that works.
The above is not perfect but the best I have found so far.....

Stephen

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[Mirelle]

Right!

I am a shortsighted old git; I have been shortsighted since I was 8 and I reckon I beame an old git at 50! Sailed all my life, all over the place, it has never bothered me and I do just as you do.

The only thing I would add is that I have a pair of plastic lens prescription sunglasses which I find very useful.

If/when you do drop your glasses overboard, or crush them, and over the years I have done both (and broken a lens!) you may be able to get by by using the binoculars; worth checking to see if the pair you have will adjust that far - some do.

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[robp]

<Buy frames with spring hinges - less damage when (not if) you crush them>

Yes, worse thing I did was to buy a fancy pair of Armani frames (with best Nikon lenses you can buy), that flop all over the place!!

Thanks for your suggestions.

Rob

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[waterboy]

Being one who wears glasses all the time, spray and rain can really ruin my vision. Then trying to read instruments or going below to the chart table comes a messy business at best with bits of loo paper and kitchen towel rapidly filling my pockets. At the risk of looking a complete prat, I bought one of those visor type clear plastic screens that protects the entire face and glasses. It is held in place by an elastic strap round the head and is hinged so that in theory, the thing lifts enough to see instruments, charts etc clearly in normal manner. I bought it from an industial clothing shop in Southsea for about £15. Alas due to such good weather this year, have had little chance to use it in anger so have no real experience on how effective it is.

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