Steamed up glasses or contact lens

Goblinx

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I have lost so many pairs of specs overboard that I have lost count. I think of all the extra boat equipment I could have bought with the money it costs to replace them. But the main reason for my question is that I just find it so difficult to see when the glasses are all steamed up or encrusted with salt. I am long sighted so I'm able to see the horizon without them but not the instruments.
I've considered replacing them with contact lens but I'm not sure how they would stand up to the salt.
I'd be greatful for any advice on the subject.
John
 

capricorn

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Never had any problems with contact lenses at sea, find glasses almost impossible, forever misting up.

Not sure if you're an existing contact lens wearer or not. You can't be any more squeemish than I was about poking fingers in your eyes, I was terrified by the prospect. I'm amazed how easy it is, the modern soft disposable lenses are very easy and comfortable to wear.
 

Salty

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I used to crew as foredeck whilst racing and glasses were a nuisance at best and dangerous at worst. I swapped to daily disposable contacts and, so to speak, never looked back, although I still wear glasses ashore. Never had any problems with salt, getting them washed out, etc, although dailies were a lot easier than other crew who were trying to clean theirs every day, in less than hygenic conditions!
 

Thistle

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Being effectively blinded by spray and drizzle on glasses while sailing was what pushed me to try contact lenses after about 30 years of glasses. I just wish I'd tried them sooner ... I might even have been able to play cricket!

I'm short-sighted and have one eye corrected fully for distance and the other corrected so that I can still read. It sounds awkward but it has been great for me though I'm now at the stage when a pair of reading glasses may be parked near the chart table.

I fully agree with Capricorn about how good the soft disposable lenses are. Your optician may be able to arrange a trial at little or no cost beyond that of an extended check-up.
 

westernsailor

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Got lenses a number of years ago, however getting up tired in the morning and sticking a finger in each eye made me give them up. Younger then.

The last time I got new glasses they gave me a trial of disposable lenses, took some time to get used to them again.

However last Saturday out sailing with the lenses in, great sail down the river. Tough beat back with 30kts of wind and lots of spray.

Very glad of the lenses then, left five days supply on the boat just in case.
 

Santana379

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[ QUOTE ]
I can't think why I didn't use this forum before. There is such a lot of good advice on it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed there is - read the thread on anchor scope in this forum and you will be in no doubt how much to veer in any situation.

I can see myself this season on the foredeck in the Walton Backwaters, anchor and chain in hand, weighing up the merits of the various arguments before it all gets too much and I go off to find a vacant mooring buoy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

ParaHandy

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depending how wet the boat is, some favour these
SeacExtremeDivingMaskLarge.jpg

also made to a spherical prescription, so if you are short sighted and have a prescription between +8.00 and -10 and a low degree of astigmatism, they'll do
 

VicMallows

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I note you are long-sighted. Many of the responses imply the posters are (like me) short-sighted. You don't indicate your prescription, but with glasses can you hapilly leave them on for both distant and near? ... in which cases contacts could well be fine. (The correlation is not quite the same).

Unfortunately I've now reached the stage where I have to put reading -glasses over the contacts for chart-type work, but that's infinately better that permanently smeared/wet glasses and taking them off to see anything close! (-6.5 contacts). Have considered the 'different lens in each eye' technique suggested by one poster, but don't think I personally could get one with it.


Although I'd worn hard contacts for around 30years, I'd given them up for about 5 years do to increasing discomfort. Went for monthly soft disposables again purely for sailing, but found them so good now that I wear them all day every day. (Have found service/price from SpecSavers excellent).

Vic


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alahol2

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Just a word for all those (like me) who are still too squeamish/lazy to be bothered with contact lenses...Rain-X is fabulous stuff. The only trouble is you've got to remember to do it before it rains.
 
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