Corrective vision masks...?

[Cichlid]

I'm just getting started and was wondering if anyone had any good
experiences with a specific brand/model of corrective vision
masks? Any suggestions would be great, thanks!



EDIT: I'm also worried about fitting, I don't want to order something that I can't take back. Any ideas?

[CompuDude]

1) Buy the mask you like, that fits you. (preferably a 2-pane mask, meaning one lens over each eye instead of one big pane of glass)

2) Contact http://www.prescriptiondivemasks.com to have them turn your mask into a perfect prescription mask.

[Diver Dennis]

I use Mares X-Visions with drop in lenses. Cheaper than full prescription masks and work well.

[mmakay]

I was lucky. Not only do I need Rx, but the mask that fits me best is the Sea Vision 2000. (It seams to fit lots of faces well ... definitely try one.) Sea Vision is one of the major suppliers of Rx lenses, and they custom ground a set for me that are perfect. Well worth the expense. I can now spot critters in the coral that most folks cruise past without a thought.

[mmakay]

I should add: My Rx includes astigmatism. Drop-in lenses are available in +/- correction only. So your particular needs will dictate the best solution for you.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by mmakay

I should add: My Rx includes astigmatism. Drop-in lenses are available in +/- correction only. So your particular needs will dictate the best solution for you.

This is true. I've had both... the drop in lenses and custom ground (from PDM, linked above). The drop in lenses are a lot cheaper, but tend to come in .5 increments starting at -1 and only going to a certain level. And no astigmatism correction.

Unless you have no astigmatism and your prescription happens to fall right on, you'll have to compromise.

That said, I have -.75 and -1.25 vision, and astigmatism, and I still had a large benefit from using a mask with two drop-in -1.0 lenses. It all depends on you, though... some people have double vision without astigmatism correction, but I don't. (Also note the water tends to compensate for astigmatism to some small degree on it's own).

So when I'm feeling cheap, I get away with the drop in lenses, and dive quite happily. It's always nice to go all out the get the custom ground lenses, though.

[Vercingetorix]

I bought the +3.0 drop-in lenses from ScubaToys. Easy to install and remove (when you buy new mask and want to transfer lens).

[Cichlid]

I'm a -1.00 and -0.75, no astigmatism.I was looking at the drop in ones originally, but I like the idea of the custom ones more. I didn't know that was an option. Thanks for the link CompuDude. I need to find a LDS so I can try this stuff on! Thanks for all the suggestions guys, now I know what to look for.

[wxboy911]

I dive with a Cressi Big Eye- its easy to swap out the standard lenses for perscription lenses and the lenses are tilted inward at the bottom. For a new diver like me it helps to be able to see the front of my BC.

[dutch552]

The Mares X-Vision is a popular low-volume two window mask that allows Rx inserts for those of us with vision problems. I have been diving mine this season with nothing but good things to say about it.