Contact Lenses and Scuba
My name is...
I was wondering what kind of contact lenses are acceptable for wearing
while scuba diving. I've gotten conflicting info so I thought I'd
tap all you knowledgeable people on the 'Net. SO if you wear lenses
and dive I appreciate your views and please send only EMAIL as I don't
read this group. Thank you!!
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:: s.l. bell :: credo quia absurdum est :: be...@rock.enet.dec.com ::
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Chuck Easton
Please post any information to the group. I'm considering getting
contacts and was wondering the same thing. Currently, I dive WO any
lense correction. I figure everything's blurry underwater anyway! :)
Chuck
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Opinions expressed here are mine, mine, all mine ... I was never good
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William E. Sadler
: In article <2sqd70$5...@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>, be...@rock.enet.dec.com (My name is...) writes:
: |>
: |> I was wondering what kind of contact lenses are acceptable for wearing
: |> while scuba diving. I've gotten conflicting info so I thought I'd
: |> tap all you knowledgeable people on the 'Net. SO if you wear lenses
: contacts and was wondering the same thing. Currently, I dive WO any
: lense correction. I figure everything's blurry underwater anyway! :)
: Chuck
Chuck,
I wear Johnson & Johnson AccuVue disposables. No problem and the BEST
contact I've ever worn. In general, I've been told that any gas
permeable lens is ok.
But my lenses work fine, and I dive a *Lot*
--
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/* William E. Sadler | email: bat...@crl.com */
/* [\] Diver Down! | CIS: 71004,1241 */
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SBCrair
writes:
|> I was wondering what kind of contact lenses are acceptable for
wearing
|> while scuba diving.
I'm no doctor, but I wear disposables (soft), and have never had any
problems. I understand that as long as you're comfortable, any
contacts are fine - but best to check w/opthamologist/optometrist.
BTW, you can get corrective lenses put into most masks for reasonable
price - $60 for pair. Only problem is, when you get out of the water
and take mask off, still can't see!!
Bruce
SBC...@aol.com
Energy Deuce Cruse
I was taught that contacts were a no-no, especially if you were blind
without them. The major risk was that they would get washed out if you
lost your mask. The suggested alternative was having your mask equiped
with lenses (not nearly as expensive as I had thought).
That being said, the dive master (now instructor) who got me into the
sport wore contacts and has always managed quite well with or w/o his
mask.
Has the concensus changed?
-Deuce
--
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Energy 'Deuce' Cruse, II email: ene...@wal.hp.com
Hewlett-Packard Co hpdesk: CRUSE_ENERGY/HP1700_03@hp-mpg
Waltham, MA 02254-9030
"No way!!" "Way!!! --The HP Way--" --Wayne and Garth meet Bill and Dave
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William Harriman
had hard lenses, later gas permeable followed by soft and now disposable. I've
never had problems other than loss when I was taking lessons. My husband has
a prescription mask but my vision is such that if I took off such a mask I'd
never find my glasses. Our current problem is that we are of the age when one
begins to need bifocals - fortunately we can still hold our gauges out a bit
to read them. In another few years our arms won't be long enough.
Elena
T Robert
I too have been diving with contact lenses for several years now.
I've worn glasses since I was six and I've been diving for twelve
years now. Up until a few years ago I simply dove without any
corrective lenses and I always made out alright, the natural
refractive properties of the mask lens/ water interface magnified
what I saw enough that I was able to see well enough and I managed to
snag a bazillion lobsters, crab and scallops while I was at it! When
I got contact lenses two summers ago, I immediately began diving with
them and it was like a whole new world. I wear Soft-Perm lenses by
Barnes-Hind. These are expensive lenses that combine a gas permeable
rigid central disk with a band of soft lens material around the
outside. They give me a fantastic corection (20 x 15 in both
eyes...and I have considerable astigmatism) and they are amazingly
comfortable. I've never had any problem with them in the water
although I've not lost or even flooded my mask with them in. If
anyone is troubled by an unstable correction with traditional soft
toric lenses but put off by the discomfort of a regular gas perm
lens, try to find an eye doctor who is familiar with these lenses.
They're worth their high cost.
Guy Hirson
ene...@hpwarov.wal.hp.com "Energy Deuce Cruse" writes:
> I was taught that contacts were a no-no, especially if you were blind
> without them. The major risk was that they would get washed out if you
> lost your mask. The suggested alternative was having your mask equiped
> with lenses (not nearly as expensive as I had thought).
Yeah right! So you have lost you mask with prescription lenses. What's the
difference with losing mask *AND* contacts? At least you stand a chance of
having the contacts stay with you and then you have some vision to look for
the mask with. Besides, lenses are very cheap compared with prescription mask
lenses (even if they are "cheap") when you come to replace them.
> That being said, the dive master (now instructor) who got me into the
> sport wore contacts and has always managed quite well with or w/o his
> mask.
I reckon that says lots.
--
Guy Hirson - Irdeto ___ Oo
internet: g...@ghirson.demon.co.uk (___)o_o
alt: g...@lap94.mnet.co.za //====--//(_)
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Tim Kalafut
different brands and types and give him feedback, because he is involved in
a study on this. I wear disposible, and the doctor told me to try and time
the lenses so I can throw them away after the weekend, but other than that,
it's no big deal. He said it's not worth throwing them away if it's at the
beginning of the cycle either. It's just throwing away money. But I did get
several weeks worth of lenses free that I tested.
--
Tim Kalafut
gig 'em Ags
tsk...@rigel.tamu.edu
Albert Hsu
>From: g...@ghirson.demon.co.uk (Guy Hirson)
>Subject: Re: Contact Lenses and Scuba
>........ Besides, lenses are very cheap compared with prescription mask
>lenses (even if they are "cheap") when you come to replace them.
This really depends on your prescription. Due to my astigmatism, my contacts
cost about twice as much as a presciption mask would. But I like to see when
I take off my mask, so I stick with the contacts.
David B. Barnes
--
d.b.b...@express.larc.nasa.gov
What's the difference, you lose your mask your blind without it. If
your wearing contacts you might get lucy and be able to open your eyes
a little and see something. If you open your eyes and lose your
contacts your in the same boat as if you lost your prescription
mask.
Should you just get you masked knocked off and its still on your neck
9 times out of 10 your contacts would stay in.
Jeff Schwartz
>
>I was taught that contacts were a no-no, especially if you were blind
>without them. The major risk was that they would get washed out if you
>lost your mask. The suggested alternative was having your mask equiped
>with lenses (not nearly as expensive as I had thought).
[deleted]
Let's think about this logically. The reason you have a mask is so you can see
underwater. If you lose your mask, you won't be able to see much even with
20/20. Now let's get back to the surface. If you lost your mask with the
prescription lenses, you can't see on the surface either (makes it harder to get
back on the boat). If you had contacts on and managed to keep at least one of
them, you still got some vision. BTW I dive with soft lenses. My optometrist
and ophthalmologist both say its fine.
Energy Deuce Cruse
dig...@it.larc.nasa.gov:
> Should you just get you masked knocked off and its still on your neck
> 9 times out of 10 your contacts would stay in.
>
Sorry, didn't mean to say "lost" but was talking about just getting it
knocked off. Good to hear that contacts will most likely stay in.
Chalk another mark in the 'pro' column for getting lenses.
Cheers,
Lani Teshima-Miller
>
>What's the difference, you lose your mask your blind without it. If
>your wearing contacts you might get lucy and be able to open your eyes
>a little and see something.
Can you still get Lucy if you don't wear contacts? :)
--
Lani Teshima-Miller (tes...@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.edu) "Sea Hare" o/ /_/_/
UH School of Library & Info Studies. "Whatever the cost of our o|<0_0>------*
libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant \=^-| |_| |
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Guy Hirson
hs...@jdola.lanl.gov "Albert Hsu" writes:
> >........ Besides, lenses are very cheap compared with prescription mask
> >lenses (even if they are "cheap") when you come to replace them.
>
> This really depends on your prescription. Due to my astigmatism, my contacts
> cost about twice as much as a presciption mask would. But I like to see when
> I take off my mask, so I stick with the contacts.
Ok, I wasn't specific enough. I was referring to disposables. Your toric
lenses don't fall into that category. I have astigmatism too, but with the
amount of myopia (-6 to -6.75d), the small amount of astigmatism (1.25d)
doesn't interfere with my vision while wearing disposables.
Yolanda Yang
I wear disposable soft contacts for diving and snorkeling, and pretty much
have had no problems. The only time a contact lens came out was while
snorkeling, and it stayed in my mask. Since I was snorkeling in pretty
shallow water (i.e. I could stand up in a sandy patch) I was actually able
to get it back in my eye while out in the ocean. Even if I hadn't been
able to get it back into my eye, I still had vision in my other eye.
Because they're disposables, I don't worry about the cost of replacing a
lost lens. However, because I was stupid enough to not bring a spare set
on my vacation, I WAS worried about losing one lens and being stuck for the
rest of the trip with only one lens. From what I've heard, tho', if a lens
comes out it tends to stay in the mask, and if you wait until you get back
to shore before trying to put it back in your eye, you're much less likely
to lose it. Alternative solution...bring a spare set on vacation.
Tim Kary
: Chuck
: --
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403-262-7021 T.K...@geis.genie.com
403-262-1392 - FAX
Charlie Gibbs
(Lani Teshima-Miller) writes:
>dig...@it.larc.nasa.gov (David B. Barnes) writes:
>>
>>What's the difference, you lose your mask your blind without it. If
>>your wearing contacts you might get lucy and be able to open your eyes
>>a little and see something.
>
>Can you still get Lucy if you don't wear contacts? :)
The girl who wore glasses and pined for lost passes
Now chuckles and cleanses her new contact lenses.
Lucy in disguise, with glasses? No, that's not quite right...
Charli...@mindlink.bc.ca
I'm trying to develop a photographic memory.
Tim Kary
I have been using the Johnson & Johnson ACUVUE lenses for diving for
about 4 years without problem. Never lost a lens, and even if I did it's
no big deal - they're disposables and easily replaced. If you're careful,
you can even open your eyes underwater by squinting. This gives the upper
and lower edges of the lenses an anchor. I do this frequently.
My eye physician is currently doing a study on the effects of wearing
lenses while diving - he's a diver himself. After checking my eyes after
several diving vacations he has seen no injury or damage to the eyes. He
hopes to publish results in about a year.
The ease and simplicity of wearing the lenses while diving makes it
unlikely that I would ever return to the days of the prescription lenses
in the mask.
Tim Kary
Darron K. Fuller
>
>I was taught that contacts were a no-no, especially if you were blind
>without them. The major risk was that they would get washed out if you
>lost your mask. The suggested alternative was having your mask equiped
>with lenses (not nearly as expensive as I had thought).
>
>That being said, the dive master (now instructor) who got me into the
>sport wore contacts and has always managed quite well with or w/o his
>mask.
>
>Has the concensus changed?
>
>-Deuce
How bad is your vision?
My vision isn't too bad (say, medium-bad) and I wear my contacts at
all times except for scuba.
The water corrects for my myopic (near-sighted) vision problems.
darron.
dfu...@futron.com
Christine M. Haissig
Fuller) wrote:
I've never heard that contacts were a no-no. If you're blind, you have the
same problem of not seeing if something happens to your mask or it fogs.
I've dived in soft contacts for 6 years (approx. 100 dives) and my husband
has dived for 17 years with soft contacts (approx. 150 dives). I've never
had a problem (I'm extremely myopic) and my husband lost a contact on a
night dive when his mask was loose (he's moderately myopic). I'd strongly
recommend diving with contacts over a prescription mask. The acuity is
great and you can also see on and off the boat.
Christine
haissig_...@msmail.honeywell.htc.com
Chuck Easton
My problem is that I have astigmatisms in BOTH eyes. If I'm not wearing
my glasses, things get fuzzy about 10-15 feet out. Granted, I can see
without glasses, so diving has been fine. It's just things look blurry
to me.
So far this hasn't been a problem. There are no street signs or license
plates to read under water. Fish just don't look that clear.
I'm talking to my doctor about contacts to correct my problem.
Chuck
A Dorkins [law] 52606
>From: dkfu...@eng.umd.edu (Darron K. Fuller)
>Subject: Re: Contact Lenses and Scuba
>darron.
>dfu...@futron.com
I have been wearing Bausch & Lombs for years, which are far better than
Acuvue.
I havent done much diving, but when I did my SCUBA training (which entails
taking off your mask etc and looking around eyes open) I kept my lenses on -
it is highly unlikely that you will lose them. I always use lenses for
swimming (including open eyes underwater), sailboarding,etc and I have only
lost a lens once - when I did a free dive down to 10 m. You lose lenses
when they dry out- eg motorcycling, skydiving (which has happened). So try
it, don't be petrified youll lose one - the pressure holds them on, you'll
be surprised. The only rider is - if your eyes are dry (eg a bit of a late
night) then the lenses may decide to float free.
----------------------
CHUCK
Sam Warwick
> I have been wearing Bausch & Lombs for years, which are far better than
> Acuvue.
>
> I havent done much diving, but when I did my SCUBA training (which entails
> taking off your mask etc and looking around eyes open) I kept my lenses on -
> it is highly unlikely that you will lose them. I always use lenses for
> swimming (including open eyes underwater), sailboarding,etc and I have only
> lost a lens once - when I did a free dive down to 10 m. You lose lenses
> when they dry out- eg motorcycling, skydiving (which has happened). So try
> it, don't be petrified youll lose one - the pressure holds them on, you'll
> be surprised. The only rider is - if your eyes are dry (eg a bit of a late
> night) then the lenses may decide to float free.
> ----------------------
> CHUCK
Interesting. I was told that you shouldn't get soft contacts in contact
with salt-water because they would absorb it and cause discomfort.
--
Sam Warwick SECW at NWB GBHFFXRF at IBMMAIL
Testware Development se...@mfltd.co.uk
Micro Focus, Newbury (Tel.: 0635 565361)
"Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew." - Anon.
Diane (Ames) Janssen
>Interesting. I was told that you shouldn't get soft contacts in contact
>with salt-water because they would absorb it and cause discomfort.
Actually, it's more of a health thing than a comfort thing (from what I've
been told). Because soft contacts are so permeable, anything *in* the water
(i.e. bacteria, micro-organisms, any other good stuff!) is also absorbed into
the lens, and thus held against your eye.
I do dive with contacts (disposables), and have never had a problem. There are
so many risks in *everything* we do these days....just a matter of whether you
determine the benefits to be worth the risk.
-Di
************************Diane Janssen****************************
Much of life depends on our being ignorant of reality. If we
understood reality, we would never go on.
Israfel
****************jan...@biostat.washington.edu******************
William W Pritchett
results regarding diving with contact lenses. The gist of the
survey was that overall, the majority of people who dive with
contect lenses have few problems.
Bill Pritchett
PADI DM in training
Jon Tapson
>Subject: Re: Contact Lenses and Scuba
>Date: Thu, 16 Jun 1994 01:01:22 GMT
I agree. I've done a lot of diving - free, scuba, scuba instructing, and U/W
hockey - using both soft contact lenses (B+L) and prescription lenses in
the mask. The only time that the prescription lenses are better is when you
_know_ you're going to lose your mask - U/W hockey, or teaching students
mask clearing skills. For offshore diving, contacts are a must - try
driving a small boat in rough seas wearing spectacles and you'll see what I
mean. I wouldn't go so far as to recommend swimming with no mask and eyes
open wearing contacts, but they do tend to stay in under these circumstances.
Cheers
Jon
William E. Sadler
After going down to Fl this weekend w/ a group of students, I had something
happen to me that never happened before, a contact washed out!
I was demonstrating the mask off, mask on, drill and when I cleared it, some
water got into my left eye, and in the process of blinking it out, out popped
the contact! No problem, more lenses in dive bag, but a first for me.
And just last week, I sent a message saying, "I've never lost a lens" ah well,
such is life. I still prefer contacts to mask lenses.
Later!
Charles Nichols
contact lenses. They reported ~30% of divers experienced some sort of
problem. They are continuing their study and are soliciting information
from the dive community.
--
Charles Nichols Ignorance ain't what you don't
Information Systems Developer know, it's what you know that
University of Texas ain't so.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
713-792-7428
cnic...@acadresources.uth.tmc.edu