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Lasik or New Prescription Mask?


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#1 uwfan

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Posted 18 October 2008 - 04:59 PM

I've noticed something this year... I'm not seeing those tiny numbers so well on the computers when I have to write down the serial number for our records. (Yea, I really should make my aide do it, but she's older than me :P and besides who would shelve the pile of books then!)

So I've wondered just how well I'm seeing things in my prescription mask from 13+ years ago... and then I'm wondering what I'd do if my mask were ever ripped off my face ...would I be able to see at all?

Which has made me wonder - should I get a new prescription in my mask (and if so, what would it involve) or should I take the plunge and get lasik (and have reading glasses for those tiny numbers)?

Anybody out there want to give their opinions... ( I am a candidate for lasik, I've had that conversation already...I'm just a chicken and would have to decide to budget for this...)

Thanks in advance!!

#2 Landlocked Dive Nut

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Posted 18 October 2008 - 05:54 PM

Hi Heidi:

A very personal choice, this. I am both very nearsighted (-6.5 diopter) and have severe astigmatism, so I have opted for prescription masks. I'm just not sure that lasik would correct both issues enough to get rid of my glasses, and I figure if I'd have to continue to wear any type of reading glasses, what's the point of the surgery? But, I know others who opted for lasik, and some were corrected to 20/20, and others still need "readers". Keep in mind your vision history -- if you needed glasses very young, and your eyesight worsened every few years and continues to deteriorate as you get older, then lasik may correct you "for now", but your sight may continue to change as you age. Your optometrist should know.

I can only afford one prescription mask at a time, (ack! the prices!) so my "backup" mask is the older prescription, but works OK as a backup. I grandfather the masks.

When I want to update my prescription in my primary mask, I have from October through February to get my eyes examined, then take the 'script and my mask to my LDS, who sends it off to get the new lenses made & fit into my mask. From the sounds of it, your school year schedule would allow you time to do this, too, in between scuba trips.

If my mask was kicked off accidentally, or ripped off my face by an OOA buddy, I would have to either respond VERY fast to grab it, or I would have to rely on my buddy to retrieve it for me -- I would never be able to find it myself with the nearsightedness. I don't know anybody who carries their backup mask underwater with them......mine stays on the boat or on the beach. Maybe a topic for a separate thread - I can see a HUGE disadvantage in an OOA situation if the OOA diver rips off my prescription mask - not being able to see, and dealing with a desparate diver at the same time??? :P

So, we're back to "it's a very personal choice, this". :P Hope my input helps you decide which is best for you!
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#3 VADiver

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Posted 18 October 2008 - 06:13 PM

Before LASIK, I dove regularly with contacts...if I lost my mask I would go to my backup. I didn't like the idea of a prescription mask just in case I had to pass it to my buddy if he lost his.

#4 dive_sail_etc

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Posted 18 October 2008 - 07:27 PM

Heidi, I offer my own experience for consideration: I was nearsighted from my earliest memories, varying between -4.50 to -4.75 my entire life. I switched to contact lenses in the 70's and stayed with them as technology introduced gas permeable and other improvements. Of course when I finally got my dive cert in the 80's I was so wary of mask flooding that it actually distracted from my dive enjoyment. I nearly selected RK in 1996 but was apprehensive of the "starburst" effect at night, when the dilated pupil would usually expand into the scarred section around the edge of the lens. Laser correction included similar warnings and disclaimers, scaring me away again.

When Lasik appeared, it seemed to have just what I was looking for (pun intended): Precise vision correction with minimal side effects and faster recovery than any previous procedure. On 2000 I had both eyes corrected (enhanced was the term employed at the time), and was at work the next day. In two weeks I was seeing perfectly day or night. I opted for full correction in both eyes, even though at my age there was an option to alter the enhancement target of the weaker eye, making it the "reading" eye in lieu of reading glasses later on. For about a year I've had to use glasses to read newsprint and smaller, but it has proven a minor inconvenience compared with earlier in life.

In the interest of full disclosure, I will admit the procedure itself is scary as heck. You are not put under, merely a topical anesthetic in the eye, and although it truly is painless I found the sensations highly uncomfortable in the psychological sense.

Incidentally, as one who enjoys swimming and diving sans mask, I can tell you there is little difference seeing underwater maskless whether vision is 20-20 or 20-475. It's still all blurry blobs! :P

Hope This Helps,

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#5 uwfan

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Posted 18 October 2008 - 11:23 PM

Thanks for the food for thought everyone.

Brad, I think we have similar vision experiences...though I'm not sure I even get blobs at somewhere between 20/600 and 20/800! :P

Thanks Tammie, astigmatism is also part of my issue...I doubt I'd be able to go completely without glasses when doing reading or close up work but avoiding bifocals - and the tinier piece of glass for each vision option - is appealing.

VAdiver - never thought of the buddy sharing issue...thanks.

Any others out there have thoughts on prescription mask vs. lasik?

#6 secretsea18

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Posted 19 October 2008 - 06:52 AM

I have a prescription mask and I wear glasses for myopia (only 20/200ish). I have been wearing Progressive glasses for about the last 9 or so years, got my first pair in my thirties :P . Actually admitting I needed them was the worst part of getting them (oh wait... I'm forgetting how expensive they were too...). After getting the progressives (no lines in the lenses, and ability to see at all distances with the glasses), it was a no brainer to get the prescription mask. I :P my prescription mask (and got 2 or 3 before I got a optician who would make one exactly the way I wanted it made).

In my case, my "bifocal" mask actually just removes my prescription from the lower half of each lens insert. I'm soon going to need to have a lens glued into the lower part too, as my next mask will need both upper (for distance correction) lenses and lower (for magnification to see my macro UW photo subjects, not to see my computer) sections. Oh well... it's just $$.

Regarding Lasik: I am a surgeon at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. I have access to some of the best Ophthalmologists in the world, including refractive specialists. I saw one recently regarding "fixing my vision, so I can ditch my glasses". This is what he told me: "Robin, you will either need glasses to see distance or for reading, there is no way to fix both." Basically there is no technology (yet) that can do both, unless you are willing to have "monovision" (one eye for distance and one for near), which will prevent you from having "binocular" vision [meaning seeing far and near with both of your eyes] and thus seriously affecting depth perception. There is no way I will have monovision and lose all my depth perception (would make for one horrible driver, and worse surgeon!) Since with Lasik, I would need to use reading glasses, and in my work probably nearly all the time, there was no point in getting Lasik.

So, Lasik is not an option for me, until they can fix both myopia AND presbyopia. Trading one pair of glasses for another is not worth it to me. If I were 21 yo, I'd probably do it in a heartbeat, as the time frame for presbyopia would be a reeeaaalllly long time away, and heck, they'd probably have bionic eyes by then!.


The bottom line, if you think you might like to try it, get a consultation... they often are free, find out if you even are a candidate (not everyone is a candidate) and listen to the potential complications (my sister had Lasik, had to, no other option, and got complications, so it's not a completely benign procedure) and whether you will need reading glasses and in what timeframe, and make a decision for yourself...



BTW, If my buddy were to loose their divemask during a dive... I fail to see why I should give them mine?? If they did not bring a spare, that would be their problem, I am not a traveling diveshop.

Edited by secretsea18, 19 October 2008 - 06:55 AM.


#7 dive_sail_etc

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Posted 19 October 2008 - 08:00 AM

...BTW, If my buddy were to loose their divemask during a dive... I fail to see why I should give them mine?? If they did not bring a spare, that would be their problem, I am not a traveling diveshop.


Robin, I had to get up and leave the PC to catch my breath! :P Touche'.
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#8 Fordan

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Posted 19 October 2008 - 08:19 AM

So, Lasik is not an option for me, until they can fix both myopia AND presbyopia. Trading one pair of glasses for another is not worth it to me. If I were 21 yo, I'd probably do it in a heartbeat, as the time frame for presbyopia would be a reeeaaalllly long time away, and heck, they'd probably have bionic eyes by then!.


That's the main reason I got off my butt and had Lasik a few years ago. I'm not 21, but I can hopefully make it 10+ years before presbyopia gets me a new pair of glasses, and even then it's for specific tasks. My myopia meant I wasn't able to function without my glasses or contacts (-5.75, -4.25). It's wonderful to be able to wake up and see without hunting for my glasses or risk sleeping with my contacts.

I described my Lasik experience over in this thread.

#9 Scuba_Dad

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Posted 19 October 2008 - 08:46 AM

From what I understand and what SecretSea18 said... Lasik will not correct the over-40 issues with arms becoming too short. I finally picked up a prescription mask after years of trying to stick bifocals on the lenses. I found the Sea Vision prescription mask to be a wonderful mask. The bifocals do not get in the way like other bifocals do. Also, my LDS is now selling a ScubaMax mask where the bifocal is in the lower portion of the mask and tilted in. This gets it out of the way. Nice concept... I didn't try it, but a couple of my students loved it.

The problem I found with a lot of bifocals is the fact that when we dive, we tend to look through the bottom of the mask where the bifocal is... That causes the reef to just pop into your face. I couldn't get used to it. So, I avoided bifocals for about 10 years. Now, with the Sea Vision mask, it's not a problem.

Al

Edited by Scuba_Dad, 19 October 2008 - 12:30 PM.

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#10 secretsea18

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Posted 19 October 2008 - 11:04 AM

From what I understand and what SecretSea18 said... Lasik will not correct the over-40 issues with arms becoming too short. I finally picked up a prescription mask after years of trying to stick bifocals on the lenses. I found the Sea Vision prescription mask to be a wonderful mask. The bifocals do not get in the way like other bifocals do. Also, my LDS is not selling a ScubaMax mask where the bifocal is in the lower portion of the mask and tilted in. This gets it out of the way. Nice concept... I didn't try it, but a couple of my students loved it.

The problem I found with a lot of bifocals is the fact that when we dive, we tend to look through the bottom of the mask where the bifocal is... That causes the reef to just pop into your face. I couldn't get used to it. So, I avoided bifocals for about 10 years. Now, with the Sea Vision mask, it's not a problem.

Al



Al,
From my multiple conversations with my eye doctor, Lasik will not cure presbyopia (too short arms), at least when in conjunction with myopia (a too long eyeball).

My mask actually has the lower section going up almost halfway to the top of the lens insert. Way, way further than most masks are made. As I am usually searching for small critters that is where my eye has to be to be able to see the stuff, not down hidden in a corner so that I have to be looking at my furthest lowest point on my visual axis. I had to convince the optician to put it there. He resisted, but I would not budge on the location. As I said I :P my mask as it is.... I am glad that you found a good solution for your unique mask conundrum.

Good luck to all with "too short arms" to find what's best for you.
Robin

#11 Sassi

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Posted 19 October 2008 - 04:08 PM

My deciison to get eye corrective surgery was a 2 year process of research and talking to anyone and everyone who had done it. Some people had complications, some people didn't. It was hard to wade throughg it all. At the time my only option was PRK. I also had an astigmatism and after my first exam, I had to wait awhile to make sure my eye site had stabilized. That was 6 years ago and I wouldn't go back. I still have 20/20 vision, though some day I may have to wear reading glasses.

A side note: My mom had Lasik done at the age of 62. That was two years ago. She wouldn't go back either.

#12 Scubatooth

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Posted 19 October 2008 - 04:33 PM

robin

Im in the group you mentioned for the surgery. unfortunately I feel the same way as I have looked at surgery and got the same explanation, plus there is something about a laser pointed at my eye that is very unsettling. So i will remain with glasses, and switch to contacts when i need them like for working in the studio. As for my mask im having it redone now, because i got my Rx updated and i had a significant change in my left eye, and it warranted getting my masks lenses updated.

Heidi

if your mask is ripped off your face, it wont matter if your vision is corrected or not because your eyes need a certain gap of air to focus, and in water your not going to have that, plus depending on whats in the water your not going to keep them open very long.

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#13 WreckWench

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Posted 20 October 2008 - 02:36 AM

Mask Ripped Off Face:

If anyone has dove with me DRY...meaning when I'm wearing my drysuit you will notice 2 pockets on my thighs for which one contains a back up mask for just the event you are talking about. Now usually the people most worried about a backup mask are more technical divers, cave divers or those who find it unacceptible if not downright dangerous to be without a mask for any period of time. However I think it is wise for EVERY diver to consider having a back up mask as part of their diving 'kit' as our European friends say. If you don't agree just take your mast off in water and 'see' how little you can really 'see' not to mention the burning sensation that is brutal for most.

At DEMA this week I will be looking for options for our members to add pockets to their wetsuits for this very reason. I have several vendors and ideas in mind so will keep you posted! Oh yes...and it elimanates the Christmas Tree look that many divers have with 'stuff' hanging all over them. Just put that 'stuff' in your pockets and go! :canuckdiver:

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#14 Scubatooth

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Posted 20 October 2008 - 08:34 AM

WW

pockets, wouldnt that be what thigh pockets be for (thats what i have my pockets for, is on has a mask and other misc pieces in it? or are you think of those with std BCs?

I know some people would think that wearing someone elses RX mask and having a problem with it. I would rather have that then nothing at all, because even with a severely distorted RX you still can force your eyes so you can read your gauges and/or computers. It may not be fun but it beats trying to focus your eyes in the water

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#15 peterbj7

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Posted 20 October 2008 - 08:37 AM

Kamala is spot on - always carry a spare mask. You may not need it, but maybe someone else will. And as to its usefulness - just try sometime (with a buddy to look after you) making a complete safe and controlled ascent to the surface, safety stop included. Do this in open water without a fixed line or reef bottom to help you. If you routinely carry a DSMB by all means use it, but deploy it without your mask. THEN say you don't need to carry a spare mask!

On the main question, I have long sight and severe astigmatism in my left eye, and neither a contact lens nor surgery would ever have helped (according to several experts). My right eye is intrinsically much better, but it is "weak" (a brain and nerve problem that the eye itself has no bearing on) and although peripheral vision is good (making it a great deal more useful than nothing) I cannot read or focus with it. Some years ago when I might have considered surgery there seemed to be a high failure rate where people could be left almost or completely blind in the treated eye, and that also rather put me off.

So I'm one of the (many) people stuck with glasses for the duration! But all kudos to those who are able to take advantage of this amazing advance.




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