I've got a creeping suspicion that I'm about to be told I've wasted this year private health glasses allowance....

Long story short, missus lost her sunnies, so off we went to the optometrist to order up some new ones. I don't 'need' any, currently got 2x pairs of normal glasses and 3x polarised sunnies (in different coloured lenses.... hey, I love my fishing!).
Anyway, I'd been for a surf that morning before work and the glare from the sun was brutal. So, once in the optometrist, I decided to hook myself up with two 'cheap' pairs of prescription sunnies, solely for surfing.
Seemed like a brilliant idea at the time. I'm paying the health insurance anyway, and I wasn't out of pocket cent for these.

Now, I went for a surf yesterday (pick up the sunnies today).... Again, that glare when I'm hitting the water at 7-7.30, and I'm thinking I can't wait for the sunnies. Then I realise EVERYONE in the lineup is squinting at the sun. Then it hit me, no one is wearing sunnies. There's got to be a reason! Most likely water on the lenses being a PITA?

So, who has, or does, successfully wear sunnies in the surf, and what's the trick?

Some years ago, I was using a product somewhat similar to Rain-X on the windscreen of my '56 Plymouth. Figure something like that might be of benefit?

Cheers!

Never used them myself - I find a wide brimmed hat works well at times and keeps the sun off your face. Seabreeze actually have some. Tux uses a set so he can see - he should be able to give you some good tips

www.seabreeze.com.au/shop/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=25

we had this discussion about a year or so back when I had an eye operation that made me a bit more susceptible to glare.

There's a lot of options for water sport glasses and I did try them, but they're all more suitable for sports that don't require you to go under every now and then.

No matter what product you use, water on the lens is a problem.

In the end I reverted to a peaked cap with a peak that I can flick up when I'm paddling and flick back down once I'm up.

I've even given up on that and just gone back to squinting.

I use silverfish from the states...pretty reasonable price ordered a new set July 12 recieved them today...lost one pair and broke another pair...very good lenses and super helpful with glare and spray....way better than contacts when it gets biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig

Hey Mr damned do you smoke?

Water on teh lenses isnt really a problem you kinda get used to it

Hey,
Chrispy, not sure why you're asking if I smoke, except for my standard response to most questions ('you smokin' crack?').
Picked up the sunnies, grabbed an old man glasses strap, and spent a wad on some Oakley 'nanoclear' crap... Some 'hydrophobic' lense coating in a bottle, that really doesn't seem to do much.
Gonna hit Currumbin in the morning, we'll see if the set up is anything more than just annoying. Worse case scenario, I'm out the cost of the Oakley junk (which already seems to be the case), and I've got far too many sunnies for any normal person!

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damned67 said..
Hey,
Chrispy, not sure why you're asking if I smoke, except for my standard response to most questions ('you smokin' crack?').
Picked up the sunnies, grabbed an old man glasses strap, and spent a wad on some Oakley 'nanoclear' crap... Some 'hydrophobic' lense coating in a bottle, that really doesn't seem to do much.
Gonna hit Currumbin in the morning, we'll see if the set up is anything more than just annoying. Worse case scenario, I'm out the cost of the Oakley junk (which already seems to be the case), and I've got far too many sunnies for any normal person!

i only asked because a lot of smokers eyes go bad when the glare is on the water, something about photosythensien dgscbniwefbhugqergngern or something its called. ...

i know a few old smokers who get and i used to ...thats why i asked...so is it crack your smoking

Smokers eyes go "bad" in very simple terms mainly because of the damage
done to the single cell capillary veins in the back of your eye ie Macula etc ...
Also they may be more prone to developing cataracts than your average punter
which can give the impression that you are constantly in a haze /glare situation.
Surfboard wax damned67 .....
Clean your lens....
Rub a tiny bit of wax on a clean cloth and apply carefully to the lens so there is a thin film all over
Use a different clean cloth to polish it and it should leave an ultra thin hydrophobic coating
Done
should last you a couple of surfs anyway

Most lenses come with hydrophobic coatings although i am guessing these are the "quality 2 pairs "
from the multinational....

why does no-one else wear sunnies ?same reason we don't wear helmets or use legropes ..too cool!!

Be aware polarised are ** for surfing as they ruin your depth perception on the waves
and scare the bejesus out of you if you surf over reef or shelf

Hey prawnheasd,we surf with a bloke who smoked and the glare used to leave him dazed in the water sometimes...stopped smoking and it was gone for a few years....started smoking and it came back. I think he said it did not happen all the time.

Anyone else?

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Prawnhead said..
Smokers eyes go "bad" in very simple terms mainly because of the damage
done to the single cell capillary veins in the back of your eye ie Macula etc ...
Also they may be more prone to developing cataracts than your average punter
which can give the impression that you are constantly in a haze /glare situation.
Surfboard wax damned67 .....
Clean your lens....
Rub a tiny bit of wax on a clean cloth and apply carefully to the lens so there is a thin film all over
Use a different clean cloth to polish it and it should leave an ultra thin hydrophobic coating
Done
should last you a couple of surfs anyway

Most lenses come with hydrophobic coatings although i am guessing these are the "quality 2 pairs "
from the multinational....

why does no-one else wear sunnies ?same reason we don't wear helmets or use legropes ..too cool!!

Thanks for the wax on lens idea. I bought some cheapies on ebay & only wore them once coz of the water on lens issue.

Ahhh, that does make a lot of sense. I am an on again, off again smoker. Sadly, I'm on again of late, and have a puff with my coffee before hitting the surf and gasping for air.
Nonetheless, the sunnies worked a damn treat today. Glare was sucking for everyone. Even had a couple o' surfers comment on my 'great' idea.
Regarding 'cool', I often wear the strap on FCS hat.. To hide my pro-plugs... And now to keep my sunnies on. I'm too cool for school.
Gotta say though, with hat, ear plugs, sunnies and strap, I felt like a walking impulse buy rack by the surf store check out...
I should add, being I wear prescriptions for distance, the sunnies really improved my sight in the water.... Now, if only they could improve my surfing!