Hi all, surfed late arve last week on an overcast day and I was struggling to see the sets rolling in! I pretty much wear prescription glasses most of the time now but have never really needed them in the surf up until now! What are the old, half blind surfers like me wearing out there? I remember when Oakley water jackets were a thing (showing my age), is there something similar on the market now that will take a prescription lens? Will contacts stay in while copping one on the head?

Cheers

Chindog.

Chindog - I hear you!

I am 56yo and wearing multi-focals all the time - incl. sunnies. Cannot get by without glasses. Surfing was becoming a problem as could not pull focus and was getting fatigued and sore eyes.

After years of being told that I was not suitable for contacts owing to dry eyes, sun damage (from years of surfing) and being prone to Hayfever the new Opto at SpecSavers said BS and ordered me a set for surfing. I thought I would find it very hard to put them in, and I was freaking out about getting dumped and them going up to the back of my eye... but to my surprise I can fit and remove them easy enough (just cannot rush it). I have used them about 7-8 times surfing and twice snorkelling and they make a HUGE difference. I am using the daily disposables... I find I can make it about 5-6hrs with them in, and then they start annoying me (I can feel a heaviness in my eyes) and so I have not given up on my glasses just yet (plus with the contact prescription I have they are not good for reading and desk work.

Go and get a fitting and trial pack. Just watch some YouTube tutorials on how to put them in and take them out - and then start practicing touching your eyeball to get used to it.

Good luck - they made a big difference for me.

PS - I have been dumped a ripper with them in - ended up at the ENT specialist as I got water trapped behind my eardrum that would not clear - but contacts stayed in fine. Just remember you cannot rub your eyes like you used to!

Bloody brilliant GPA, thank you for taking the time to reply! Mate, I'm in exactly the same boat, I also suffer from hay fever and dust allergies and the thought of contacts makes my eyes water! I currently get my driving and reading glasses from specsavers and am due for another eye test (almost an annual thing now). I'll have a chat with them, definitely keen to try contacts! Grrr, the joys of getting old!!

You're welcome. I know what an absolute PITA it is....

I am using the Specsavers easy vision Soria contacts. Not too expensive - and worth every cent for the improvement in vision whilst surfing.

I wear contacts daily and would struggle without them. As for surfing, diving snorkeling any water sport no problems. The worst can be on a strong offshore, the spray if it gets in your eyes (when paddling) can temporarily blind you, simply because the water needs to leave the eye to be clear. But you'll adjust your style and possibly even close your eyes on those days for a split second.


Also don't open your eyes underwater with them, for the same reason..

Tick for daily disposables as most convenient and less likely to run into irritation or cleaning issues. Lost one once years back in swimming pool water fight with kids not in surf or when kite surfing. No big loss as binning anyway. Might loose one but have to be dedicated to loose both.. As a thought, my prescription is around -4.5.. To read when wearing I use what is called mono pole approach = -2.75 in left for reading and closer and -4.75 in other..
Can get multi focal or weighted for stigmatism v.flexible.. Trial set of lenses well worth it..
cheers
AP

Tick for daily disposables as most convenient and less likely to run into irritation or cleaning issues. Lost one once years back in swimming pool water fight with kids not in surf or when kite surfing. No big loss as binning anyway. Might loose one but have to be dedicated to loose both.. As a thought, my prescription is around -4.5.. To read when wearing I use what is called mono pole approach = -2.75 in left for reading and closer and -4.75 in other..
Can get multi focal or weighted for stigmatism v.flexible.. Trial set of lenses well worth it..
cheers
AP

Great stuff lads, thank you for the feedback! Have ordered a trial set of contact lenses, looking forward to giving them a run!

I wore contacts in the surf for years, then one day I got a corneal infection in one eye. If it wasn't for my wife nagging me to go to an eye doctor I could well have lost the sight in that eye. I ditched contacts after that and at the age of 45 got laser surgery. Financially the payback was about 10 years over contacts and glasses, and now some 14 years later I have finally had to get reading glasses. My long vision is still great even when driving at night.
My surgery was done by an eye surgeon rather than the lasik "chop shops" and hence a bit more pricey nevertheless I can highly recommend laser surgery.

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robbo1111 said..
I wore contacts in the surf for years, then one day I got a corneal infection in one eye. If it wasn't for my wife nagging me to go to an eye doctor I could well have lost the sight in that eye. I ditched contacts after that and at the age of 45 got laser surgery. Financially the payback was about 10 years over contacts and glasses, and now some 14 years later I have finally had to get reading glasses. My long vision is still great even when driving at night.
My surgery was done by an eye surgeon rather than the lasik "chop shops" and hence a bit more pricey nevertheless I can highly recommend laser surgery.

That's a bugger mate, I guess anything long term has it's shortfalls. I'm not sure if I qualify for laser surgery but will definitely check it out. Optometrist normally avoids that question whenever I visit...laser surgery = lost customer.

I did a search for glasses today and found this post. I've worn contacts for years with no problems but not any more. I was warned infection was a real risk. I have a really bad infection in one eye and the doc says it's due to contacts in the sea, most likely. I have to put antibiotic drops every hour for 48 hours, it's a real mess and I]m out of the water for 8 weeks. Anyway, apparently there will be scarring if it heals and worse if it doesn't. The scarring will make re infections more likely so contacts are a last resort. I can't see the lines kiting when it goes wrong so it's a real issue for me.
I'd advise taking the contacts out and rinsing the eye after every session. I was careless about that and often wore them for a couple of hours after leaving the water.
So I'm on the search for a glasses solution again. Any ideas welcome.

I wear Seaspecs, not prescription but I do belive they can do them. The key is to try and keep them as clean as possible, I wash them with detergent most surfs. I also take out a sunglass bag in case the get sunscreen on them. Try and see if you can get the longer strap also as helps with fogging. I make up a little leash (usually a shoestring or something). They aren't perfect but once you get used to them they make a big difference.

Thanks Pedster, I'll put them on the list to investigate.

Have surfed in contacts for 30 years with no infection problems at all

How cool do you want to look?
I've bought 'cheap' prescription sunnies from specsavers. From memory was $200 for 2 pairs.
oakley used to sell a hydrophobic coating that you could apply , but seems to have been taken off the market.
I've resorted to rubbing a bit of surf wax on the lens, then polishing off (leaves a very fine film).
It works just fine.
That said, I then use an old man glasses strap, and to really impress the ladies, a strap on bucket hat.
Need the hat to keep the glasses on.
FYI - I attempt to surf longboards, so I'm not duck diving, and I don't like surf much over 3'.
Your results may vary, but you'll look exceptionally cool with sunnies and hat.

As an aside, I've messed with contacts, and I was useless putting them in. Irritated my eyes, not the contacts themselves, but me taking 27 goes to get them in.

I use these ones www.silverfish.com/ work awesome....contacts used to washout underwater for me