custom prescription mask

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

I'm interested in ordering a new prescription dive mask in the next couple of weeks. I've been using my current mask since 2006, and I'm told some of the leaking I get with it may be due to the age of the rubber.

This is the only mask I've ever had that I can see out of. I have a 6.0 and a 6.5 diopter lens, though 6.25 and 6.50 would be more accurate. The mask is a US Divers sold originally by Sports Chalet before they went under. It has two removable eye pieces that you simply swapped out for ones of the correct diopter. They had a stack of them in 0.5 increments.

That sort of mask doesn't seem that popular now, and it looks like I'm going to have one custom cut. Any advice on this? Mask to start with? Anything like bifocals available so I can see in the distance but still read my gauges? I'm quite nearsighted.

I assume I need a recent prescription, but that's all I know.

Located in Phoenix, Arizona.

Welcome to the club...

In the old days, I had a standard optical mask with exchangeable lenses and this was enough (I have nearsightedness with little astigmatism). Later, when presbyopia started, I exchanged the optical lenses against normal ones and I could also read again the display on TC etc., but could not see so good at a distance...

Since a couple of years I need glued in optical lenses that are varifocal and corrected for astigmatism and custom made for eye distance etc... . This is the most expensive solution (approx 650 Euros), but I do not notice since then that my vision needs any correction. I can say this mask is worth every cent and I am happy...

I can give suppliers here in Europe, but these will not be useful for you in US, but for sure similar suppliers will exist there...

Maybe improtant to mention, that to find a mask that fits to my weird face became difficult with increasing age (when I was young practically every mask fitted perfect). In my case it was not ageing rubber, but the ageing face. Most masks turn very rapidly into an aquarium and I need to blow out every few minutes (this is disturbing and in cold waters the eustachian tubes swell and one will get problems with pressure qualization upon repeated diving)).....

At present I have "TUSA Freedom", a mask with extra soft and broad silicone sealing at the rim, the only I could find that fits perfect ...

Wolfgang