Under the sea, under the sea, everything's blurry, all fuzzyswirly, take it from me.

August 6, 2008 3:33 AM

Prescription swimming eyewear hacks please!

I'm going to the Caribbean in a few days. I plan on swimming a lot, and I want to see clearly what's under the surface. I wear (thick) glasses; I have two pairs of backup glasses. I do not want, nor do I have the time or money, to buy a pair of prescription goggles.

So! I want to figure out the best way to affix a pair of lenses to the inside of a mask (yet to be bought). I figure, take off the armpieces, then (tape? epoxy?) (the whole frame? just the lenses?) to the inside of the mask.

Any suggestions? Any experiences? Any materials I should or shouldn't use? Is there a better idea?

posted by not_on_display to sports, hobbies, & recreation (13 comments total)

I don't wear glasses, but a near-sighted friend used to get her optometrist to make swimming goggles from her old lenses whenever she got new glasses. I'm not sure if this is the expensive option you're trying to avoid, but it sounds more practical than the mask option. You could take your old lenses to an optician and ask them to grind them down to fit inside a normal pair of swim goggles.
posted by [ixia] at 4:12 AM on August 6, 2008

There's a thread here on the subject.

The substance of it is yes, you can fix them inside. The only issues appear to be fogging and water droplets - which you could avoid by spraying the lenses with something suitable.

If your glasses are just a spare, disposable pair, maybe you could first try cutting the frames so that you can use the remaining bits of frame to achieve a tight fit. Failing that, I would think a spot of epoxy ought to do it.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 4:13 AM on August 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Oh, just re-read and saw that you're short on time, too. So, ignore me and wait for some handier MeFites to turn up with real advice.
posted by [ixia] at 4:14 AM on August 6, 2008

I'd suggest figuring out the spacing before affixing it to the mask. The best thing to do might be to leave a stub of armpiece and affix that to the side of the mask with clear tape or glue. You may need a spacer; I'd try packing foam cut to the width of your armpieces.

If you have a spherical correction less than -8 diopters, I think you'd be better off having a 9.95 pair of Rx goggles shipped to your home or the hotel where you are staying.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:18 AM on August 6, 2008

Possibly better idea: daily disposable soft contact lenses. Once you've paid for the initial OK from an optometrist the lenses themselves only cost a dollar or two each, and of course they are more flexible in that they can be used with any mask or swimming goggles you might want to use.
posted by Canard de Vasco at 4:29 AM on August 6, 2008

You cannot just glue your lenses to the goggles. Focal distance matters.

You CAN, however, use a scuba mask, which depending on the size would simply let you wear your glasses (possibly with some pinching at the temples).

Also.. this word 'hack'? It does not mean what you think it means.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 4:37 AM on August 6, 2008

I also wear pretty thick glasses and I've always found that I could RENT prescription googles at my tropical destination of choice. It has always seemed cost effective to me and takes very little time once you are settled in and getting ready to snorkel. I wasn't aware of this possibility the first time I went to the Florida Keys, so just mentioning it in case you aren't aware either.

Sorry, I don't think this counts as a "hack", but might save you some time and aggravation if it turns out to be an option for you at your destination.
posted by rglasmann at 5:07 AM on August 6, 2008

When I diving in St. Lucia, the place where I stayed had a handful of prescription masks. They did not have one as strong as my prescription, but using what they had was still pretty good. You can probably call ahead and see what's available.

Another option would be to take the arms off a pair of your backup glasses, then affix some sort of thin yet strong elastic that goes around your head to hold them on. A quality regular mask should fit/seal over this pretty well.
posted by mikepop at 5:28 AM on August 6, 2008

I also have poor vision (nearsighted) and I can truly appreciate your willingness to DIY. You mention that you don't want prescription goggles, but let me explain another option that may be cheaper and less time-consuming than you think.

I went to a local dive shop and bought goggles and separate prescription lenses for each eye. The lenses are all preset strengths, but I was able to find some that were pretty close to my prescription. Since each goggle piece is separate, I was able to choose different strengths for each eye.

It took me about 10 minutes to pick out my lenses, and another 10 minutes to attach the lenses to the goggles. My total cost (in Texas) was about $30 total for the goggles and both lenses.

I wouldn't drive with the goggles or anything, but my vision underwater is very clear. They've lasted over a year, and I've had no problems.

Oh, and have a fantastic time in the Caribbean!
posted by mattybonez at 7:46 AM on August 6, 2008

My swim coach in high school had a big bin of prescription goggles in case any kids needed them, and they NEVER, ever got used. I know this is kind of a weird idea, but maybe you could call a local school and see if their swim coach has any extra pairs you could buy or borrow for cheap? (In most places the fall swimming season has started, so the coach should be in full at-the-pool mode for daily practice.) The goggles themselves were all rated +x or -y, but of course they come apart at the straps and nosepiece so you could rebuild a pair that would work if you have different prescriptions in each eye.
posted by vytae at 9:26 AM on August 6, 2008

Sorry about the time issue...but dude, this TOTALLY solved my problem.

eBay "prescription goggles" Make sure its plural.

You should ALWAYS research ebay first.

Good luck.
posted by hal_c_on at 11:49 AM on August 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Thanks for the suggestions! Regarding the separable goggles, I would try and search for them, except for the time involved and that I have a pretty screwy prescription.

The thread that le morte de bea arthur pointed me to proved to be the most useful. So, here I go!

- The mask/snorkel combo was purchased for $15 at the Aubuchon Hardware Store.

- The eyeglass frames fit well and snug into the inside of the mask without need for epoxy, duct tape, welding, or alien technologies. The line of sight is adequate; I can see very clearly out of the mask.

- Here are the preliminary pictures: 1 | 2

Will it work? Stay tuned; I will post the results in a couple of weeks.
posted by not_on_display at 12:29 AM on August 11, 2008 [1 favorite]

Results are in: IT TOTALLY WORKS. Fogging and water droplets are minimal. I can look fish right in the eyes. I can avoid jellyfish (they don't have eyes, and they sting anyway). But yes, now I can SEE UNDERWATER! This. is. so. great!

Thanks again, y'all!
posted by not_on_display at 5:49 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]