Surfing for the visually impared :P

[Knightshift]

Hey guys/ladies, I've uh, just moved to Florida, been here for a few months now. Been really interested in surfing, I love on the east coastal side and all that. When I was a young child, around the ages of 6-9 I used to bodyboard. Anyways, Im older now around 22, and I have to wear glasses. I was just wondering if anyone on these forums happens to have glasses or whatever too, and if it effects thier surfing at all.

[oslo]

Im older now around 22

You don't know?

Anyways, did a little search for you. Everything you need to know is here: http://www.sporteyes.com/water.htm

[Knightshift]

Dang, I didn't like dawn on me. I guess I was just being vague but yeah, I will be 22 the last day of Sept. That website was really helpful, prescription ones at that too...thats great...plus they look cool.. Thanks for the info bro

[surf patrol]

The subject was briefly discussed here ->
www.surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=138

[Guest]

Go and make an appointment with an Optomertrist. Talk to a professional.

Discuss with him using or trialing contact lenses, I have surfed with them for years, my prescription is -5.5 diopter in both eyes, i.e I 'm almost as blind as a bat otherwise.
My Optomertrist recommended I use a brand called Johnson & Johnson and the model within their product range is called "Surevue". They are "monthly disposables". This means you buy them in small boxes of 6 lenses, you wear them as a set for normally about 1 month before you simply thrown them out and wear a new pair. This way a box will last you about 3 months. I buy 2 boxes at a time normally, in my country this costs me about $60 per 3 month period.

The reason behind the relatively new idea of disposables is - lenses get pitted, they wear and get protein deposits on them. By throwing them out rather than attempting to clean them- you get nice sterile new lenses each month. i.e. far less chance of eye infections caused by poor hygiene & cleaning methods.

Provided the lenses are fitted properly and sized correctly by a professional, there is little chance of you losing them in the water. Your natural eye saliene solution acts like a suction system to hold the lenses onto your eye. They're a very clever and very simple system.

Provided you remember to squint when getting nailed by spray etc when wiping out, and close your eyes when diving under the water or duck-diving etc (for me this is instinctive now) You won't lose your lenses. Simple.

I suggest you get a trial packet (most Optomertrists allow you to try product samples given to them by the Companies who make them) get shown how to put them in & take them out...then go home and stick your head under the shower while wearing them and see for yourself.

The reason why Contacts are the best option for surfing rather than "waterproof glasses" is; with contacts you have complete periperal vision - this is important for a surfer or else how can you gauge distance in an instant without having to turn you head to look, be it a falling wave lip, a set approching, or someone dropping in on your wave you've just seen out of the corner of your eye beside you.
With glasses of any sort- you only have perfect vision when looking through them, so, you have to turn your head all the time to look at things.

I'll illustrate this now- you can see your monitor in front of you perfectly with glasses right? Now; without moving your head look in a different direction outside the physical frame of your glasses, perhaps to your side or up at a picture on your wall. You can't see a thing in focus eh?

That's where contacts are good, you have perfect periferal vision in all directions without having to move your head to achieve it. People who don't wear glasses can't understand this. For those who do it's instinctive, you turn your head to look at everything. You don't even realise you're doing it.
Periferal vision is critical for surfers and I imagine others involved in many sports like soccer, basketball etc where you need to know what's going on around you and be able to judge distances as you participate in the sport.

I hope that makes sense...and sorry for the novel.

Brent

[Knightshift]

So uh, how often have you lost your contacts due to the waves and duck-diving. I'm sure that it's instinctive to you that you don't really have a problem with it. Heck, even when I am just messin around in the ocean, I keep my eyes closed when I got under. I remember trying contacts when I was alot younger, and I used them for like about 4 months or so, I have a slight astigmatism in my eyes, and I am near-sited. Mind you now, this was when I was alot younger, I have a lot of problems with the feeling of them on my eyes, and that wind would irritate them and such. My eyes haven't changed for years now and I know optical surgury is an option, but an option for people with good cash flow :P. So, maybe I will check them out, can't hurt. I can always give it a shot again and see how they feel. Thanks for the info bro.

[Jackson336]

Contacts are the way to go...

Number lost: one. I too use disposables. Not a big deal when I lost one. I had another. I have an astigmatism as well, just means I see better with glasses than contacts but I see everything I need to see with contacts. Wear them for all my sports. Not a problem. Much better than goggles. I have lost (barring the one lense) everything surfing: screw back earings, watch, headband, cuffed bracelet (not loose). Moving water is pretty powerful stuff.

I am sure Laird Hamilton can cruise and not lose goggles. For me: I would lose them and or they would snap me back in the face.

[Knightshift]

OK, so you just use the contacts for when you are surfing and other sports or do you wear them all the time????

[Jackson336]

Contacts: Just for sports. I love my glasses. I see better with them.

[Guest]

I use contacts most days for life in general. All sports activities like cycling, surfing, at the gym. I prefer glasses however for things like reading and watching television (or working on my computer)...when relaxing at home.

The reason being, when wearing contacts your eyes need to be moving about all the time - living an active life they are normally fine. The lenses are lubricated by this constant movement - the movement "washes" fresh eye saliene under the edges of the lens, blinking keeps natural debris like dust & air-bourne objects washed off the outer lens surface and keeps the whole arrangement working properly.

However; If you are staring in one direction for longer periods, like driving your car at night for example, reading a book or watching television, your eyeballs are not moving enough to lubricate the lenses properly. That is why contacts become uncomfortable for some people when doing these activities.

Also, one advantage of glasses as pointed out eariler... if you have quality lenses in your glasses frames, when staring at a static point like the road ahead of you in your car when driving at night, or your television, the quality of your vision is actually better than with contacts. That is because the glasses are focused properly and you are looking straight through them.
It's just like the lens of a camera, it takes a good picture of what is directly in front of it....but image quality gradually drops off towards the edge of the frame, or as you look through your glasses at an oblique angle.
make sense?

Another Novel ;-)

Brent

[L0v3S0ng4n01]

I wear contacts, and I usually take them out when I hit the beach, I find that I don't really need to see 20/20 when I'm out there b/c u can feel what the wave is going to do and see it well enough. but once i get back on shore its kind of a pain seeing my surroundings.

I have worn my contacts while out there and they stayed in for the whole day but it's best not to chance esp. if you don't wear disposables.

I've heard of a new thing (the latests contact technology) where you wear corrective lenses to bed and then take them out when you wake up and your vision is perfect for around 6hours. about 4k, if you can swing it. I think I'm going to look into it myself. Sounds like a good thing and the price should come down once it becomes more common.

[Guest]

4K ???? that's more expensive than laser treatment. You'd have to be Nuts. Why even bother??? I'd rather pay $60 for a box of lenses that lasts 3 months and wear them during the day :-)
The original poster mentioned he has a fairly high diopter prescription, he's short-sighted and has astigmatism (i.e...like me, without lenses or glasses....he's as blind as a bat).
Na, no amount of overnight deformation technology lenses could save me and my wobbly eyes....even at 4K.

I stand behind my original comment. Make an appointment with a good Optomertrist, tell them exactly what you want to achieve, get their professional advice (hopefully score some product samples to try) get shown how to wear them properly...and just educate yourself on the options open to you.
can't say more than that.

Brent

[Knightshift]

Wow, you guys really gave me some excellent info on that subject, I'd like to say thanks to all of you, and Brent. I will schedule an oppointment with an Optomotrist and check out my options for using contacts for when I'm surfing and other sports!! Thanks for the help again guys, this grom has lots to learn :P

[L0v3S0ng4n01]

4K ???? that's more expensive than laser treatment. You'd have to be Nuts. Why even bother??? I'd rather pay $60 for a box of lenses that lasts 3 months and wear them during the day :-)

it was actually a dentist who told me about it, he didn't want to risk laser surgery incase something went wrong because he needs his up-close vision. i think his eyes were around -6 or worse. like i said its a new thing so its more costly than laser right now but like all things the price will come down when it becomes more common. I thought it was really interesting and for sure dont have 4k to buy it but its always good to know your options