Skiing with glasses

I used to wear glasses on the slopes.. when I did I greatly preferred an insert vs an actual pair of eye glasses.

For OTG goggles try the Smith Prophecy or Knowledge Turbo fan or Zeal's own Rapt PPX OTG (buy mine in gear swap!).

Rub some anti-fog on your eyeglasses if you have fogging issues, McNett Op Drops are the best I've tried.

I hate wearing glasses under goggles but for right now it's my best option.  I've been using Oakley A-Frames because somehow my glasses fit underneath them, but I just got a hold of some Oakley Catapults that are designed to be OTG.  They have what looks to be extra venting all around the frame, which should help prevent dreaded eyeglass fogging.  I'm pretty excited to try them out.  The price is nice too.

http://www.oakley.com/products/6716/25042?promotion_ID=30&cm_mmc=gbase_csfeeds-_-MA-_-master-_-57-531

Thanks for the tip on the Op Drops.  I just ordered some.  I've been using Cat Crap.

I was in a similar situation a few years back. Glaucoma and had my right eye operated on. Usually you cannot go back to contacts , but it worked out for me.

Smith Turbo's with the Smith Ocular Docikng System http://www.smithoptics.com/products/#/Accessories/Accessories+Snow+Goggles/ODS2-RX+Adaptor/view/ worked about as well as can be imagined.  And it looks like they have improved it and it works in more of theri goggles!

Although here in the Great Pacific Northwest it is pretty humid. And I ski warm and wear a full race helmet.

So, I would use a product called Fogtech on the Docking system lense. And that killed any fogging I got of the Docking System lense. You may not have that problem depending on where you ski, how hard you ski and what helmet you wear.

But after looking at all the options, the

Smith with the fan looked the best. Used it 1 entire season. I would definetly recommend it.

NO earpiece or issues with the fit since the System is made for the goggle.

One concern with using goggles that have a lens docking system is that if you plan to ever step inside to eat lunch, have a drink at the bar, or whatever, you have carry your eyeglasses separately.  Or I suppose you could wear your goggles inside the whole time like some oddball...

Yep, but that is just the way it goes.

I used to ski with glasses before going with contacts and then laser surgery.

I'm not familiar with docking systems.

If you have to wear glasses under goggles, put your goggles on inside while your glasses are still warm. Do not ever take them off outdoors.

If you wait until you're outside before putting the goggles on, your glasses will fog every time, just like they do when you walk inside. Condensation forms on the cold glasses when they enter a warm environment, whether the warmth is caused by walking indoors or by putting your goggles on. Preventing your glasses from getting cold in the first place by putting your goggles on before going outside will reduce the problem, although it may not eliminate it completely.

A Smith Turbofan or other goggle with powered ventilation is also a big help.

Just throwing my 2 cents in here. Definitely go try some on over your glasses before you buy. I bought a pair of OTG goggles off of level9 last year and they definitely would not fit over my glasses. Not even close.

I can't wait until the day surgery is an option for me.  Skiing with glasses blows.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbanyCO 

Just throwing my 2 cents in here. Definitely go try some on over your glasses before you buy. I bought a pair of OTG goggles off of level9 last year and they definitely would not fit over my glasses. Not even close.

I agree.

With that said I have a dedicated pair of glasses for skiing. The frames are on the smallish side. That widens the options for finding googles that will work over glasses. Now if you have to order online, I can attest that Scott and Bolle OTG frames do fit over glasses. I have one of each.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toecutter 

I can't wait until the day surgery is an option for me.  Skiing with glasses blows.

If you get the chance you won't regret it. I got mine done 3 weeks ago and haven't looked back.

I was never able to use contacts, so OTG was my life on the slopes. ;)

If you are interested in any of Smith's inserts, ODS or ODS2. I still have mine in excellent condition and would pass them on for shipping cost. Just take them to your favorite optician and have new lenses added.

If possible use plastic framed glasses, the metal ones have more fogging issues in my experience. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by spknmike 

 

If you get the chance you won't regret it. I got mine done 3 weeks ago and haven't looked back.

 

I was never able to use contacts, so OTG was my life on the slopes. ;)

 

If you are interested in any of Smith's inserts, ODS or ODS2. I still have mine in excellent condition and would pass them on for shipping cost. Just take them to your favorite optician and have new lenses added.

If the thread opener is not interested, I would like to get the ODS2 since I also wear glasses and looking for a better solution than just the regular OTG goggles.

LASIK.

Smith Turbos/ find the frame that fits your glasses.

Last season i wore some plastic framed glasses that

seemed to stand away from face a little more... didn't get

so much dreaded eyebrow grease?

I was using the Turbo Knowledge, the newer fan

setups are good.

I have OTG goggles but even with fans and anti-fog I still hate wearing them. I bought Ray Ban prescription sunglasses - cost $300 after insurance but the frames are guaranteed not to become brittle even in sub-teens, fit tight enough to keep the wind out and have lenses which have taken the occasional tree branch without scratching.

Still fog up when you walk in doors, oh well...

As a certified optician having dispensed in Utah for the better part of two decades, I may be able to offer some educated advice.  Much of the advice given in this thread is relatively accurate, and there is a huge subjective component to skiing and refractive error correction needs.  Of course, a photo-refractive correction such as LASIK or PRK would be an excellent choice if money and corneal condition aren't limiting factors.  Sadly, or most of us, they are (usually money).  Contacts are an excellent second choice for many, but this is where your optometrist and optician really are important.  Just like a custom boot - to be honest, even more importantly - you need a lens that does far more than correct your refractive need.  You've also got to balance water content, Dk (oxygen permeability), material, base curve and diameter to your eye.  In the ski environment, it is even more crucial to have an excellent fit.  Bear in mind that dry eye symptoms almost never preclude wearing contact lenses - even after a variety of surgeries - but it can make comfortable wear more complex.

Concerning glasses and goggles, here's the short answer:  They almost never work.  At least they almost never work well, or even fair.  Goggles are designed to form a weather resistant seal against the face, and there is not a single goggle manufacturer anywhere who has at any time created a goggle designed to work well around a spectacle frame while at the same time performing as a really great goggle.  There is always compromise, and in some cases, the goggle can even damage your eyeglass frame - I've repaired many over the years...when I could.  Another un-desirable side effect with many of the OTG labels is that many mfr's simply add foam to the back of the frame to increase the vertex (distance between the back of the goggle lens and the face) to allow room for eye wear underneath.  The obvious problem is anywhere from annoying to massive loss of peripheral vision as well as decreased superior/inferior gaze angles.  Ski wearing horse-blinders and add another pair above and below and you'll get some idea.  In my experience, Oakley's were one of the worst offenders in this area (to say nothing of their appallingly poor optics.)

To date, the set-up with the fewest question marks, best over-all fit for the widest range of faces, least compromised vision, and -from the part of the designing optician - best glazing/mount option has hands down been the Smith ODS line.  It certainly isn't perfect, but their system almost never come back with a problem, the lens shape gives a huge field of vision  - particularly laterally, and its easy to drop it into their Pivlock frames for summer months.  I will state that from a front lens optics standpoint, all four of the optometrists in our office are wearing Smith lenses (they all out-ski me any day of the week by a mile!) and most of the opticians are wearing them as well.  We tend to look at optics first - above all, then function, then replacement cost.  Of all the other brands I've personally worn over the years, none really compare to the sharpness and truly optically correct curves they're using their spherical series.  The active fan on the Prophecy/Phenom models is brilliant as well - though most that I've spoken with here in Utah have said they rarely use/need it.

There may well be a goggle made to fit every face, but when it comes to Rx, your options are certainly limited.  If you're in the Salt Lake neighborhood and ever care to drop by the shop to talk lenses, I'd be happy to help any way I can.  This is certainly an area I feel is grossly overlooked by the industry as a whole, perhaps because they view it as a loss leading challenge they're unwilling to take on with any serious thrust.  whatever the reason, a little forethought and planning, coupled with a great optician and goggle combination can dramatically improve your days in the steeps.

Cheers!

Brian~

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmaie 

I have OTG goggles but even with fans and anti-fog I still hate wearing them. I bought Ray Ban prescription sunglasses - cost $300 after insurance but the frames are guaranteed not to become brittle even in sub-teens, fit tight enough to keep the wind out and have lenses which have taken the occasional tree branch without scratching.

 

Still fog up when you walk in doors, oh well...

Jmaie - Hate to say it, but you got screwed.  There is no such warranty Rayban or anyone else can make.  Of course your frames will get more brittle in colder temps.  Any optician trying to tell you otherwise is only trying to close the sale.  Ever since Lenscrafters bought the Ban about ten years back their quality has gone in a single direction, and let's be frank...it's not up.  Be careful with those frame, and they may serve you well for a good number of years - but do NOT take that salesman's word on that frame "guarantee".  Also be aware that there is no such thing as a scratch "proof" lens.  Depending on where you purchased the sunglasses, they may have a rudimentary scratch resistance, but you will scratch them sooner or later.  You may want to check the fine print of your receipt and see if you have any warranty or recourse for scratches.  Don't mean to be nothin but negative - but please take it from someone who's managed a dispensing desk for a lot of years, and has seen many slimy transactions that were simply beyond the pale...  Never buy based on a name brand alone - make damn sure you've got everything explained to you and in writing before you leave...and remember that there's a 50/50 shot even with that you may not end up with the quality or service you thought you were "promised"...particularly if it was from a chain store.  2 cents of caution is all.

Cheers

B~

Fair enough and I didn't really buy them for the guarantees. I liked the wind blockage and the much-better field of vision compared to goggles. And if I were skiing sub-teens I'd likely be in goggles anyways.

The lenses are guaranteed not to break which I thought a good idea since I've taken the occasional face shot in the trees, and my optometrist included a 2-year warranty against scratching, no questions asked. I'm assuming it's some sort of insurance he paid for and included in my cost with a markup.  Worth it though, he lived up to it once before on my daily use glasses and the lenses were replaced after 18 months at no charge.

Also, the price was not so bad considering I have a serious astigmatism and the lenses are progressive trifocals.

Caveat Emptor.

I like Oakleys because they come in Asian Fit models, which seal up against my broad, flat nose bridge without any air gap.  I had Smith with the turbo fan but they had such a big space over my bridge that snow would blow up the front and fill the inside of the goggles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmaie 

Fair enough and I didn't really buy them for the guarantees. I liked the wind blockage and the much-better field of vision compared to goggles. And if I were skiing sub-teens I'd likely be in goggles anyways.

 

The lenses are guaranteed not to break which I thought a good idea since I've taken the occasional face shot in the trees, and my optometrist included a 2-year warranty against scratching, no questions asked. I'm assuming it's some sort of insurance he paid for and included in my cost with a markup.  Worth it though, he lived up to it once before on my daily use glasses and the lenses were replaced after 18 months at no charge.

 

Also, the price was not so bad considering I have a serious astigmatism and the lenses are progressive trifocals.

 

Caveat Emptor.

Sounds good - I would like to touch on a few points you made.  As for the wind protection, I get you.  I've also skied in a pair of Maui Jim Hoku's on nicer days as well.  There is nothing like the field of view of a properly made, digital lens design wrap sunglass.  If there's more than a light breeze, I tend to prefer goggles myself, but on those nice calm bluebird days, the sunnies are great - particularly polarized.  Did your optometrist make certain your wrap progressive lenses (NOT trifocals to be clear - they're as different from progressives as an ice skate is to a powder ski) were made using a digital lens design, digitally created as well with a full wrap prism and position of wear compensation used?  If he didn't...well, you'll have to be the judge.  But it's likely the optics are pretty far from optimal.

Also, I want to caution anyone who believes any lens on the planet is "unbreakable" - sunglass, goggle or even safety glass alike.  There is NO such thing.  If you're being told as much from your optometrist or optician the fact is you're being sold up the river.  With that said, there are lens materials that are markedly more impact resistant, and less likely to shatter than others (usually at the extreme cost of optical clarity, especially when moderate to high astigmatism correction is required in wrap designs).  So much like anything in skiing - there are no absolutes.  There's no such thing as a perfect one ski quiver for ALL conditions, there's no binding that will prevent ALL injuries, and there is no lens anywhere on this rock that will NEVER shatter - particularly in the cold. 

God I sound negative!  :)  Again, I don't want to rain on anyone's parade here, but I have a very difficult time seeing and hearing misleading and even potentially dangerous information being spread including utterly unrealistic expectations from eyewear.  I work hard to make sure my patients are educated as best they can be and then let them make the best choices for their eyes with that information - I only hope I can be of some help here.

In short - don't try to take on any 8" pine boughs with your face in the steeps.  The tree will win.  Remember, even if the lenses don't shatter (and who doesn't love a wicked deep corneal laceration right!?  hehehe)  the frames WILL come apart.  Could be the nylon itself, could be the hinge, could be the rivet...point being is just avoid kissing the local flora mid-run ok?  :)  I want to state for the record that I am by no means the "expert" on all things optical or frames, but with that said, I've seen and made a lot of set-ups over the years - and some have worked far better than others.  I truly hope this is of some help to everyone here.

Cheers

B~

You might want to look at http://www.7eye.com/

7eye does make some nice specs - my only word of advice would be to definitely try before you buy.  Their fit tends to be all over the map.  Sometimes perfect, sometimes horrible.  Get them on your face and see for yourself.  While not a goggle, they can help for general wear in keeping the wind down around the eyes.  In chronic cases, a true vapor chamber set-up can be helpful - but you won't get it in a goggle, nor will you win any style points.  :)

I am enjoying this thread as I am one of those who have to wear glasses when I ski, what a pain. 

I have not been able to find any OTG goggle that will fit comfortably. I have three different pairs of glasses and have tried at least 10 OTG goggles, no combination has worked.

OP Drops were very highly recommended, I tried them without success along with two different "no fog' cloths that fogged right away.

Just purchased one of the new OSBE helmets with the visor that comes down over your glasses. The OSBE is expensive but will be very worth it if the problem is solved.  The new helmet should be here in a couple of weeks and I will let you know how it feels upon arrival.  The weather here in Wisconsin is still too warm for snow so a real test will be sometime down the road.

YMMV

I actually bought an OSBE.  I really liked the concept and the design but my wife VETOED it.  She said "You look like a dork in that thing".  I ended up caving to the spousal pressure and returned it.  I am still thinking about buying it again because it does solve the goggle and glasses problem.  It does have a Robby the Robot look to it

I've tried to ski with contacts but they would blow out of my eyes.  I no longer even own contacts and I have been skiing with glasses for 20 years now.  What works for me is to have a separate pair of ski galsses.  These have a slight curve to them so they fit better under the goggles and have plastic untinted lenses and thin nylon plastic frames.  I use normal Smith OTG goggles and I use defog, currently a UVEX product. This has been acceptable as long as I don't face plant in the powder.  If I get any fogging it is when I sto at the end of the run.  Lifiting my goggles slightly while on the lift will clear up the fog in few seconds. 

There are no perfect solutions here, but it's all about which compromises you are willing to make.  For me, the Uvex G120 goggles have been the best solution so far.  I like them MUCH better than any OTG or Rx Insert solution.  They are not the best looking things in the world, but have been the most effective and lowest fogging solution I have found so far.  I am also going to try daily wear contacts this year for the first time ... we'll see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoWonder 
 This has been acceptable as long as I don't face plant in the powder.  If I get any fogging it is when I stop at the end of the run.  Lifting my goggles slightly while on the lift will clear up the fog in few seconds. 

Everything's fine with me too until I face plant in powder (i.e., often)!  The first half of the lift ride up my glasses fog like mad as my fat face sheds heat, but hopefully by the time I reach the top my lenses clear up.  I'm hoping the extra vents on these new Oakleys help.

Beyond the OTG goggles, you may also want to consider how you can vent body heat to help control lens fogging.  I have always worn glasses under goggles, about 30 years now, and I perspire very easily, even on cold days when it is humid out (weather you can get in East Coast US and here in Europe).  It would be especially bad at resorts where I'd have to walk a fair amount to the lifts, worse if the walk was uphill.  

A few years ago when I started wearing a helmet, I realized with the various options for venting heat it made a big difference in reducing fogging.  The other benefit has been that when I put my goggles up on the helmet, perspiration humidity does not seep through as it did with knit hats.  So a helmet with many vents and a means to block or open the vents has worked very well for me.