There are so many great ski and snowboard resorts in the United States! It’s no wonder that many people have a pair of prescription goggles on their wish lists.
What should you look for when you are in the market for a pair of prescription goggles?
1. Make sure they can handle your prescription.
Even if the manufacture says the goggles can handle a prescription, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the goggles can handle your prescription. So, when you shop for your goggles, make sure the salesperson has seen your prescription first.
Some goggles will allow you to install the prescription lenses right into the original goggle lens. These are the most luxe option, but they will have the most prescription limits, too.
Most other designs will come with a prescription insert option. You simply bring the insert to our office, we fill your prescription into it with our lab, and voila! You are off to the slopes in style!
You can just wear goggles over your glasses, which, for some, works fine. Just be aware that this will never be as comfortable, and you will have the issues of added weight and two lenses that could potentially fog up on you.
2. Decide what color lens you want.
Think about when you do most of your snow activities. Is it sunny out? Cloudy? Morning? Evening? Different colored lenses are ideal for different situations. Here are a few suggestions:
-If you go mostly on bright, sunny days, opt for a polarized lens in a black/grey or green/grey (G-15) color.
-If you go on low light / grey days, try a rose lens.
–Yellow, Gold, and Amber lenses help you get better contrast (so you can see all the lumps and bumps in the snow better), and are good for low-medium light days. They may be too bright, though, if it is sunny. A brown lens will do better for those bright days if you still like more contrast. Keep in mind that brown lenses will make the world appear yellowish.
–Grey lenses will make everything darker, and will not change the colors of what you see. These lenses may be a bit too dark for stormy days, however.
–Mirror Coatings on any of the above lens will let less light penetrate the lens, giving you a darker, more comfortable view.
3. Make sure that the lenses offer UVA and UVB protection.
Also, make sure your lenses are made by a reputable company. The lenses only have to offer UV protection at the time of inspection, so many of the less respectable, cheap lenses have a coating that can wash off after a few cleanings.
Polycarbonate and trivex lenses are 100% UV protectant, even when they are clear, so they are always a safe bet.
High levels of UV exposure has been linked to cataracts and other diseases, so don’t skimp on this point!
4. Try them on!
Make sure that the goggles fit you comfortably. If possible, attempt to try them on with the prescription insert inside before you purchase them (even if the insert does not have the prescription in it yet), just to make sure they are comfortable and not awkward with the insert. Also, make sure the strap is easy to adjust, and that you can see clearly in your periphery (out of the sides).
Brands to Consider:
There are new brands of ski goggles being introduced all the time. These are some of our favorite for prescription wearers:
Bolle Prescription Adapter
Bolle offers a prescription adapter for their Commando, Nebula, Boost, Nova, Monarch, Fathom, X9, Y6, Shark, and Quasar goggles. We can mount your prescription lenses in these adapters easily. These adapters can be purchased at many online retailers, including Amazon.com.
Julbo
Julbo offers a prescription adapter that fits just about all of their goggles.
Body Specs
Body Specs offers a huge line of prescription goggle options. The only downside is that they fit more like a Rec Spec or a sunglass than a true ski goggle. But, a smaller pair of goggles under a helmet might be more comfortable.
There are several other brands of goggles that have prescription options.
If you have any questions about anything ski or snowboard goggle related, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Have fun on the slopes!
Jennifer Cochrane is a licensed optician in Nevada. She works for Cochrane Family Eyecare for Dr. Terance Cochrane, an Optometrist in Reno, NV.