At 04:56 PM 6/1/00 -0400, Carl Heinzl wrote:
>
>You once again make an incorrect assumption.  You *assumed* that anyone
>with
>a glued in lens has more than the +8 diopters.

        If you recall, I said,

>well, those of us with stronger corrections, who
> must have glued in lenses, won't be seeing anything peripherally anyway.

To which you replied,

Again, simply NOT true.  I have glued in corrections simply so I have
perfect
sight underwater.

        If your correction is over +8 diopters you <must> have glued in lenses.
With a lower correction they have factory made faceplates with approximate
corrections.  These may well be off a bit and they will have no correction
for the astigmatism that often accompanies myopia but it is an option which
some divers take.  You have chosen to get an exact correction, but at +9
diopters I had no choice if I wanted to see.  I was in the group that
<must> have glued in lenses.

        No assumptions were intended about anyone who didn't have "stronger
corrections" which indeed you do not have.  Obviously, the closer a diver's
vision is to normal the better the diver's peripheral vision will be and
the more useful side windows will be.

  I could live without correcting
>glasses for the astigmatism,, but, as I said before, getting the visual
>part the best it can be is far more important than a few extra bucks.
>I think I could have picked up drop in lenses for the scubapro mask,
>but I opted for the *exact* correction that also fixed my astigmatism
>rather than something "close".

        I agree.  Personally, I don't see why anyone is satisfied with something
that is just "close" since so much of the pleasure of being underwater
comes through our eyes and prescription lenses scarcely double the price of
a good mask.
>
>
>Why in the world should you have to *ALTER* a mask to use part of it's
>function?
>
>
>I wouldn't buy a mask that required me to alter it in order to use
>it properly!

        In the early 80s, some masks were sold with purge valve that led to virgin
vents which were indicated by little silicone circles.  It wasn't an
uncommon feature, and the buyer was supposed to poke holes in the
designated areas if he wanted to use the purge.  In my experience it was a
mistake to open them and after getting burned once I avoided doing it
again, and I still have an 18 year old virgin.  From your remarks, I'd have
to guess that the factory punches the holes now.  I do look at a lot of
masks, but not with purge valves.


DPTNST,


John