Whistler Mountain opened ahead of schedule this year and that has local winter sports enthusiasts anticipating a long and snowy season, with plenty of opportunities to hit the slopes, be it on skis, snowboard, or snowmobile. Naturally, good vision is crucial with all three activities, both for enjoyment and safety. But people who need prescription lenses for optimum vision face a few challenges when enjoying their preferred winter activity. For years the only choice was to find goggles big enough to fit glasses underneath. But that often meant problems with fogging and a limited selection. Soft contacts offered a solution for some, but brought along a new set of limitations as well.
In response, many goggle manufacturers now offer models that can accept special prescription inserts. But with quality, name brand snow sports goggles retailing for about $200 for mid-priced models, and the super high-tech versions that include GPS, smartphone connectivity, and navigation functions costing hundreds more, it’s useful to consider whether or not the added cost of prescription inserts is the best value for your snow sports budget. Here are some points to consider.
Expect to pay at least $100 – $200 for the prescription inserts. Remember, you’ll be limited to those models offering a prescription option and you’ll still need to bring along another pair of regular glasses – for those times when you aren’t wearing the goggles. Plus, in bright conditions, or if you’re a Nordic skier and rely on sunglasses, you’ll need the more expensive prescription versions of those as well. And if you want to stay in fashion with new goggles every couple of years, there’s no guarantee your current prescription inserts will work with different goggles, as they are designed to fit specific models.
So, compared to the cost of laser eye surgery, which is a year-round solution to your vision challenges, the smaller up-front cost of prescription goggles might not actually be much of a bargain. Especially if you participate in other sports such as cycling or sailing, where sunglasses are often required for eye protection from the sun’s rays. Other options such as contact lenses may seem like a good idea for snow sports, because you don’t need to find goggles that can fit over your glasses. But if you need to readjust them after a hard fall, bulky gloves and/or stiff cold fingers can make that a challenge. Lose a contact entirely and depending on your eyesight, it could mean the end of your day on the slopes altogether. So there are definitely some downsides to contacts as well.
At Boydvision, we think laser eye surgery is a great choice for winter sports enthusiasts. The benefits of improved vision aren’t limited to the slopes and your goggle and sunglasses options are both wider and less costly than with special prescription lenses. For someone with aging eyes, the small print of trail maps can be a challenge, even if distance vision isn’t. For them, our blended vision procedure is an option to consider, because you won’t need to bring along a pair of readers that are likely to fog up or get broken if you fall with them in your jacket pocket.
Good vision makes snow sports that much more enjoyable. Book a free consultation today and you could be enjoying the benefits of improved vision for the 2013/14 season and beyond!
To help you prepare for the upcoming season, here is a list of opening days at BC’s top ski resorts. (Some dates are tentative, be sure to double check before you make plans or reservations)
Opening Days – BC Ski Resorts
Apex Mountain Resort (Penticton) – December 7
Big White Ski Resort (Kelowna) – November 28
Cypress Mountain Resort (West Vancouver) – first week of December (tentative)
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort (Fairmont) – December 20
Fernie Alpine Ski Resort (Fernie) – November 30 (tentative)
Hudson Bay Mountain (Smithers) – November 22
Island Lake Cat Skiing (Fernie) – December 16
Kicking Horse Resort (Golden) – December 13
Kimberley Alpine Resort (Kimberley) – December 14
Mount Washington Alpine Resort (Comox Valley) – December 6
Northern Escape Heli-Skiing (Terrace) – December 27
Panorama Mountain Village (Invermere) – December 6
Powder King Mountain Resort (Mackenzie) – November 23 (tentative)
Red Mountain Ski Resort (Rossland) – December 14
Revelstoke Mountain Resort (Revelstoke) – November 30
Shames Mountain (Terrace) – December 14
Silver Star Mountain Resort (Vernon) – November 9/22 (Nordic/Alpine)
Sun Peaks Resort (Kamloops) – November 23
Whister Blackcomb: Whistler – November 16, Blackcomb – November 28
Whitewater (Nelson) – November 30 (tentative)