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Original poster

Child who needs glasses skiing

42 replies

MinnieMountain · 29/01/2023 11:24

Our 9yo has just started wearing glasses. DH is taking him skiing at half term.

If your DC have minor shortsightedness, do they wear their glasses under their ski goggles or go without?

OP posts:
LookingOldTheseDays · 29/01/2023 11:26

Can they use contacts? That's what I do (not sure if there is a minimum age for contacts).

I don't think all goggles will fit over glasses, and it's one extra thing to steam up and get annoying.

Namenic · 29/01/2023 11:29

I wear glasses under ski goggles (but I am adult sized and had to check it fit). There are also over-glasses (like a visor-type thing with headband that go over glasses - this will be less good than goggles in blizzard, but might be fine otherwise)

AnotherPigeon · 29/01/2023 11:29

Not a child but I wear glasses and ski. I'm very short sighted so have to wear the glasses and never wear contacts anymore. You need really good goggles over the top to avoid steaming up, I've had to buy expensive new ones while there because sometimes I just couldn't see.

If it's minor short sightedness and on the whole he can see ok I'd probably not bother with wearing them to avoid the hassle of it.

schoolworries22 · 29/01/2023 11:32

My child wears glasses but with discussion from hospital doesn't wear them for sport including a recent ski trip. That might change as they get older but at five we are happy that they just wear them most of the time. Didn't seem to affect the skiing. That said you can buy bigger goggles which go over glasses but if the child is a new glasses wearer this could be tricky for them. Unless so short sighted it is actually dangerous not to wear them I'd compromise on just wearing them the rest of the time.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 29/01/2023 11:33

Very helpful thank you everyone.
DH wears contacts when he skis. I can’t see them being offered to a child.

OP posts:
LunaAndHerMoonDragons · 29/01/2023 11:37

You can buy prescription ski goggles, if he'll be going a bit that might be worthwhile.

Stropalotopus83 · 29/01/2023 11:39

My daughter has minor short sightedness and has just come back from a school skiing trip. We offered her contact lenses but she hated the idea of them so in the end she just didn't wear her glasses while skiing. Will depend on the strength of your child's prescription needs but my dd didn't have any issues x

xyzandabc · 29/01/2023 11:48

If it's just minor, and it doesn't cause him headaches or difficulties, for now I wouldn't bother making him wear them for skiing.

I started wearing glasses for driving at 17 but for skiing I didn't bother for quite a few years until my sight got worse and I found I actually needed them. Then I found goggles that my glasses could fit inside. Now I have a helmet with a flip down visor that easily goes over the glasses.

To get my glasses to sit right inside goggles, was a bit of a faff and each time you put your goggles back on you have to slightly adjust the glasses until they're comfortable. I don't think a 9 yr old would have the dexterity or patience to do this by themselves and it would be very difficult for an adult to do it for them and get it right.

So I'd plump for no glasses unless he starts complaining he can't see, then try under goggles if he really needs them.

MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 29/01/2023 11:54

My friend's daughter has been wearing contacts since age 9 so I wouldn't rule it out.

anomaly23 · 29/01/2023 12:50

Prescription ski goggles are another option for you but if you're not a regular skier then maybe not worth the cost

Stressedandtonic · 29/01/2023 13:05

don't buy prescription goggles at this stage - their prescription will increase as they grow and by the next ski trip the prescription likely won’t be strong enough. As others suggested contacts might be an option or not wearing glasses depending on the strength needed. Cylindrical goggles generally fit over glasses okay

itsgettingweird · 29/01/2023 13:42

How strong is the prescription? Is he going to have enough vision to ski without them?

I use to wear prescription sunglasses when I skied or wore orange googles over my glasses. I got decent ones fitted in a reality ski shop but as I was working ski seasons I was there for months and got a good instore discount!

SkiingIsHeaven · 29/01/2023 14:33

You need to buy goggles that say OT G on them. OTG means over the glasses.

It does depend on the size and style of the frame though. If you have deep glasses you could still have a problem so best to try them in good time before they go.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 29/01/2023 16:36

He’s -0.75 and -1.25. We picked up his glasses today and he definitely noticed the difference.

He’s got these glasses: www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/avengers-03?sku=30602489

OP posts:
TeddyTed · 29/01/2023 16:42

I’ve got a ski helmet with an attached visor so I can wear my glasses underneath rather than have to wear goggles directly over glasses. It’s very comfortable. Is that an option?

Iamblossom · 29/01/2023 16:43

We bought ds2 goggles with a prescription lens

slithytoveisascientist · 29/01/2023 16:50

I wore contacts from age 10 and that was 25 years ago, I'm sure they will offer them to him. Also that is a very light prescription so if he has to ski without I think he will be ok.

itsgettingweird · 29/01/2023 17:02

MinnieMountain · 29/01/2023 16:36

He’s -0.75 and -1.25. We picked up his glasses today and he definitely noticed the difference.

He’s got these glasses: www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/avengers-03?sku=30602489

He should be fine in normal goggles with that prescription.

But I would consider prescription sunglasses anyway as they are really handy.

NameOchangeO1 · 29/01/2023 17:05

Buy him a helmet with a visor that'll fit over his glasses. DD skied with one for years.

CallipyJean · 29/01/2023 17:57

We are all glasses wearers. Mine are strong so I wear contacts under my sunglasses or goggles; DH’s are mild so he wears nothing.

Last year we bought DD a pair of prescription sunglasses, and a cheaper pair of glasses to wear under the OTG goggles (so she didn’t bend, break or scratch her good normal glasses. She got on well with the OTG goggles (a Bolle pair) and will use them again this year

Havanananana · 29/01/2023 19:35

Unless he's an expert and fast skier, or going out in a snowstorm, your child won't need goggles. But he will need to protect his eyes from the sun and reflected glare, so prescription sunglasses would be my suggestion. He can use them in the summer as well for other outdoor activities, so they are not just an investment for skiing.

PickleSarnie · 01/02/2023 13:05

Specsavers suggested contacts to my then 9 year old last year - mainly for skiing/playing rugby. He tried but just couldn't get on with them so we gave up but might try again. But we might just look into prescription sunglasses or a visor instead of goggles.

So 9 definitely isn't too young but it's whether or not they can deal with sticking them in their eyes.

skilikeagirl · 01/02/2023 13:19

I've just picked up one of the outdoor master OTG pairs on the recommendation here -- went for the higher VLT of 47% so he can use them and his glasses on cloudy days. Will report back after HT

skilikeagirl · 01/02/2023 13:20

Surely most kids are in ski school and expected to ski in all weathers so goggles are a basic requirement? I don't ski in Austria but in Fr and Sw never seen kids ski in sunglasses TBH

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