Child who needs glasses skiing

[MinnieMountain]

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?

Yes - ski school will go ahead when it's snowing, so goggles are essential.

Where did I say DH is considering him not wearing goggles?!

There’s no time to get him contact lenses before he goes but it’s a good idea for the future.

DH has tried him with his spare adult goggles over his glasses and they fit, so they have both options.

DS is a ski school refuser which he gets away with as DH has BASI level 1.

Goggles over glasses here. Actually I need to check DD’s new glasses will fit…

Is he a beginner and in ski school, or will he be hurlting down slopes and making judgements about the terrain and what's going on around him?

If the former, I imagine he'll be just fine. I have almost the exact same prescription and can function without glasses, and frequently go running without them.

But if the latter, he would benefit from having his vision corrected. I know people who ski with glasses under their googles, so that's certainly possible. I'm not sure he'd be ready to be confident with contact lenses by half term. They're not failsafe - mine weren't sitting right a couple of times today (I'm skiing ATM), but I know how to manage that, and DH had to change his at lunchtime yesterday as something was irritating him.
In future they're probably the best option, but not in 3 weeks from now.

He tells me he does blue runs, maybe the odd easy red.

We’re going to ski in Saas-Fee in April (if the glacier is open), so we could try getting him contacts for then. We’ll see how this trip goes with goggles over glasses.

Where did I say DH is considering him not wearing goggles?!

It was a PP saying goggles weren't necessary.

Helmet and visor at that age may work best. My daughter used her prescription sunglasses as we skied at Easter it was fine. She switched to contacts for sport aged 11.

@MinnieMountain I’d really recommend a helmet with a built in visor that can go over the glasses, and if you can stretch, a second cheap pair of smallish lens low profile glasses for normal vision. I used contacts for years but they are always a faff and it got to the point where skiing was all I was using them for. I like big glasses but I got an old small half rim pair re-glazed to my latest prescription so they have minimal risk of interfering and if I wipe out spectacularly at least it’s not my best glasses. I’m in Saas Fee at the moment. It’s been really sunny and having been in April before you might get away with sunglasses on the lower slopes assuming there’s snow but goggles are so much better vs the snow glare on the face plus the wind that can whip up on the glacier.

Ski helmet with a visor? . But you also need to check the glasses won’t steam up.
Goggle fit is really important - because of injuries to the eye/socket in the event of an accident. So glasses under googles unless specifically designed for that isn’t a good idea.
Maybe a good ski shop would have some suggestions if you called them.

my dd got contact lenses at 9 on the basis that I have worn them for a long time and could help her with them. They were prescribed by spec savers - might be worth an appointment.

You can get prescription lenses that clip into the goggles - we did that until dd could wear contacts.

Our 14yo wears OTG goggles over his glasses. He can't see without his glasses and although he has contact lenses he finds that his eyes dry out and itch in cold weather.
We just got his goggles from Amazon, he's such a clutz and growing all the time it's not worth spending lots on expensive goggles.

My ds is also 9 and started wearing glasses so have wondered this
for swimming etc he is fine without so unless he is very short sighted I’d say just go without but get him used to contacts when he’s a bit older (High school age). I don’t regularly wear contacts but do for sporty things including skiing which is least hassle overall

@wonkylegs which OTG would you recommend?

To report back: I was disappointed with the outdoor master I mentioned upthread. they were smaller than my 14yo's current Oakley flight deck XM. Might be ok for a child though.

Considering a larger oakley but not hopeful they'll be big enough either!

He's a strong black run skier and there is no way he'll get along with contacts. Have focused on this rather too late! He has a poc MIPS helmet and can't find any visor helmets of comparable quality unless super pricey.

He's got these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B5L6J7JP/ref=pe270633611487055811TEEdp_5?pldnSite=1

There not very fancy but they do the job, snug fit so the glasses are held snugly and safely in the extra padding. I also don't mind if they don't last as I haven't spent a fortune on them but so far so good.

His glasses are like those attached so quite a large frame but fit well, I tried them on with my smaller metal framed glasses and they fit well too. (I only wear glasses for driving so don't need them for skiing but had a go anyway)

Brilliant thank you. Similar glasses here (and teenage lack of care for belongings ) so looks great. Thanks again

My son used to wear glasses.
We got him a Salomon ski helmet that has a visor that pulled down over his glasses.
It was a perfect option for us.
my son wore his glasses under the visor all week. Not one issue. I would strongly recommend.
He Now wears contacts under the same helmet / visor.