Jock:
I wear glasses to correct my nearsighted vision and love to ski, but skiing with glasses and goggles is a foggy, frustrating and sometimes frightening experience. What do you recommend?
—Skiing by Braille
Dear Braille,
If it’s any consolation, you’re not alone. As a child, I wore glasses and suffered similar visual challenges. About age 14, I acquired contact lenses, which improved my vision immensely. After several decades, however, my eyes rejected the contacts, so I underwent Lasik surgery. There’re Lasik horror stories, but for me, the procedure was flawless. I consider it the best present I’ve ever given myself. You should confer with your eye care professional to determine if you are a good candidate for either contacts or corrective surgery.
If you’re not, there are specific goggles made for skiers who wear glasses. Most manufacturers make “Over the Glass” (OTG) models with a larger profile and additional airflow to reduce fogging. Smith Optics provides the best solution with three OTG models, featuring a two-speed, battery-powered fan to dispel fog for four-eyed skiers. If you do nothing else, invest in a pair of these OTG goggles—for the safety of everyone.
—Jock