I just discovered these a few weeks ago. They are contacts that act like sunglasses. I used to wear contacts many years ago, but I had corrective surgery, so I have not worn any in twenty years. Here is why I now wear these when I surf on bright sunny days.

I have never worn sunglasses out foiling before. I never wanted to for a few reasons. One is that they get water spots on them. This inhibits your vision. I need to see well in order to foil well. I find that even when I get some spray in my face on take-off it throws me off quite a bit. I need that depth perception to keep myself on foil properly. Sunglass with water spots would not be good. The second is that they would get ripped off from all the falling that I do. I am sure that would not be an issue if I was a better foiler but let’s face facts. I fall all the time. The last reason is that during my frequent falls I hit the water hard sometimes. Having a pair of glasses on would be dangerous to my face in that they might get shoved into my face on impact. I am ugly enough as is so I do not need any more scars to make it worse. I wear a hat on occasion, and I like the protection it provides but it doesn’t work on the reflected sun off the water. I also do not like the blind spot I get on take-off with the brim.

Altius Contacts solve all the above issues. They are soft contacts. They come in prescription and like mine without a prescription. They are very comfortable. I wore contacts for about twenty years before I had surgery on my eyes. I would say I am tolerant to having a contact in my eye. If you have sensitive eyes, then these might not be for you. Most people will do fine with soft contacts. They are a greenish grey tint. I have used them multiple times in the surf, and I have not had any issues with losing one or even feeling like they are coming out. I have not tried to open my eyes under water yet with them on so I cannot say how well they will stay on doing that. I can tell you that they work great. I am able to look into the direction of the sun and not have any issues. I can see the curve of the waves better and what is under water better since the reflection off the water is blunted. I find that when I am finished foiling my eyes feel more relaxed. They are disposable which means you are supposed to just toss them after each wearing, but I have used the same pair for about ten sessions with no issues.

These are prescription contacts which means that you cannot just go out and get them in the store. I have vision insurance thru my wife and the exam for me was about fifteen dollars. The normal price for a fitting would be around eighty to one hundred dollars if you do not have insurance. If you need a prescription version, then insurance will cover the cost of them. I paid retail price for mine. I bought 10 boxes for about $180, which works out to about $1.80 per contact. Since both my eyes are the same non-prescription, I can use them in either eye. I would estimate that the supply will last me at least a year, if not more. I foil 3-5 times per week, but I do not use them if it is cloudy or very early in the morning.

These are a great idea, and I am not sure why no one made these a long time ago. Maybe the technology was not there before. I would highly recommend these to anyone who foils a lot. Protecting your eyes from the sun is a no brainer. The surfing environment is very harsh on your eyes, and these will help protect them from some of the damage that happens over time. They also enhance definition of the wave face and subtle bumps in the wave. They knock out the sun’s reflection off the water. If you are going to a tropical surf destination these will make your sessions easier on your eyes. They are relatively cheap after the initial fitting. They make your foil session a more pleasant experience. Plus have the added bonus of your eyes will look a little weird too.