Is that a sea robin or a porgy?
We all know the excitement when something hits your line and fishing turns to catching. We squint into the glare and briny deep to experience the ecstasy of a nice tasty fluke, the agony of a sea robin.
Unless you are writer Zach Harvey, who knows the fish type before the fish even hits the line, this is one more situation when you rely on your eyes to guide you to successful fishing. Unless you are Mike (Danforth, co-owner of this magazine) the years of squinting into the water will start to take its toll on your vision and looks. Water reflects up to 100% of ultraviolet light vs say 3% reflectance off grass. UV exposure is highest between 2-4pm, right during that post lunch fishing trip with the kids, and damage can begin in as little as 15 minutes.
Of all of our senses, clear vision has the greatest impact on day-to-day activities. Optimized and balanced vision allows for enhancement of depth perception at all viewing distances, especially important in the glare and extreme conditions that often exist while on the water.
So why not treat yourself to a great pair of prescription (or multifocal if you wear readers) glasses? They offer a host of benefits we seldom think about.
We know that a great pair of polarized glasses (not the cheap knock offs) will remove the harmful HEV and blue light ranges from visible spectrum, which contributes to macular degeneration and chronic eyestrain. They offer physical protection from negative effects of wind, leading to chronic dryness and surface adaptations. Polarized lenses allow for visualization into water from above by eliminating surface, essential when fishing.
You may not know that proprietary manufacturers’ tints increase contrast across certain wavelengths, improving your vision. Also, specialized frame designs allow for ventilation and/or protection from all of the above.
Just like you need specialized glasses to read, you need specialized sunglasses to up your fishing game. As we age, progressive multi-focals provide clarity at near and intermediate ranges necessary for charting and near point tasks like the obvious hook baiting and releasing.
So bite the bullet open your wallet, or phone a loved one or friend and put a great pair of prescription/multifocal sunglasses on your list for birthdays and holidays – so much better than another tie!
Speak with your area expert. We recommend Dr. Thomas Wagner of OptiMystic Eye Group in Mystic, CT (tjwagner540@gmail.com) and Dr. Wayne Kelly, owner and optician of Pearle Vision in Roslyn, NY (waynekelly@optonline.net).
Thomas Wagner of OptiMystic Eye Group, Mystic CT – “Our patients that are serious fishermen value the benefits of clear vision and protection from windburn”
John Holstein, Owner of Noank Shipyard, Noank CT – “My recent sunglass purchase made all the difference in me enjoying my time on the water”
George Burnside, Owner of Bayside Diesel, Mystic CT – “The only pair I wear! Tough enough to handle what I put them through, great on the road and when I go offshore! It’s like I can see through the glare right into the depths!
