Anne McDonnell from Shanballymore, in Co Cork, needs help with choosing spectacles for the slopes
“I am going on a skiing holiday to Bulgaria in a few weeks’ time. It’s five years since my last ski trip. I have updated my ski clothes gradually over the past month or so – hurray for TK Maxx – but I have hit my usual problem once again: I wear glasses. My specs are photochromic and polarised, yet I squint in bright sunshine, so I know they are not suitable for snow. They are too small, anyway.
“In the past I have worn prescription sunglasses, and in bright conditions I managed, but in dull conditions the terrain becomes flat, and it was very difficult.
“I am sure that a very large proportion of skiiers wear glasses, so it has always surprised me that nobody seems to be able to give me good advice.
“Do you know if there is such a company or person? I would love to find out about the correct colour of the tint, for example, or if wearing multifocals affects the choice of glasses. I would be very grateful for any assistance, because it really affects my enjoyment of the holiday.”
Killian Forde, our ski columnist, replies: It's possible your problem last time was wearing overly dark prescription glasses. There are a few solutions you could consider for your trip.
Try Bolle X9 OTG (Over the Glasses) goggles. They are available from Great Outdoors (www.greatoutdoors.ie, 01-6794293) for €79.95. These should provide the protection, shading and definition you need.
Ask your optician for contact lenses. Use them with any rose- or yellow-tinted ski glasses.
Order prescription ski glasses online. Framesdirect.com stocks Bolle and Oakley. The tint you order should be light enough for dull conditions.
Simply buy clip-ons for your current glasses. Again, a rose or yellow tint should work for dull conditions.
The best, but most expensive, option would be to order two pairs of prescription glasses, one for use in bright conditions and one for dull. The tints should be dark green or copper for bright conditions and rose or yellow for dull.
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