Not really into whinging, but just thought a warning about some poor service from SeaSpecs USA might save some other people some headaches and a couple of hundred dollars.

Note this refers to Seaspecs PRESCRIPTION glasses, not their standard product. Their prescription glasses are made by a sub-contracted optical lab.

I require prescription polarised sunglasses for kiting and other marine biology work. I had good service from my Oakley Water Jackets, but they were approaching 4 years old and starting to look a bit tired. Oakley Australia were unable to replace the glasses for some reason, so I thought I would try Seaspecs instead. I noted their money back guarantee was only for their standard glasses, not prescription lenses, but I thought I would go ahead anyway. I submitted my script to Seaspecs USA on their website in September 2008, and the glasses were shipped to me early October 2008.

At first use, they didn’t seem quite “right”, and it was pretty difficult to focus on the moving waves etc. I emailed Seaspecs with my suspicion that the script was not correct, and was simply told that their lab had made the glasses to my order. There was no offer to look into it any further.

I went to my optometrist early 2009 for a check-up, and while there asked them to check the Seaspecs script. Sure enough the glasses were not correct, but differed slightly in both power and astigmatism to what I had ordered, enough to make them unusable. At my own cost, I shipped the glasses back to the USA, asked them to check for themselves, and (please) replace the glasses.

I received a reply at the end of March, saying, yes they did admit the script was wrong, and would replace the glasses at no charge. I received the updated glasses back last week, and tried them out, only to find it was still almost impossible to focus. I did a bit of checking, and found out (while looking at reflected glare off a puddle) that the polarisation was out of phase in the left lens by 90 degrees! In other words, the right lens polarisation was working properly, but the left lens was not cutting any glare at all, until I spun the frame through 90 degrees.

As you can imagine, trying to use these while looking at the ocean will be nigh on impossible. I emailed them about the new problem and mentioned that after $300 and 2 failed tries to make a correct prescription set of glasses over 8 months, I was pretty much over their company’s quality control and would look elsewhere for my glasses. I didn’t even get a reply.....

As of this week it seems that Oakley Europe will be able to replace the original water jackets sometime soon. Buyers beware with Seaspecs.

Dr Andy Lewis, QLD, Australia.

Nasty.

Wouldn't you be better off with non-polarised lenses?

I love polarised sunnies but go with normal lenses on the board as you can spot the surface of waves etc for landings from the glare/reflection. Tricky with polarised lenses.

BTW mine are standard Blueye Squids and they rock!

Sounds like you have had a run of bad luck with them Andy.
I would try to contact them again. A bit more persistance might do the trick.
If no luck get in touch with us and I will see what I can do.
We have had a number of prescriptions done over the years and had no issues.
Jason