Contact Lenses

spasypaddy

Soooo i've just ordered my first ever pair of contacts as my eyesight is getting worse and worse and picking frames is a pain in the rectum.

-17.5 in my left eye, -16.5 in my right

So this also opens up a whole new world of accessories to me... SUNGLASSES!!!!!!!

Going to get some Oakley Split Jackets in black with red iridium lenses and a low light lens.

My question is, is riding when wearing contacts without some kind of protection for my eyes a bad idea? Can the wind remove the contacts from my eyes?

peat

-17???? You must be blind as a bat! I am -3 and i find that to be a major impairment.

I always ride with some form of glasses on, just to keep cr@p out. The wind won't knock them out, but getting a fly/bit of dirt in there is tricky because you naturally want to rub your eye.

The major thing you will notice with lenses is that you will become more aware of your hydration levels. They really start to bind if you don't drink enough. I have 'dry' eyes anyway and can only wear lenses for 8hrs max before they become unbearable.

Good luck, getting them in and out is a pain to start (allow PLENTY of time) but becomes second nature eventually.

PBo

spasypaddy wrote:

Soooo i've just ordered my first ever pair of contacts as my eyesight is getting worse and worse and picking frames is a pain in the rectum.

-17.5 in my left eye, -16.5 in my right

So this also opens up a whole new world of accessories to me... SUNGLASSES!!!!!!!

Going to get some Oakley Split Jackets in black with red iridium lenses and a low light lens.

My question is, is riding when wearing contacts without some kind of protection for my eyes a bad idea? Can the wind remove the contacts from my eyes?

I never ride without glasses, even if clear/persimmon lenses. Keeps dust/ wind/ flies out the eyes....doubt wind would "blow" them out, but maybe something else in your eye would cause irritation, or cause you to rub them lots and disturb the seating of the lense.

kelsen

In my experience, depends on the type of lenses and how well they fit. The wind won't remove them from your eye, but they can get dislodged from dryness/blinking. The ones designed for re-use (silicone hydrogel I think) are better quality and less likely to move about. The disposable ones are more flimsy and might be more likely to get dislodged, though I think in a lot of cases the same monthly disposables type of lenses are prescribed for daily disposables. I'm referring to soft lenses as I've never used hard lenses.

Bottom line is that glasses are definitely recommended if you wear contacts.

spasypaddy

ok, so i'll need a night time lens then as we are moving towards winter.

also i must drink more, my cup of coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon is probably not enough hydration as it is...


Kelsen, i have to have specially made lenses that last 3-6months depending on the dirt levels on them. they cost a small fortune...

meanredspider

Yup +1 on the eye protection - it's a good idea anyway. I don't think I've ever had a lens "fall out" in 27 years. Dry eyes might be a problem though I find my eyes water if I don't wear shades (especially in the colder months)

Are you sure on that prescription??? My wife was -8 and couldn't see the end of her nose. You must be (legally, at least) blind :shock:

rolf_f

spasypaddy wrote:

My question is, is riding when wearing contacts without some kind of protection for my eyes a bad idea? Can the wind remove the contacts from my eyes?

Maybe and no. The thing to bear in mind is that contacts tend to dry your eyes out a bit. I think riding at speed won't help here and that may make them feel uncomfortable - and that may lead to you rubbing your eyes a bit which is where the danger comes that you lose a contact - when I do wear contacts on the bike, I always carry a spare pair.

I do sometimes wear contacts for riding - mainly on days when I think I'll need sunglasses or if it is likely to rain a lot. Mostly I just ride in my ordinary specs - partly because I tend to forget to think of the contacts before I set off!

You'll probably find if anything after a ride that the contacts are actually pretty difficult to dig out of your eyes.

But I don't wear the contacts that much anyway. I don't think they are that good for the eyes what with the drying out thing.

kelsen

I recommend these for emergency rehydration.

http://www.boots.com/en/Blink-Contact-E ... 35ml_7858/

Though best thing is to try and limit how long you wear them each day to give your eyes a rest.

spasypaddy

meanredspider wrote:

Yup +1 on the eye protection - it's a good idea anyway. I don't think I've ever had a lens "fall out" in 27 years. Dry eyes might be a problem though I find my eyes water if I don't wear shades (especially in the colder months)

Are you sure on that prescription??? My wife was -8 and couldn't see the end of her nose. You must be (legally, at least) blind :shock:

yes im 100% sure on that prescription. only had my eyes tested 10 days ago.

kelsen, how long should you wear them? why cant i just wear them from when i wake up to when i go to bed?

davis

Wow. I'm -8 and that's no fun. Where are you getting contact lenses from, and how much?

spasypaddy

davis wrote:

Wow. I'm -8 and that's no fun. Where are you getting contact lenses from, and how much?

my optician as i have to have them specially made. £130.

peat

Spasy, as i said, i can only wear mine for 8hrs comfortably and i wear them only 3 or 4 times a week or so.

However, my sister wears ones that she pops in at the beginning of the month and takes out at the end. It's up to you what is comfortable. Personally though, i would always give your eyes a daily 'rest' while awake so that the air can get to them and they can clean themselves. I don't trust the ones you sleep in.

peat

Peat wrote:

Spasy, as i said, i can only wear mine for 8hrs comfortably and i wear them only 3 or 4 times a week or so.

However, my sister wears ones that she pops in at the beginning of the month and takes out at the end. It's up to you what is comfortable. Personally though, i would always give your eyes a daily 'rest' while awake so that the air can get to them and they can clean themselves. I don't trust the ones you sleep in.

So, don't throw away your glasses, you will always need them.

spasypaddy

oh i dont plan on throwing away my glasses, will need them to go to the toilet in the night

kelsen

spasypaddy wrote:

kelsen, how long should you wear them? why cant i just wear them from when i wake up to when i go to bed?

(Again I'm referring to soft lenses. The ones you are getting might be more specialised and your optician is the best person to speak to for guidance)

In the past your eyes would get really dry from extended wear, but the material used for lenses nowadays allows much more oxygen to get to your eyes so shouldn't be a problem. Some lenses are even designed to stay in for a whole month. Personally I think allowing your eyes a period of rest from wearing lenses makes sense. I try to avoid wearing lenses for at least one day each week for this reason. Cleaning them every night in solution also removes a build up of protein so you have nice clean lenses to wear. Be meticulous about washing your hands before putting them on or taking them off to reduce the risk of eye infections.

ThatBikeGuy

The wind does dry the contacts out i find, however as others have said they do get more uncomfortable the longer you have them in so your eyes may well hurt at the end of a long day if you have them in for 12 hours+.
I fondly remember forgetting to take them out before bed one night and wondering why my eyes hurt like hell and i couldn't see a damn thing the next morning when i woke up, thats no fun either!

kelsen

And there will be an occasion when you've staggered home from a night out and attempt to pluck out your cornea before realising you've already removed the lenses. Don't worry when that happens, we've all been there

walkingbootweather

spasypaddy wrote:

oh i dont plan on throwing away my glasses, will need them to go to the toilet in the night

Hope they're pint glasses then

As others have said, glasses to protect your eyes are pretty much always a good idea. I have got some fancy ones but to be honest the bolle safety glasses which come with a variety of lenses and levels of sun protection / tinting take some beating.

spasypaddy

the bolle safety glasses maybe suitable but you're forgetting that i'm a snob and ive never owned a nice pair of sunglasses before.

money is no object in this situation

jeepie

I'm -3 in one eye and -0.5 in the other. Daily disposable. The -0.5 is tres flimsy.

I wore my contact lenses all day with no glasses to protect them on top including the cycle commute. Then I went on a 60 mile night ride including a descent about 40mph of Britwell hill with no glasses on top. My contact lens blew out. Only because I'm -0.5 I didn't realise because I couldn't see the difference.

I got home really late and was exhausted about midnight. I got the -3.0 lens out OK. I couldn't get the -0.5 lens out (as it wasn't there) but I was so tired and it's so flimsy I was convinced it was in there somewhere. Now the one thing I'd been told about contact lenses is never go to sleep in them.

So I tried washing my eyes, fingers. Finally when I still couldn't get the lens out I upped the artillery and used a screwdriver and fish tweezers. It still wouldn't come out (as it wasn't there but I didn't realise). I was so tired. My eyes were so red and injured. They really hurt by this stage. It was 2am... what to do? I gave up exhausted and went to bed.

The next day my eye hurt like crazy and was damaged. I went to eye casualty and got the most almighty dressing down from the consultant....

So in summary the wind can blow the contact lenses out of your eye so I now wear clear glasses on top. If in doubt and you can't get your contact lens out just go to bed. You'll feel better in the morning and be able to deal with it better!

I really like wearing contact lenses and can wear them from dawn to dusk. They take a little while to get used to so go steady to start with.

kelsen

Jeepie wrote:

screwdriver and fish tweezers

:shock: Ok, you win!

jeepie

@kelsen - yeah in retrospect that was a big mistake. Amazing what an idiot one can be when utterly shattered! I tried to explain this "honest mistake" to the consultant, but they were less than sympathetic.

cyclingprop

Jeepie wrote:

I got home really late and was exhausted about midnight. I got the -3.0 lens out OK. I couldn't get the -0.5 lens out (as it wasn't there) but I was so tired and it's so flimsy I was convinced it was in there somewhere. Now the one thing I'd been told about contact lenses is never go to sleep in them.

"WHats the matter Jeepie, have you been crying?" .... "No I screwdrivered my eye". LOL.

Yes, sleep isn't advisable in them - you'll probably end up with gooey eyes, or at least dry uncomfortable eyes with the lenses stuck. From experience, use contact-friendly eye drops to rehydrate if this happens, before removing the lens then wear glasses the next day.

rolf_f

kelsen wrote:

Some lenses are even designed to stay in for a whole month.

I tend to think of this as being a bit like 100,000 mile service intervals. Impressive but probably a bad idea!

cookeeemonster

Jeepie wrote:

screwdriver and fish tweezers

W.T.F.

cookeeemonster

I wear the monthly disposable ones and sleep in them happily. It's recommended you take them out a few times a week though to give your eyes a rest (or every night, if you can be bothered). Don't cause me any problems.

Never had wind blow out a contact lens in 28 years of use...must've been a hell of a gust!!!

and yeah, use cycle/sun glasses etc as you can get crap blow into your eyes - and with contact lenses in it does hurt!

spasypaddy

ok so im starting to wear them now, its awesome.

does anyone have contact lens insurance?

mtb-idle

spasypaddy wrote:

ok so im starting to wear them now, its awesome.

does anyone have contact lens insurance?

you are right it is.

No, but i use daily disposable (and only use them for sport/going out on the town, i dont wear them for work or cycle commuting as we all know that's just a method of transport )

kelsen

Watch out for old habits like using your index finger to push your glasses more firmly onto the bridge of your nose. You might end up jabbing yourself in the eye.

My monthly lenses cost about £10 per month so insurance not really necessary. In your case it might be worth it if you're paying over £100 each pair.

sketchley

Jeepie wrote:

.... Now the one thing I'd been told about contact lenses is never go to sleep in them.

I wear bausch and lomb purevision toric lens, they are contious wear, I sleep in them. Pop a pair in at the start of the month, forget about them, sleep in them and then take them out at the end of the month, have a day off in glasses, then start again. If they were not so utterly brillant I'd have my eyes lasered by now and would recommend them as something to try before getting the lasered. At -16 / -17 though I seriously consider laser treatment or implantable lenses as that is a lot, are you sure it's not -1.6 / -1.7.

Perscription is

Right:
Power: -3.50, Base Curve: 8.7, Diameter: 14.0, Cylinder: -1.75, Axis: 10
Left:
Power: -2.75, Base Curve: 8.7, Diameter: 14.0, Cylinder: -1.75 Axis: 180

With these lenes I do forget how blind I am as they are in all the time and it is only on days off once a month I realise how bad I am. Also that's not 100% my perscription it was just the closest the optician could get with the Cylinder corections available. Oddest thing is the difference in size perception and curvature between glasses and lenses, more curves and smaller with galsses on, make a 500ml coke bottle look like a litre one.

I buy them from here http://www.lenstore.co.uk for ~£75 for 6 months supply, optician wanted £180 for same...... There is a referal option on the website which get referer and referee a 5% discount so if you do want to use them let me know....

mattwood

Sketchley wrote:

Jeepie wrote:

.... Now the one thing I'd been told about contact lenses is never go to sleep in them.

I wear bausch and lomb purevision toric lens, they are contious wear, I sleep in them. Pop a pair in at the start of the month, forget about them, sleep in them and then take them out at the end of the month, have a day off in glasses, then start again. If they were not so utterly brillant I'd have my eyes lasered by now and would recommend them as something to try before getting the lasered. At -16 / -17 though I seriously consider laser treatment or implantable lenses as that is a lot, are you sure it's not -1.6 / -1.7.

Perscription is

Right:
Power: -3.50, Base Curve: 8.7, Diameter: 14.0, Cylinder: -1.75, Axis: 10
Left:
Power: -2.75, Base Curve: 8.7, Diameter: 14.0, Cylinder: -1.75 Axis: 180

With these lenes I do forget how blind I am as they are in all the time and it is only on days off once a month I realise how bad I am. Also that's not 100% my perscription it was just the closest the optician could get with the Cylinder corections available. Oddest thing is the difference in size perception and curvature between glasses and lenses, more curves and smaller with galsses on, make a 500ml coke bottle look like a litre one.

I buy them from here http://www.lenstore.co.uk for ~£75 for 6 months supply, optician wanted £180 for same...... There is a referal option on the website which get referer and referee a 5% discount so if you do want to use them let me know....

Since you gave mention to laser treatment, I would speculate at -16/-17 the cost may prove prohibitive?

I just had my own eyes done and would thoroughly recommend it though. Although i never really had a problem with contact lenses, I personally found the inconvenient for my lifestyle.

I always wore protective glasses of one sort as I used to find the wind would sometimes make it feel as though the lens was lifting off my eye whilst riding, like it might fall out. It never did and I'm not convinced it was really the wind causing it, but its never nice to lose a lens!

Now I've had laser surgery, I will wear glasses whenever I'm on the bike to keep dirt/misc crap out of my eyes!