Contact lenses

[cyclingnewbie]

Do any of you ride with your contacts in? How do you keep them from getting dry and getting grit in your eyes? I have tried a couple of different sunglasses, but they don't keep the wind out so my lenses dry out. I don't want to buy a $200 pair of glasses from the LBS or the catalogs. Are the expensive ones worth it for this purpose? Are there any cheaper alternatives? Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Thanks.

[Veronica]

I wear daily disposable type contacts and I've only had problems once on a really long, cold descent. My contact just flew out of my eye. I could see it sitting in my sunglasses, but by the time I could stop it had blown away completely.

I haven't had any problems mountain biking with my contacts.

V.

[SadieKate]

Only way I can ride since I am nearly blind. Glasses make me have tunnel vision because of the coke bottle lenses. Its actually quite petrifying to ride in glasses.

It isn't the price of the glasses, it is how the glasses fit and the coverage they provide. I have several friends who also ride in contacts. Our glasses must come up high enough on the eyebrow to keep a lot of wind from coming over the tops of the frames. Then, they must wrap side to side enough to protect from side winds. I also like having a visor for the little bit more wind protection it provides on my eyes.

I also carry a bottle of rewetting drops for those rare times when I do get something in my eye. I think I've stopped to use it maybe 2x in 20 years and I wear extended wear lenses, Ciba Vision Night & Day. I go on multiple day mtbike/camping trips in the dusty southwest with no problems.

[slinkedog]

I wear contacts (daily disposables, like V.), but I have to wear sunglasses or else my eyes dry out so badly that I can't function. I have Oakley Half Jackets that do the trick. They wrap around on the sides a little, but the lenses aren't as big as some I've seen. There are others I would have liked to have gotten more, but there was a LBS going out of business, so I got them for 50% off. I think regularly they were around $100 - $125. I don't exactly remember.

[DeniseGoldberg]

In my contact lens days, I always wore my lenses plus good sunglasses - for me, the Smith Slider 01 sunglasses did the trick. Since I had a tendency to need eyedrops occasionally, I usually threw a small bottle of eyedrops in my pocket too.

I had Lasik almost 5 years ago now, so I no longer need the contacts. But I still always wear sunglasses (clear lenses if it's dark out), and I still carry eyedrops with me.

[fixedgeargirl]

I wear extended wear diposables and my sunglasses are Rudy Project Skeeys. I actually bought the glasses before I got contacts b/c they had a great Rx adaptor. The Skeeys do an awesome job of keeping wind and grit out. They wrap really well and have adjustable nose pieces. I also like them b/c of the interchangeable lenses and the rimless design. They aren't cheap ($100+), but Rudy has a great lens replacement policy and I know these will last me quite a while. The Skeeys are a little large for a small face, but Rudy has come out with some other smaller profile glasses since I got mine. Other Rudy users I know like the way they keep wind out. I also carry a sample size of eye lube when I ride, in my town they have 'em at Target.

[skibum]

I wear disposable contacts and find that I also need sunglasses to protect my eyes from wind and road grit. After losing my expensive Oakleys on a ride, I decided to try one of the cheaper brands before spending a ton of money to replace the Oakleys. I found that the Performance brand sunglasses work pretty well for me. I have two pairs -- the Cygnus which is a little large on my face but provides pretty full coverage and the Athena which fits smaller faces a little better. If you are looker for a cheaper alternative to the name brands, you might want to check these out.

[nuthatch]

Same disposable contact situation here - but I'm totally cheap about the sunglasses. I use "fishing" sunglasses from WalMart - polarized, wrap-around and about $10. I think it works for me because disposables are so high in water content, they don't dry out as quickly as gas perms or traditional soft lenses. Still, the wrap-around glasses are a must and, because I'm using cheapie-deapie glasses, I can't see when it gets to be dusk. I don't have that clear lens option.

[cyclingnewbie]

Thanks for all the info! It sounds like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and spend the money on a good pair of sunglasses. Up to this point, I have been riding with prescription sunglasses, but I have no peripheral vision. It's not too much of a problem on a bike path, but in traffic it's a nightmare. Thanks again.

[susan.wells]

I wear the semi-rigid gas-permeable contacts. I wear sunglasses (even clear) while cycling to keep debris to a minimum. I also carry rewetting drops. Last year I did the Trek100 without the drops. I looked like I had pink-eye at the end. I make sure I always have drops after that!

[caligurl]

i wear extended wear contacts. i wear oakly half jackets. much bigger glasses then i would ordinarilly wear since i'm small and my head/face is small... but they seem to work.. even in the horrible wind of the desert/santa ana's.. i do ok.

now hubby has had issues with his popping out of his eye????? not sure how that happens? :confused: :confused: :confused: it's never happened to me!

my eyes water/tear in the cold (along with my nose) but don't think that a contact thing.. think it's an eye thing!

[caligurl]

Are the expensive ones worth it for this purpose?

p.s. yes.. the optics on the oakleys are OUTSTANDING and waaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than any of the cheapies that i used to wear for every day!

[MightyMitre]

CibaVision Daily disposables worn here. I'm totally blind otherwise and hate wearing my glasses for riding as I really miss the all-round vision.

I've got some RudyProject wrap round glasses which are good, but do tend to slip a little.My previous pair were Oakleys and I loved them but they finanlly wore out.

HATE wearing glasses with clear lenses - reminds me too much of wearing normal glasses. Even in the pouring rain I prefer to go with no glasses as I also hate it when the lenses get all covered in rain and smears. Despite this I can confirm I've never lost a lense or had any problems.

However, the only occasion I do wear clear lenses is just after it's finished raining and is starting to dry off when a lot of mud and grit gets thrown up off peoples wheels and tends to be very sticky .

[caligurl]

i wear a pair of perfomance glasses with clear lenses when it's getting to be dusk... over my contacts!

[Surlygirl]

I wear CSI lenses that are just daily wear. I splurged and bought a pair of Zeal Optics Zink sunglasses. They fit smaller faces and they wrap a little so they keep out the wind pretty well. They come with interchangeable lenses and also polarized. Only problem I have now that I'm over 40 is that I can't read my bike computer. I think someone else posted you can buy these stick on magnifiers for the bottom of your sunglasses :cool:

[Biking Chick]

<snip> I HATE wearing glasses with clear lenses - reminds me too much of wearing normal glasses. Even in the pouring rain I prefer to go with no glasses as I also hate it when the lenses get all covered in rain and smears. <snip>

I also wear extended wear contacts - torque lenses as well as bifocal 'script on my lenses. I carry a bottle of rewetting solution that I will use at rest stops - even if I don't think I need to use the drops I've found that it certainly does raise my comfort level.

I always wear sunglasses and am particularily fond of the amber lenses in most light conditions. For those early morning rides when it is dark, clear lenses are a must. In rain conditions I've found that using Rain-X helps to keep the rain from spotting on the lenses.

You can find Rain-X in just about any automotive department at your favorite Target or local automotive store. (Used on windshields to keep water moving off the windshield).

Cindy

[MightyMitre]

In rain conditions I've found that using Rain-X helps to keep the rain from spotting on the lenses.

You can find Rain-X in just about any automotive department at your favorite Target or local automotive store. (Used on windshields to keep water moving off the windshield).

Nice one Biking Chick - that's a top tip. :) Would never have thought of that :cool: S'pose I ought to wear eye protection in the rain really- just in case.

[SadieKate]

S'pose I ought to wear eye protection in the rain really- just in case.

Haven't I seen you post that you mountain bike? Are your trails used by 4-legged beasties? After you've had a big glop hit you in the face, you'll wear them all the time. :D

Tires (uh, tyres) from cars and bikes on pavement throw up debris at high velocity. Even if I didn't wear contacts, I'd wear glasses - clear or otherwise. It's a safety thing. I've paid for too many new windshields to take the risk with my eyes.

[MightyMitre]

Haven't I seen you post that you mountain bike? Are your trails used by 4-legged beasties? After you've had a big glop hit you in the face, you'll wear them all the time. :D

LOL - very true! There's some pretty big cow pats on some of the trails! :p

I mostly ride road so perhaps I should take a look at my clear glasses. I don't think they fit me as well as my sunglasses ( I've got 2 different pairs because I'm useless at changing the lenses over - scared I'll snap them in the wrong place!) I've got quite a small face and I find the rims on my clear ones are distracting and sometimes get in the way when I'm looking over my shoulder.

I agree - can't put a price on eyesight. Better get shopping for some better clear glasses. :)

[Crankin]

I have never had a problem with my contacts while riding. I always wear sunglasses; i never go outside without them and can't imagine riding without them. I have ones with the tri colored lenses; my face is really small, so i had to try hard to find ones that don't look too awful. My regular sunglasses are kid sized, but they don't work for riding. I also need reading glasses, but, so far, the speed on my bike computer has pretty big numbers. I keep my reading glasses in my bike bag, in case I stop and need to read something. It always pays to buy the right products. In this case, I think for safety's sake.

[KTeach]

I need reading glasses so for biking I started to wear a contact lens (mono vision... so I can read a cue sheet & see distance) - I like it so much I wear the one lens every day... When riding I like my Coyote sunglasses with interchangeable lenses for different riding conditions. They are better than the expensive Addidas glasses I had as the nose piece cant fall apart! AND THEY WERE ON SALE AT NASHBAR FOR ABOUT $20 BUCKS...IF YA' LOSE 'EM IT'S NO BIGGIE!!!!!!!! :cool:

[psychavoc]

(oooh.. my first proper post if you don't count my little contribution in the NZ riding thread)..

I wear monthly disposable contacts all the time, and for riding I wear my Smith Sequels, which are a smaller version of the Sliders. I even have to wear them playing other outdoor sports aswell, e.g., tennis, so I've got 4 different coloured lenses (dark, yellow, orange, clear) for all different conditions. :cool:

What does that RainX stuff mentioned before do? I'll have to see whether we've got an equivalent brand/type in New Zealand for me to try. :)

[Jasper]

My first post as well... I've been lurking for a few days and still contemplating my newbie introduction post. :rolleyes:

I recently went through Lasik surgery to correct my near-sighted vision. It was amazing... within minutes of my surgery I was 20/20 and my vision continues to get better. So if you have the $$ and the inclination… go for it! I went to Canada and was very happy with the doctor, staff and especially the result.

Now that I don’t need my contacts, I am still interested in what type eyewear would be recommended for riding. Any suggestions??

[Kitsune06]

Just reviving an old thread because I didn't want to make a new one on an old topic...

I'm strongly considering contacts because where I work, I have to wear safety glasses to patrol the grounds, and I hate having to put them on over my Rx glasses... and when I ride, I hate having the tunnel vision I have (don't remember my Rx, but it's pretty strong, with a decent astigmatism)

Reasons and excuses aside, I've noticed quite a few ladies here use Ciba Night&Days... but I don't know if they make a Toric flavor... I was thinking of Purevision Toric, as I would get real sick, real fast, of daily cleaning, etc...

Thanks!
-Kistu

[Rai Sue]

Hey y'all,

When not wearing my sunglasses, i wear a pair of safety glasses to protect my eyes.

I couldn't see spending the cash on clear glasses just for biking (i wear prescription glasses for distance, but can still get away w/o them), and my boyfriend had let me borrow a pair for a different project. I love them--much more protection than my sunglasses, but they're pretty cheap and light. ANd they're designed to save your eyes from dangerous high-speed objects. And even nice ones are only in the $10 range. And you can get clear or sunglasses ones.

Just so you don't think i'm going about wearing the things you used in high-school chem lab, here's a link:

http://www.northernsafety.com/cart/cart.cfm?ACTION=03&SKW=GP100UVEX01


but you could probably go see what they've got at your local working-person's supply store.

I've actually gotten complimented on my "cool biking glasses" by other bikers!

My other favorite item i've borrowed from the carpenters for bicycling are hard-hat lining caps. They are great in the winter and rain, cover your ears, water resistant, and are made to go under helmets. And they're also only $5!

[im4smiley]

I wear contacts that correct my astigmatism. They are Proclear toric, you can wear them all day but can't sleep in them. They are good for a month then you put in new ones. The doctor had me try the purevision and they were very comfortable but I stayed with Proclear because I've been using them for the past couple of years and with my doctor if you try a different brand and decide to go with them he charges you a fitting fee. :confused:

[emily_in_nc]

I use Focus Dailies Toric. They are daily disposables so I don't have to buy any cleaners any more; just toss them at the end of the day. They aren't cheap, but they're great. I used to wear the type you could wear for a few weeks, but my eyes build up protein deposits on lenses very quickly no matter how much I cleaned, and then my eyes would get red and irritated, so the daily disposables have been a godsend.

To keep costs more reasonable, I wear my glasses on weekends if I'm not riding and occasionally during the week, like on rainy days where I won't need to wear sunglasses.

Emily

[gringa loca]

Have you considered getting monovision? I did in January, and I LOVE it!

[Kitsune06]

Not sure Monovision would be for me... being the age I am, I haven't got any issues with my close-up or fine-print vision, it's all my near-sightedness and astigmatism. I wonder, though, if I only have astigmatism in one eye, given that my gf doesn't have an astigmatism, we have nearly the same prescription, and when I accidentally put her glasses on in the morning, only one eye is blurry/weird. Hm.

That and it'd freak me out to have only one eye corrected to distance vision... I think I'd get headaches... how does it work for you?

[kerrybelle]

I'm definitely the odd one here as I wear gas permeable contacts. I am extremely nearsighted, also with an astigmatism. I remember using soft lenses when I was a teenager, but the hard ones work well for me. One of the advantages is that they last a really long time (years) and they allow a lot of oxygen into your eyes. A big drawback is that it hurts like #$@) if something gets in your eye.

Kerry