Eyes getting windburn and irritated

[beccaB]

I have a problem with my eyes getting windburned and irritated when I ride longer distances, and even shorter ones in the winter. Yesterday we rode 17 miles. It was 27 degrees and a little windy. When I got back I looked like I had the hangover from h%!! . I use Simalison eye drops normally but that just really takes care of day to day hayfever issues. I also had winter hives for a while after last night's ride. Suggestions?

[ASammy1]

Sunglasses or goggles? They really do help with the wind...

[indigoiis]

Eye protector glasses - clear lens - from Home Depot. They are awesome! Some come with UV Protection, too.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/400/8b/8b214ff7-bac5-4967-bdc7-59fc00a1cfc3_400.jpg

[OakLeaf]

I don't know anything about it, but I found a couple of pretty scary references online. Search on "cold urticaria" and see whether that sounds like your symptoms... and if so, ask your doctor if that's an accurate diagnosis. Apparently it can lead to anaphylactic reaction. Sufferers are advised to just stay out of the cold :(

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You can't really ride you bike in the freezing cold with no eye covering at all-

Imagine a freezing wind of say 10mph that you are riding into....and then imagine you are riding 20mph into that wind....
that's a 30mph cold wind in your face! You need to wear something over your eyes.

[Biciclista]

how can you ride without eye protection? I'm not surprised you're having problems. Your eyes were not designed for sustained winds upwards of 15mph.

[smilingcat]

definitly wear a pair of sunglases with appropriate colored or uncolored lense.

And if it is cold, I would also suggest you carry in a zip-lock bag an anti-fog cloth. Its chemically treated and keeps the glasses from fogging up. They can be found in sporting good stores or a ski shop.

Riding in cold or even in warm weather without eye protection is not a good idea. Cold dry air on your eyes isn't a good idea nor is a bug flying into your eyes at 20+MPH.

For overcast weather: use amber tinted lense. They say it helps with the contrast.
If its getting dark then use a clear lense.

just my 2cents

[lph]

well - not to be difficult but some of us are weird and do just fine riding in the cold without goggles... :) But I wear contact lenses, they maybe provide some protection. Or maybe I have eyeballs like rhino skin, I dunno.

I can scarcely recommend contacts if you don't need them :p but some light cheap goggles should help.

[OakLeaf]

It was the hives that I thought were troublesome.

Definitely, eye protection is needed all year round, and it becomes extra noticeable in winter for everyone.

[arielmoon]

Eye protector glasses - clear lens - from Home Depot. They are awesome! Some come with UV Protection, too.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/400/8b/8b214ff7-bac5-4967-bdc7-59fc00a1cfc3_400.jpg
I do the same. $5 at Walmart and almost fashionable with burgandy trim!

[Crankin]

Yes, I thought the hives were a troublesome sounding symptom, although I can get them from nothing at times.
If you have allergies, I would get this checked out.

[beccaB]

I was wearing my regular glasses which I need in order to see, and when it's light enough I wear my sunglasses which are somewhat bigger. I'm not sure if I could wear safety glasses or goggles over my glasses lenses, and not have my vision compromised. I will probably talk to the eye doc about a solution.
I am familiar with exercise induced anaphalactic shock. I almost always ride with someone and carry a cell phone. I have always gotten "hivey" from doing intense outdoor exercise in the winter.

[beccaB]

how can you ride without eye protection? I'm not surprised you're having problems. Your eyes were not designed for sustained winds upwards of 15mph.


That's another thing too-the guy at the bike shop said "ride slower" Imagine me being fast enough to have someone suggest to ride slower!:D

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Becca- you might want to read this thread too:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=23158&highlight=goggles

and do a TE search for "goggles" or "tears", etc.

[malkin]

*waving hand in air*
Another "cool weather + exertion = hives" case here!

[tzvia]

I was wearing my regular glasses which I need in order to see, and when it's light enough I wear my sunglasses which are somewhat bigger. I'm not sure if I could wear safety glasses or goggles over my glasses lenses, and not have my vision compromised. I will probably talk to the eye doc about a solution.
I am familiar with exercise induced anaphalactic shock. I almost always ride with someone and carry a cell phone. I have always gotten "hivey" from doing intense outdoor exercise in the winter.

I'm no expert on hives so will stick to the glasses part of this. I would never wear metal rims/hinges while cycling. I don't want the metal driven into my face (near my eyes!) in a crash. That's why cycling glasses have plastic hinges. If you must wear prescriptions, get prescription sports glasses or contacts with goggles. The goggles will protect your eyes from the cold dry air (there is less moisture in cold air.) And the plastic is not as harsh on your face in a crash. Yes I know there is a cost in $$ for those things, but weigh that against what you see in the mirror, and what you are using to see in the mirror. Just my .02.

[OakLeaf]

And carry an Epi-Pen, and know how to use it, and tell your riding buddies about it, if you don't already.

I had a reaction to a bee sting 33 years ago and I've carried an anaphylaxis kit ever since. Never had to use it. But I make sure that the kit isn't expired, I keep one in my seat pack on my bike and one in my purse that goes with me everywhere else. It's just a stupid thing to die of, for want of a $50 prescription (that your insurance may reimburse).

A phone and the "buddy system" are definitely important, but if you go into anaphylactic shock, you only have about 5 minutes to get epinephrine.

[beccaB]

I think my eye doc sells something similar to those fit-over sunglasses and I might see (pun intended) if I can find a clear pair.
I will also talk to the doc about the epi-pen thing. I get really snotty on a ride sometimes, and that might have a connection to the hives. I used to have this problem when I was running, and I did that for years.

I actually had the eye doc make me a pair of prescription Oakleys, but it didn't work with my prescription. Those "fit-overs" are supposed to work with all eyeglasses. I don't care what I look like as long as I can ride, and see!