Contacts and riding

[Cyclesome]

I new to this forum and am enjoying reading all of the good advice. I am starting to ride my bike longer distances 38 miles last Sunday and 24 this past Sunday in order to get ready for a Metric Century in June. I wear cheap sunglasses to protect my eyes, or so I thought. Upon completing my trek and returning home via the car, I notice my vision is cloudy, foggy. When I arrive home and clean my contacts and reinsert, I am fine. Obviously, I need better protection for my eyes, any suggestions?
Thanks,

[maillotpois]

I wear good sunglasses, but I don't necessarily think it's a good versus cheap sunglasses thing - it may be your contacts.

I don't usually have a problem unless it is a ride longer than 100 miles, in which case they seem dry and a bit cloudy after so I take them out instead of sleeping in them. I wear Focus Day & Night (30 day, sleep in lenses). I usually wear them for at least 5 weeks because I forget to change them til they feel uncomfortable. Don't tell my optician any of this.

Maybe bring some re-wetting drops along on your rides?

[SadieKate]

I wead Focus Day & Night (30 day, sleep in lenses). I usually wear them for at least 5 weeks because I forget to change them til they feel uncomfortable. Don't tell my optician any of this.

Maybe bring some re-wetting drops along on your rides?

Ditto except I do try to change at 4 weeks. I carry drops and use once in a blue moon on a ride when there are heavy dusty winds (I live in a agricultural area). Only time I have a problem is about 1 week a year when some specific nasty pollen wafts about (I wish I could identify it) and then cycling has nothing to do with my misery.

I think the coverage is the important part, not the expense, though shatterproof is a good thing. You want to be sure that your eyes are protected from wind over the top of the glasses and from the sides. Of course, good optics mean less eye strain but it's not like you're trying to read fine print while riding.

[tulip]

Make sure your cheap sunglasses protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays. If not, the darkness will make your pupils expand, and the UVA/UVB rays will have more opportunity to damage your eyes.

You only have one set of eyes. I've lost one eye. Take care of them. Don't wear cheap sunglasses.

[mtkitchn]

My contacts get dry and foggy after a long ride. I always keep drops with me and put them in every time I stop. I guess if you don't stop, it gets tricky! I got wraparound sunglasses to try to keep as much wind out of my eyes as possible.