Contacts or Glasses?

[indysteel]

Even with contacts, having sunglasses that allow you to see when you move from sun to shade remains an issue. My best bike purchase this summer was a pair of Tifosi sunglasses that not only are photosensitive, but go almost clear in low light situations.

For the record, I'm blind as a bat and wear gas permeable sunglasses. I've never tried riding with my glasses on and I imagine I'd have peripheral vision issues. I just see much better with my contacts. I lost one on a ride last year, but I've otherwise had few issues with them. I absolutely must have sunglasses on when I ride though. Dirt, debris and the like are a no no with the gas perms.

To be honest, I don't know if taking your sunglasses off when you come into a shady area is the easiest solution. At least in my neck of the woods, shade is synonymous with bad drainage and potholes. Both hands have to be on the handlebars.....

[SadieKate]

. . .and wear gas permeable sunglasses.

Um, what? I should hope!


I'm very nearsighted and petrified to ride while wearing my glasses. No peripheral vision at all and I have to swivel my head constantly when riding on the road to see what's going on around me.

Mtbiking, my depth perception is way too screwed up because I'm processing stuff in my entire field of vision trying to pick lines. With the coke bottle effect, I can only process a very narrow range.

[melissam]

Hi bikergirlsj,

I used to wear contacts and sunglasses while riding, but a few years ago I switched to a pair of prescription lenses in Oakley frames. My lenses are Transitions -- they get darker or lighter depending on the light conditions. I got the setup at my optometrists, and it was covered under VSP as my frame & lenses purchase for the year.

I've given up a little peripheral vision, but it's not that bad, since my correction is in the 1.5 - 1.75 range. I like the no muss, no fuss solution, and that I don't have to worry about my contacts drying out.

- Melissa

[kelownagirl]

I find my contacts really dry out when I'm on longer, steeper downhills (doing 50 kmh or faster). They feel like they're going to pop right out and I end up slowing down a lot. Anyone else have this problem? I wear good sunglasses.

[SadieKate]

I find my contacts really dry out when I'm on longer, steeper downhills (doing 50 kmh or faster). They feel like they're going to pop right out and I end up slowing down a lot. Anyone else have this problem? I wear good sunglasses.

I've had that happen when I'm tense and not blinking enough.

My eyes tear sometimes but I can't find the perfect glasses. My eyes are prominent so the frames end up having to sit away from my face enough clear my lashes but leave a gap at my eyebrows.

[tulip]

Glasses are very important to protect your eyes from flying debris.

I wear prescription glasses--Tifosi wraparound cycling glasses (I think the model name is Alpine or Alpe). They work great.

I am blind in my left eye, so there's no peripheral vision there anyways. I use a rearview mirror on my left handlebar (by Ortleib, $20). It's very helpful. I never wear headphones because I depend on my hearing. If I do have to look behind me, I have to swivel to the right.

In my opinion, protecting your vision is really, really important, and sometimes we take it for granted. With only one eye, I don't have a backup, so I'm just extra careful.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I wear eyeglasses- graduated lenses to help me with both distance and reading vision. When biking, I wear Eagle Eyes polarized sunglass called "fit-ons' that go right over my regular glasses:
http://www.eagleeyes.com/products/staclips/fitons.lasso
They are very comfy, don't look weird, and are goggle-like- protecting me from wind, bugs, pebbles, sun, glare, and even freezing temps.
I really like them.

[SouthernBelle]

I've recently gone back to wearing contacts after many years away. My right eye is my distance eye, my left is for reading.

The advantage for me is that I can now read the little numbers on the computer, or Google Maps on my cell.

BTW, I was riding blind before. Well not that bad.

[OakLeaf]

Glasses are very important to protect your eyes from flying debris.

+1

I make sure I wear clear lenses when I commute at night, even though the speed is very low.

[Crankin]

I am very nearsighted and have worn soft contacts for about 30 years. I have cycling sunglasses with 4 shades of lenses. Actually I have 2 pairs; one I keep in my purse for "regular" wear with the darkest lenses. Sometimes I wear them cycling. The other pair, I keep in my bike "cubby" and those have the lighter brown lenses in. I find those fine for most days. I have put the yellow lenses in a couple of times for cloudy/rainy days and if there's any chance of changing conditions, I bring those with me.
I am also pretty farsighted now and wear my reading glasses over my contacts about 50% of the time. I can still see my bike computer, though without them. I stick them in my bike bag, more in case I have to change a flat.
I could never ride with my regular glasses on. They are transition lenses, like Lisa's, but I only wear them when I get into bed. The few times I have had to drive with them freaked me out because I was constantly looking down and I couldn't see through the near vision part! I have never had an issue with contacts during a ride.