my contact fell out!!!

[jobob]

do any of you gals ride with contacts? do they make special ones designed for athletes? I'm using focus monthly's right now as i need flatter lens than the average person.

I wear the daily-wear soft contacts - use them one day and throw them out at the end of the day. I always carry a pair with me when I'm riding, plus one or 2 ampules of plain saline.
I'm -6.5 in one eye and -7.0 in the other so I don't dare go without a backup pair

[Veronica]

Last time I did DMD it was so cold on the descent of Diablo I swear my contacts froze and I lost one.

I carry spares now. I also use the daily wear ones.

V.

[Running Mommy]

well I don't wear contacts but... I recognized your route of "south mtn" and "baseline" as being in the Phoenix area. My only guess is the desert dryness got to them. Prolly a combo of wind and dry cool air. Just a guess though.
Glad you made it home ok though. In this area the last thing you need when riding is poor vision! People are NUTS around here!

[ladyjai]

especially since they fell out at 4pm!!! bleh...

OK, issue has been solved. It is cheaper for me to buy more than the year supply and carry the extra pair. unless I start losing them on a weekly basis thanks!

did you know they sell little contact lens cases with mirrors in them?!

[Lise]

This is part of why I got Lasik last April. I was a -12 in both eyes, truly blind without glasses or contacts. I had contact troubles while riding and swimming--one time a little wave in Lake Michigan knocked my goggles off and I lost a contact--riding my bike home with one eye shut really sealed the deal on that Lasik appointment. Aside from some dryness, which is less and less with time, I am very happy with the Lasik. Never thought I'd do it, but, then again, never thought I'd become an athlete either! Good luck. I'm sure you'll find strategies that work. L.

[alpinerabbit]

you could have licked it and put it back in? as an emergency measure - can't promise it works every time (it definitely does not work with my one-shot contact lenses, they are too thin and flimsy and somehow very finnicky. In fact I've had to toss one and take another on numerous occasions.)

with practice you will not need a mirror anymore to insert them.

Lise: Lasik with -12? please do tell. I have -8 and -11 but I'm scared to do it.

[nuthatch]

I think it's definitely the dryness of the air that makes them blink out. The disposables are mostly water. Drops are good (but a pain to stop and put in). I live in a more humid location but I usually take that "grabby eye" feeling as a signal to drink more water. It seems to help me produce more tears almost immediately. Probably psychosomatic!

[VenusdeVelo]

Anytime I've had my contacts pop it was becuz of dry eyes -- I was having problems (have worn them for about 25 yrs!) with contacts though in the last few years drying out at the end of the day. I switched to the new Acuvue contacts that have extra moisture (can't remember the name, Oasys was one brand but not the ones I bought) *plus* I use the new saline with "moistureloc". They helped, they even helped when flying as I do overseas trips and just don't like putting on glasses for long periods.

My eyes are a bit worse than yours (-5 and -6) so they do have contacts for your strength. And yes, bringing an xtra pr along is a good idea (but I usu don't!!) -- I have the drops I use at stops.

And I also have the more wrap style sunglasses designed for a woman's face, they keep the elements out a little better I think than the larger men's sizing.

Some things to consider...I wish I wasn't too squamish to go and look into Lasik....

[Lise]

Lise: Lasik with -12? please do tell. I have -8 and -11 but I'm scared to do it.

Yep, I was scared, too. I've worn glasses since I was 7 years old, and it got progressively worse until my late 30s. Swimming with contacts/goggles was a real pain in the butt, and sometimes kept me out of the pool if I didn't have perfectly sealed goggles. Having surprised myself and everyone that knows me by becoming a triathlete, I needed to swim sometimes!

I also started dating again after a yuk breakup and 5 years solo. I am -was- so blind that I literally couldn't see the features of the person I was dating without glasses or contacts. So, swimming and ...fooling around... that's what pushed me over the edge to look into it.

Also the fact that a 70+ year old woman I know had it done. Hmmmm....

The hospital where I work has one of the two new laser devices in the city of Chicago. The doc I saw told me that this newer technique "Alace", I think it's called, or "Alase", is better for the really, really nearsighted.

The procedure itself was scary and uncomfortable, but I could see nearly perfectly by the next day. For about a week I was astonished by the miracle of seeing perfectly every time I opened my eyes, and then the shock wore off. It's as if I'd never worn glasses. One of the best things I've ever done. Scary (and expensive) as it was, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Lise

[kiwi girl]

This isn't a solution to the dryness problem - but in terms of the losing a contact and having trouble getting home - I keep a spare set of my disposables in my seat bag with my bike repair stuff