glasses or contacts?

[SnappyPix]

Another advocate for Lasik here ...
Had the procedure around 3 years ago as my prescription was around -8.

It was the best decision I ever made and changed the quality of my life 100%. My eyesight was so bad that when I was younger, myself and a group of friends used to go swimming in our lunchbreaks. We got to know the lifeguards fairly well - on nodding terms at least. One day I was swimming up the pool and smiled a big beamy smile to the lifeguard standing on the side. It was only when I was inches away, that I realised I'd been grinning at the spinal board!

In terms of cycling, it's been fantastic. No more pieces of grit rendering you blind, with the added sensation of red hot pins in your eyes (and why is it that once you get grit in one eye, you can be sure a piece will lodge itself in the other, 20 yards down the road?!).

As far as the Lasik goes - the most painful part of the procedure is the soul searching and nervousness before the operation. It's over in about 20 minutes. I didn't feel a thing - with the exception of them fitting the equipment.
Like Denise, I panicked big-style after the op because my vision was blurry and I thought it hadn't worked - and my eyesight was worse than before.
But the body is an amazing piece of equipment - and I never realised this moreso than after the procedure.
Immediately after Lasik my eyes were streaming, red, blurry and incredibly light sensitive. Two hours later, after having napped and rested the eyes, my vision was perfect - 20/20, the eyes had stopped streaming, and I could see perfectly.

I cried for about 2 days solid, from sheer joy. And 3 years later, I still wake up sometimes and marvel at the fact I can see!

Ultimately though, it's always a leap of faith - the consent form is enough to make you change your mind right there, but it wasn't a decision I took lightly - I'd been deliberating for the last 10 years.
My optician tried to talk me out of it, saying the technology wasn't advanced enough to produce lasting results and I should wait another 10 years, but it seemed to me that he had a conflict of interest and that another 10 years would be more detrimental in terms of quality of life lost, than benefits gained.

I took a calculated risk that even if it improved my prescription by 50% or less, it was worth it to me because my vision was so bad. I also had a one-shot chance as my corneas are too thin to have a repeat procedure.

In short (after rambling so long!), having Lasik was the best decision I ever made - but everyone should make their own informed choice/decision as to whether it's right for them and they're willing to take the chance that all may not work out.

I hated wearing lenses on the bike because ultimately I'd get that piece of grit which would send me reeling into the side of the road, unable to open my eyes. Glasses never worked for me because I couldn't get peripheral vision from them and therefore had a massive blindspot.

[Dianyla]

This is a very timely topic, I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

I'm really resistant to the idea of getting contact lenses. The reason why is that I am mildly nearsighted and my vision up close for reading/computer work is just fine. I always my glasses off for near work, otherwise I get eyestrain and a headache. So, I'm constantly putting them on and taking them off, and I wouldn't want to do this for contacts. For just going on a long ride it might be worth it, but the thought of commuting to work with contacts in and then sitting in front of my computer all day just makes me want to cry.

Right now I switch back and forth between prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses when riding. The sunglasses are ok, but my glasses are more fashionable and don't provide much in the way of wind protection. I find myself almost blinded on windy days or going down long downhills - not very safe!

For other sports (dirtbiking and skiing) I had to look forever to find goggles that fit over glasses, which really limits what I can use, and there is still the limited field of vision. I don't want to purchase prescription everything for each different sport-specific eyewear, so I started googling around and found these prescription insert adapters by SportRX. Has anyone tried these?

Any suggestions?


ETA: My vision is already quite good that Lasik would probably not give me much benefit.

[Robbin_G]

ETA: My vision is already quite good that Lasik would probably not give me much benefit.

Actually, I would have a consultation. Those places that say $299 per eye or for VERY light RX's

[LauraPaura]

Originally posted by SnappyPix:

It was the best decision I ever made and changed the quality of my life 100%. My eyesight was so bad that when I was younger, myself and a group of friends used to go swimming in our lunchbreaks. We got to know the lifeguards fairly well - on nodding terms at least. One day I was swimming up the pool and smiled a big beamy smile to the lifeguard standing on the side. It was only when I was inches away, that I realised I'd been grinning at the spinal board!

SnappyPix I can totally relate to your story! When I was younger we went swmming with my class. We must've been there for a while when I finally realised I had ben talking to complete strangers the whole time. Horrible experience for a little girl that I was..

Thank you all for your experiences with the Lasik thing. I'm still a little sceptical about it and might just wait five more years (also to hustle up the 1000 euros per eye it's going to cost me ).

Oh by the way Adventure Girl, I'm sorry but I'm so happy that I finally found someone who has worse eyesight than me. I'm only -10 on the right one and -9,5 on the left one

Laura P

[Jones]

I go back and forth between glasses and contacts but when I wear contacts I see better, things look crisp, than when I am wearing glasses. I also have several pair of sunglasses including a pair with clear lenses for riding at night.
I am not sure what you consider a reasonable price for sunglasses but www.rei-outlet.com has several brands with and with out interchangeable lens for $60.00 or less. Jones

[roughingit]

Ewwww....contacts?! You mean...sticking ym fingers into my eye! Eep!

Glasses here. Even if I wasn't just plain chicken, contacts would be prohibitively expensive for me since I wear progressives and have bad astigmatism.

I never thought to tie the tearing up thing with my glasses though... I was thinking about wearing my lab goggles just to keep the wind out of my eyes somewhat (Okay, so I'd look like Bill Nye the Science Guy, but man is it ever windy here), but now I'm wondering if the vents would just make it worse...

For the OP, for your next pair of glasses, you might think about getting a set of titanium frames from 39dollareyeglasses.com. I absolutely love mine, they are so light and strong. They have much cheaper frames, but with a toddler ti sounds like it might be the way to go! (Too bad I can't have a matching bike )

[bcipam]

Worn contacts since the days of old hard lenses (since 1968). The new contacts are a true marvel. So light and easy to load into the eye. I forget I have them on. They are easy to get used to, easy to care for and definitely make a difference with my vision. I still wear protective eyegear when riding, generally sunglasses, but I would wear something no matter what. A plus, something like an Oakley frame made for sports will wrap around the face to provide complete protection and afford the ability to trade out lenses for certain weather condition. Regular eye glasses won't do that or neither would prescription sunglasses. I've never lost a lens out of my eye. I do carry a small vial of wetting drops just in case I need to remove the lens for cleaning and reinserting. No question contacts for me.

And you do get use to touching your eye. I can literally hold my finger against my cornea without a problem. You just get use to it.

[Nanci]

All I know is, not only couldn't I read the big E, I couldn't even see the eye chart on the wall...

Thank God for Lasik. You never know what you've been missing until you can take a shower with your eyes open.

Nanci

[allabouteva]

I'm too wimpy for Lasik. Also, I wear glasses because I'm so vain, and I think I look better in them.... Also, I think deep down, I wear glasses because I can hide behind them.

I haven't had a pair of contacts since my mid 20s, but I'm considering getting them again just for cycling. Again because I'm so vain I bought a pair of Rudy projects with the prescription inserts, and they look so mega DAGGY (Aussie slang for nerdy), I only wore them the one time...

Does anyone wear contact lenses only for cycling? Are they more comfortable now? I remember them being a bit scratchy if my eyes were a bit dry....

[annie]

Does anyone wear contact lenses only for cycling? Are they more comfortable now? I remember them being a bit scratchy if my eyes were a bit dry....

Contact lenses are so very comfortable now! When I started with them, eons ago, I had the hard pieces of plastic, not breathable, and not particularly comfortable. I now have soft lenses, high percentage of water content, that I change every couple of weeks. I often wear them 16-18 hours a day and have no problem. I do carry eye drops with me when I ride, but rarely need them. I wear sunglasses that protect against wind and debris. I think about Lasik occasionally......... maybe someday - when I get my braces paid off!! Can only have one vanity debt at a time.

annie

[Lise]

Can only have one vanity debt at a time.
annie

Ha! Tell me about it! L.

[allabouteva]

Ok, I'm convinced! I'm off to the optometrist to check out the contact lenses options..

I don't see me wearing them a lot tho'. Just for cycling with sunnies on

[bcipam]

This is a very timely topic, I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

I'm really resistant to the idea of getting contact lenses. The reason why is that I am mildly nearsighted and my vision up close for reading/computer work is just fine. I always my glasses off for near work, otherwise I get eyestrain and a headache. So, I'm constantly putting them on and taking them off, and I wouldn't want to do this for contacts. For just going on a long ride it might be worth it, but the thought of commuting to work with contacts in and then sitting in front of my computer all day just makes me want to cry.

.

I wear contacts all day. I am very nearsighted! Almost blind without glasses. The contacts correct my nearsightedness. While at the computer I wear reading glasses because at 55 I have become far sighted as well (it's sad I have this narrow little band where I can see without any glasses or contacts). I only need the reading glasses while at the computer so I leave them there and don't carry them around.

I think you will be surprised at how well you can see with contacts. My glasses don't come close!!!!! Wearing reading glasses will eliminate any eye strain. Plus like anything else, you need to remember to look away from the computer at regular intervals etc.

[Dianyla]

I guess what I'm trying to say is that for up close work it hurts my eyes to wear any kind of corrective lens. I'm always taking glasses off to read or work on the computer. It's almost like I need bifocals, except the reading part of the bifocal would have zero prescription. Is this possible?

[bcipam]

I guess what I'm trying to say is that for up close work it hurts my eyes to wear any kind of corrective lens. I'm always taking glasses off to read or work on the computer. It's almost like I need bifocals, except the reading part of the bifocal would have zero prescription. Is this possible?

I understand completely - what will happen if you get contacts is that you will have to use reading glasses while at the computer but no need to take them on or off. Think of it like a bifocal. The glasses would be the bottom portion and your contacts (and looking over the glasses) would be the top. The nice thing about reading glasses - they are cheap and you can get different strengths. I would start at something like a 1 or 1.25 and go from there. I eliminate the "woosy" part of reading bifocals by just taking the glasses off when I leave my computer.

It's worth talking to your optomalogist (s?) about.