"over 40"...show of hands?

[syklnsoph]

hey Trek...
i have bifocal contacts.
no trouble except for drying out occasionally. and when i want to do really close-up stuff, like taking out counted-crosstitch stitches. then i use the cheapy glasses from Costco. (3-pak). also with the contacts, you can still wear the cool-looking 'biker' sun glasses or the clear covers when it's foggy or on the dark side. i do suggest if you are doing off road or lots of (down) hills, to wear some sort of eye protection. i have hadlittle bits of dust get in my eyes, and it feels like a boulder. also had a contact flip out and loose it when the wind got underneath an edge and lift it.
but i love my bifocal contacts....too easy!
soph

[aka_kim]

I wear multi-focal contact lenses all the time, and don't have any problems with them while riding. They are very thick for contacts (think contacts from 20 years ago), making my eyes dry out quickly and *any* dust/debris/etc *very* irritating. But, all in all, it's great not to have to pull out the reading glasses all the time. As long as you wear eye protection, these lenses work great for cycling.

[annie]

Monovision contacts for me. That's one contact for seeing far away ( my left eye) and one contact for seeing close up/reading (my right eye). I got them last summer. I LOVE them. I really didn't like having to give in to "old" eyes, but finally had to admit I needed help. Anyway, I went in, got my exam, popped in the new contacts and was totally amazed by how well I could see, both near and far. It sounds weird, I know. I couldn't imagine how it would work, but the brain compensates for the two different messages it is receiving and picks the appropriate one. At least that' s how it's supposed to work. It doesn't always do so. They say you know right away whether you can do it or not. It makes some people so dizzy that they get sick. I am lucky and I am grateful it I can wear them. Maybe someday I'll go for Lasik surgery, but not yet. It was spend my money on braces (at my age!!!) or lasik eyes. I went for the braces. No regrets. Hopefully by the time I can afford the eyes, they'll be able to correct everything!

annie

[jobob]

It was spend my money on braces (at my age!!!) or lasik eyes. I went for the braces. No regrets. Hopefully by the time I can afford the eyes, they'll be able to correct everything!

LOL, could this be a mid-life crisis trend? I looked into LASIK but I was turned down (admittedly I went to a very picky Dr., but I would only do it if my eyes were definitely suitable for the procedure, and they weren't - bummer). So I got braces.

Liposuction next ! (just kidding)

- Jo.

[CorsairMac]

I wear progressive lenses - they blend the lenses so theres no line and depending on what you need is where you look thru the lens. Of course - I lost one of the lenses on the mountain while hiking so I'm down to just 1 lens right now and doing Very well! LOL I have the lens for the eye that needs to see distance and I only wear my glasses when I drive or watch TV. I need a new pair - but lets think - glasses or new cyling clothes for spring? No brainer there! I can't wear contacts because my allergies are so bad I keep popping the contacts out or washing them out when my eyes tear!

[spazzdog]

When I first "transitioned" into the need for bifocals, I got the progressives. That lasted about a month. I got so car-sick wearing them... not to mention the tripping down stairs and ove my own feet.

I changed to regular bi-focals with the line... like in many areas of my life, I needed that visible line .

I have 4 pair of glassess: 1) my bifocals, which I wear most all the time 2) my single vision (far) for driving at night 3) my single vision (far) sunglasses for driving & what not in the daytime 4) single vision (far) sport glasses for biking/running.


And now I'm considering buying stock in LensCrafter

[halfbit]

This is kind of a cath-all, guys....I've been drinking whole milk (quart a day) for years and do fine. I like the organic stuff best. Had a bone density test recently (I'm 56) and they said I had the bone density of a 29 year old. I have total hip replacements - got 'em about 20 years ago - work great. Personally, I'm big on dairy anyway - I eat a pound of butter, and a dozen eggs every week and have a cholesterol count of 163 - BUT I hardly ever eat fried foods. As far as blood work, I did want to mention that I got pretty run down a couple of years ago, so I started taking vitamins and stuff - unfortunately that wasn't the problem - I had colon cancer and one of the symptoms is acute anemia. A single mom raising kids and working, I'm not the type to go in for tests, but I should have been...Not trying to sound scary here, but if the numbers don't come up, be sure to follow up. My bike was a godsend during chemo. Being able to get out and do something for myself kept me going....PS density tests are EASY and painfree. But I was going to mention also that I think I saw something recently about it being possible to get too much iron..

[halfbit]

Meant to add this on....bifocals. Zeiss makes a bi or tri that has a different configuration than most of the bifocals on the market. I love mine - I have trifocals- and can't stand the others. They're more expensive, but for me, they're worth it!

[nuthatch]

I'm still hanging on to my long-distance contact lenses while I ride. Of course, I can't really see my speedometer very well and reading any kind of a map is out of the question. Then the ol' reading glasses come out of the rear bag. The monovision alternative sounds very interesting!

I understand that Lasik in the US can correct distance vision but does nothing for presbyopia - in fact, may even throw you into needing reading glasses at an earlier age. I heard Europe has a procedure that corrects presbyopia as well. So far, nothing works perfectly (like 20 year old eyes did)!

[lkrider]

[QUOTE=gretchen]I'm just wondering how many of you are the "over 40" crowd?

45 for me. The big wake up call I had on the age thing was a ride I was invited to join a few years ago with a friendly group called the "bikin bunch". I think the median age of their club was 65, both genders. I struggled to keep up and realized I had goals to work on when kindly "little old ladies" were smiling and encouraging me to "just get to the top of this hill and you'll be ok"

[Bike Goddess]

Namaste- Yes I know! I've fractured an ankle and a wrist in past years. The last time that happened wrist about 10 yrs ago) the doc said I would probably have arthritis in that area in the near future. NOPE! However, I didn't mention to you that on my last bone scan I am considered a "stage one" as far as bone loss is concerned. AND this is after running consistently for 26 years!!! Family genes!

However, I will say that exercising and working out means less sickness and all that stuff. Even when I do get sick (rarely) it doesn't last, thank goodness. Couldn't stand being off my bike for more than a day or two

[UpNorth123]

Hi there-
Can't tell you how glad to see that even though I've come to the cycling world a little late (46), I'll be in good company. I did commute on my bike many moons ago when I lived in a college town...but my recently purchased road bike is a first (and boy, it's way cool!).

The reason for the leap onto the pedals-I'm participating in Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and will be riding my first century in June (America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, Lake Tahoe). I wanted to get back in shape, loose the extra mid-40's baggage and do something for others...this was the perfect match for me as my dad is a non-Hodgkins lymphoma survivor, my sister just lost one of her long-time friends to leukemia, and one of my best friends lost her brother to lymphoma. Having the support of a coach and a team of fellow riders working for a common goal has been great. And they are so nice to the old broad bringing up the rear of the pack (but, hey, I can still them...so they haven't even come close to lapping me...yet).

Lots to learn, many miles to go, but so far I'm having a blast! That includes riding in 23 degrees, having my water bottle turn into a giant Slurpee, and falling over once at a dead standstill (darn clipless pedals).

All the best-
UpNorth123

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the Board UpNorth! What a wonderful story and what an inspiration. Wishing you all the best and keep up the good work!......you just wait...one of these days They'll be trying to keep up with YOU!

[Barb]

I haven't heard from her in a way long time. I haven't heard much from her daughter Fultzie either. Hmmmmm

[cycleops300pt]

Hey Gretchen....I'll raise my hand to that.