Contact lenses

[Biking Chick]

<snip> I HATE wearing glasses with clear lenses - reminds me too much of wearing normal glasses. Even in the pouring rain I prefer to go with no glasses as I also hate it when the lenses get all covered in rain and smears. <snip>

I also wear extended wear contacts - torque lenses as well as bifocal 'script on my lenses. I carry a bottle of rewetting solution that I will use at rest stops - even if I don't think I need to use the drops I've found that it certainly does raise my comfort level.

I always wear sunglasses and am particularily fond of the amber lenses in most light conditions. For those early morning rides when it is dark, clear lenses are a must. In rain conditions I've found that using Rain-X helps to keep the rain from spotting on the lenses.

You can find Rain-X in just about any automotive department at your favorite Target or local automotive store. (Used on windshields to keep water moving off the windshield).

Cindy

[MightyMitre]

In rain conditions I've found that using Rain-X helps to keep the rain from spotting on the lenses.

You can find Rain-X in just about any automotive department at your favorite Target or local automotive store. (Used on windshields to keep water moving off the windshield).

Nice one Biking Chick - that's a top tip. Would never have thought of that S'pose I ought to wear eye protection in the rain really- just in case.

[SadieKate]

S'pose I ought to wear eye protection in the rain really- just in case.

Haven't I seen you post that you mountain bike? Are your trails used by 4-legged beasties? After you've had a big glop hit you in the face, you'll wear them all the time.

Tires (uh, tyres) from cars and bikes on pavement throw up debris at high velocity. Even if I didn't wear contacts, I'd wear glasses - clear or otherwise. It's a safety thing. I've paid for too many new windshields to take the risk with my eyes.

[MightyMitre]

Haven't I seen you post that you mountain bike? Are your trails used by 4-legged beasties? After you've had a big glop hit you in the face, you'll wear them all the time.

LOL - very true! There's some pretty big cow pats on some of the trails!

I mostly ride road so perhaps I should take a look at my clear glasses. I don't think they fit me as well as my sunglasses ( I've got 2 different pairs because I'm useless at changing the lenses over - scared I'll snap them in the wrong place!) I've got quite a small face and I find the rims on my clear ones are distracting and sometimes get in the way when I'm looking over my shoulder.

I agree - can't put a price on eyesight. Better get shopping for some better clear glasses.

[Crankin]

I have never had a problem with my contacts while riding. I always wear sunglasses; i never go outside without them and can't imagine riding without them. I have ones with the tri colored lenses; my face is really small, so i had to try hard to find ones that don't look too awful. My regular sunglasses are kid sized, but they don't work for riding. I also need reading glasses, but, so far, the speed on my bike computer has pretty big numbers. I keep my reading glasses in my bike bag, in case I stop and need to read something. It always pays to buy the right products. In this case, I think for safety's sake.

[KTeach]

I need reading glasses so for biking I started to wear a contact lens (mono vision... so I can read a cue sheet & see distance) - I like it so much I wear the one lens every day... When riding I like my Coyote sunglasses with interchangeable lenses for different riding conditions. They are better than the expensive Addidas glasses I had as the nose piece cant fall apart! AND THEY WERE ON SALE AT NASHBAR FOR ABOUT $20 BUCKS...IF YA' LOSE 'EM IT'S NO BIGGIE!!!!!!!!

[psychavoc]

(oooh.. my first proper post if you don't count my little contribution in the NZ riding thread)..

I wear monthly disposable contacts all the time, and for riding I wear my Smith Sequels, which are a smaller version of the Sliders. I even have to wear them playing other outdoor sports aswell, e.g., tennis, so I've got 4 different coloured lenses (dark, yellow, orange, clear) for all different conditions.

What does that RainX stuff mentioned before do? I'll have to see whether we've got an equivalent brand/type in New Zealand for me to try.

[Jasper]

My first post as well... I've been lurking for a few days and still contemplating my newbie introduction post.

I recently went through Lasik surgery to correct my near-sighted vision. It was amazing... within minutes of my surgery I was 20/20 and my vision continues to get better. So if you have the $$ and the inclination… go for it! I went to Canada and was very happy with the doctor, staff and especially the result.

Now that I don’t need my contacts, I am still interested in what type eyewear would be recommended for riding. Any suggestions??

[Kitsune06]

Just reviving an old thread because I didn't want to make a new one on an old topic...

I'm strongly considering contacts because where I work, I have to wear safety glasses to patrol the grounds, and I hate having to put them on over my Rx glasses... and when I ride, I hate having the tunnel vision I have (don't remember my Rx, but it's pretty strong, with a decent astigmatism)

Reasons and excuses aside, I've noticed quite a few ladies here use Ciba Night&Days... but I don't know if they make a Toric flavor... I was thinking of Purevision Toric, as I would get real sick, real fast, of daily cleaning, etc...

Thanks!
-Kistu

[Rai Sue]

Hey y'all,

When not wearing my sunglasses, i wear a pair of safety glasses to protect my eyes.

I couldn't see spending the cash on clear glasses just for biking (i wear prescription glasses for distance, but can still get away w/o them), and my boyfriend had let me borrow a pair for a different project. I love them--much more protection than my sunglasses, but they're pretty cheap and light. ANd they're designed to save your eyes from dangerous high-speed objects. And even nice ones are only in the $10 range. And you can get clear or sunglasses ones.

Just so you don't think i'm going about wearing the things you used in high-school chem lab, here's a link:

http://www.northernsafety.com/cart/c...KW=GP100UVEX01


but you could probably go see what they've got at your local working-person's supply store.

I've actually gotten complimented on my "cool biking glasses" by other bikers!

My other favorite item i've borrowed from the carpenters for bicycling are hard-hat lining caps. They are great in the winter and rain, cover your ears, water resistant, and are made to go under helmets. And they're also only $5!

[im4smiley]

I wear contacts that correct my astigmatism. They are Proclear toric, you can wear them all day but can't sleep in them. They are good for a month then you put in new ones. The doctor had me try the purevision and they were very comfortable but I stayed with Proclear because I've been using them for the past couple of years and with my doctor if you try a different brand and decide to go with them he charges you a fitting fee.

[emily_in_nc]

I use Focus Dailies Toric. They are daily disposables so I don't have to buy any cleaners any more; just toss them at the end of the day. They aren't cheap, but they're great. I used to wear the type you could wear for a few weeks, but my eyes build up protein deposits on lenses very quickly no matter how much I cleaned, and then my eyes would get red and irritated, so the daily disposables have been a godsend.

To keep costs more reasonable, I wear my glasses on weekends if I'm not riding and occasionally during the week, like on rainy days where I won't need to wear sunglasses.

Emily

[gringa loca]

Have you considered getting monovision? I did in January, and I LOVE it!

[Kitsune06]

Not sure Monovision would be for me... being the age I am, I haven't got any issues with my close-up or fine-print vision, it's all my near-sightedness and astigmatism. I wonder, though, if I only have astigmatism in one eye, given that my gf doesn't have an astigmatism, we have nearly the same prescription, and when I accidentally put her glasses on in the morning, only one eye is blurry/weird. Hm.

That and it'd freak me out to have only one eye corrected to distance vision... I think I'd get headaches... how does it work for you?

[kerrybelle]

I'm definitely the odd one here as I wear gas permeable contacts. I am extremely nearsighted, also with an astigmatism. I remember using soft lenses when I was a teenager, but the hard ones work well for me. One of the advantages is that they last a really long time (years) and they allow a lot of oxygen into your eyes. A big drawback is that it hurts like #$@) if something gets in your eye.

Kerry