Touring - Vision (Contacts vs. Glasses)

I have slightly impared vision. Nothing too bad, but I don't like going without glasses or contacts.

I am curious to see how people on tour deal with the issue of using glasses or contacts. Does anyone just use glasses? And if so, do you have prescription sunglasses with you too? I was thinking about getting some perscription sunglasses, but then I thought, what about days that aren't so bright.
For now, I plan to stick with contacts and regular sunglasses and probably rotate my eye glasses in for times when my eyes need a break from contacts.
Does anyone who uses contacts while touring have problems with dirt or other irritation such as pollution or wind?

Dave

I'm contact-lens phobic, and require some serious correction, so I wear glasses at all times. Progressive bifocals, in fact.

I had pairs of glasses made with plastic frames, one normal pair and one pair of sunglasses, with plastic lenses. Until recently I wore these with a Croakie to keep them firmly affixed to my head when riding. They were fine except that they didn't provide much protection from dust and debris getting in past the frames.

I recently purchased a pair of Radial cycling glasses with prescription inserts (just the far-vision part of my Rx) from www.performancebike.com. They come with interchangeable lenses, and the single-vision inserts clip to the nosepiece, inside the main lens.

I've been very happy with them so far, and they seem to provide very good protection.

However, I can imagine that for people who can correct their vision with contacts, being able to buy off-the-shelf cycling glasses would be a much better solution.

RichC

i wear "disposable" soft contact lenses and i love them. The ones i have from Johnson and Johnson Acuve i wear for 7-12 days at a time. They cost something like $25 for a box of 3 pair but you can find them cheaper. i wear them about 90% of the time and mail-order for about $140/yr or so.

They're great for travel and touring b/c you don't need any solution or cases, just bring a few extra pair along and throw the old ones away and put the new ones in.

only problem is they only come in the most common sizes, curvatures and astigmatism values... but try them and if they fit you then they are great. Also, then you don't worry about loosing them or whatever b/c the cost of each lense is so small.

My situation is similar to Rick's. I have a -7.5 spherical correction with a -2 astigmatism. I recently bought a set of wire-rimmed Easy-Clip glasses with magnetic clip-on shades, and I am delighted with them. A side benefit for presbyopes and computer users: When I finally do need a different strength for close work, I plan to order another clip-on, filled with clear +1.5 or +2 lenses instead of shades, as a nice alternative to bifocals or "computer glasses."