JoshSlocum

I wear glasses and have a problem with my eyes watering when going down long, steep grades and approaching 25 mph. They water to the point that I cannot see the divots or other small, but dangerous obstructions, in the road. How do others deal with the problem?

buffalowings

I wear glasses, and have been biking longer distances with more hilly roads (what comes up must come down) and I have been having this problem too, one solution is sunglasses, but that requires wearing contact lenses.

fietsbob

those wrap around glasses with the prescription inserts inside of them is a recommendation..

JoshSlocum

My prescription doesn't allow contacts (severe astigmatism.) Short of wearing ski or science lab goggles I have yet to see (pun intended) a solution.

chaadster

www.duxhelm.com

If your specs have some curve (or wrap) to them, the Dux is a great solution...at least it has been for me.

spectastic

Bikeforumuser0017

get prescription m frames or some other pair of sunglasses with big lenses.

krobinson103

Like the helmet. I have the same problem though since where I am its mostly flat ut happens in a headwind more often.

LucF

I use the Adidas Evil Eye frames with prescription lenses in both dark and clear flavors, as I night-ride quite often. They are wraparounds and work great.

redcon1

For prescription eyewear, check out SportRx-- they have frames to fit difficult prescriptions. I went with a pair of Rudy Project with interchangeable lenses:

https://www.bicyclerx.com/product.php?code=RUDY-6

I also believe that your eyes can get used to the wind blast as they become conditioned. I used to jump out of planes quite often and my first few weeks of jumping were brutal on the eyes, watering so bad I couldn't see the drop zone. Gradually they got better and it was no longer a problem. Obviously, YMMV.

Looigi

Inserts suck: more reflections, less contrast, more surfaces to get dirty or fog up. Get appropriately sized and shaped prescription glasses. A good optometrist should be able to set you up, or: https://www.sportsoptical.com/prescri...sunglasses.htm

And yes, ride lots and your eyes will become accustomed to it and tear less.

Burton

This is good advise! A clear lens also provides bug protection and saves cleaning the glasses themselves once inside. Don't think unprotected eyes will ever get acclimatized to impacts by dust, debris and insects.
Industrial safety glasses are also available that'll fit over regular glasses but combining that with a helmet is ..... a bit much!
Giro also makes an Air Attack helmet with optional clear and smoked lenses. Will be getting both the Giro and the Duxhelm in the store next month and will let you know how they stack up.

cwar

I picked up a pair of Rudy Project prescription glasses. It helped quite a bit.

buffalowings

Well, glasses are pretty good at preventing dust, debris, and bugs from smashing into your eyes, the biggest problem is just the wind drying your eyes out.

Burton

Yup - but a large smooth surface is easier to wipe and clean off than a couple small lenses mounted in a frame. Not to mention cheaper to replace. Insects have an exterior skeleton thats both hard and abrasive when wiped across a lens. My last set of prescription lenses cost about $400 - just the lenses. The clear visors for those helmets run around $35 each and offer complete wind protection to boot so watery eyes wouldn't be an issue either.

chaadster

Yes, while the Dux obviously doesn't seal up against the face like goggles, and therefore lets quite a bit of air circulate, the helmet has nonetheless been a boon for winter riding, both preventing watering eyes on cold days, and keeping my face warmer.


I also like that it takes about 30 seconds to swap lenses on the Dux Helm, although I've used the yellow lens almost exclusively throughout this dreary, Michigan winter.


And the cost issue is another great point, Burton. After losing my second pair of $500 prescription sunglasses after a couple of weeks of use, I gave up on having them...for almost 20 years now. Well, I had clip ons in the late 90s, but they were too heavy and poorly suited to riding because they kept working themselves down my nose and off my face; just not comfy nor convenient.

Bent Bill

https://www.opticsplanet.com/oakley-r...130329011352:s

I use these but I only need a mild bi-focal prescription
They solved the eye tearing problem. and with my rx. in them. I can now see the little numbers on my computer when I ride
plus I have my peripheral vision back since they wrap around a lot.
They also come in all kinds of tint and clear also

LucF

I agree. Tried them out and can't stand them.

MetalPedaler

You think your eyes water? Try riding a scooter at 40+MPH when it's below 50*!

I-Like-To-Bike

Slow down to 20 mph.

rumrunn6

ahhh you beat me to it, was gonna say go slower ... hahaha

I-Like-To-Bike

Seems obvious; maybe it's too low-tech.

rumrunn6

well ... slow is no fun

brickster

Wiley X motorcycle sunglasses with eye pads. zero wind.

I-Like-To-Bike

Neither is giving Benjamins to an LBS for such an easy problem to solve for nothing.

The OP already said he wanted to avoid a dangerous situation. How fast should he go down long, steep grades, as fast as possible? The fun might not last long.