Contact Lenses
 

Anybody have any issues with Contact Lenses while cycling? I want to get me some.

Why lenses? I think the glasses are a great eye protection while biking.

Anders K
Sweden

Contact lenses give you better peripheral vision while riding and you can wear regular, non-prescription sunglasses. I wear wraparound sunglasses and my lenses normally don't dry out. I carry a small bottle of wetting solution in my jersey pocket in case they do dry out or I need to flush something out of them.

Contact lenses are far better. I used to wear my glasses with clipon shades and a croakie to hold them in place. However, I thought of what would happen should I crash and my glasses break- they cost me plenty of money. I decided to wear my contacts instead, since I wear them to the gym. The only problem is that occasionally you'll get a piece of grit in your eye. For that reason, take eye drops with you and make sure you don't rub your eye with sweaty, dirty hands. I'ts much better- no sweaty glasses on your nose, getting zits, etc.

Plenty of pros wear contacts for the same reasons, like who wants to crash and have smashed up glasses? I guess Alex Zulle has to worry about it, but he doesn't have to worry about spending 400 bucks for new glasses! Also, I think he's farsighted, and contacts don't work for that. But lots of pros wear contacts, including Lance Armstrong.

I have to admit I like knowing that all these great athletes are as blind as I am.

I wear contacts [you didn't think an old fud like me was 20/20, did you? :roflmao: ] I have no problems. They let me wear good full-coverage sunglasses and they give me peripheral vision [great help when some kid on an orange Trek tries to steal a sprint when he creeps up on the outside]. I've worn them on 6-hour rides in very dry, windy weather without problems, but I always take some eyedrops with me just in case.

I hardly wear my glases at all anymore, I like my contacts alot. I have gotten dirt behind the lens on a ride before, got all the way hoe before i took it out, and it didn't seem to have done anything except cause discomfort. I won't ride without glasses again, though. :D

I use contacts so I can wear shades without inserts. I have no issues with them at all.

Thanks for the info everybody [Velocipedio, I'll let you know if I spot one of those kids on an Orange Trek ;) ]. I think that I will get them.

I have 2 follow up questions :
1) What is the difference between all the different brands (is there really a difference).
2) What brands of lens and related products are good, I really have no idea with all the different brands in the market place.

For four years I've used ACUVUE disposable contacts. I wear them for one or two weeks and then throw them away as they were designed. The reason I bought them in the first place was so I could expand my sun glass collection. Now the options are unlimited. Also my vision is much better with contacts as compared to glasses.

i have worn contacts regularly since age 14 (i'm 31) and have never been able to do any sport with glasses w/o difficulty (i.e. perephial vision, distorted distance, sweating, etc)

i have had almost no problems using contacts for cycling - about the only problem is that it increases dryness of eyes - i try to wear covering sunglasses with mine to block the air at high speed -- then if they get dirty or i sweat too much or whatever i can take them off and still see!

there are lots of varieties (the first three are 'soft' lenses):
* disposable soft- any where from 1 day to 2 weeks and then throw away - great b/c they are easy and you don't have to worry about loosing them - disadvantage: only come in basic strengths/sizes so if often out of luck you need something special like heavy astigmatism or bifocal
* 'daily wear' soft - normal lenses you take out and clean every night - cheap, but often a pain if you wear them a lot
* extended wear soft gas permeable - so you wear for a few days up to a few weeks and then clean and re-use ---- ok, except can be expensive and then bad to worry about loosing - a hassle to keep clean
* 'hard' lenses - the original contact lenses that are smaller and harder and less comfortable but only choice for many people who cannot wear soft lenses or need a REALLY strong lense (like -7 or greater)

if you don't wear them too long then disposables are actually safer for the eyes i think -- of course there is debate as to how long 'too long' is - i.e. 2 days or 2 weeks ---- in college i often wore mine 15-20 days at a time and twice got eye infections - now i don't wear them so long and have no problems

i recommend disposable (i wear ACUVUE) b/c they're easy and comfortable - a box of 3 pair retails for about $25 so your cost depends on how often you wear them. if you wear glasses most of the time they can be quite affordable -- i suggest mail order if you already have a persciption which i assume if you have glasses

I also have disposables after years of conventional lenses (since I'm 15). They are incredibly comfortble and not overly expensive. ALso, if you're going on a trip, you can take a couple of pairs with you- very convenient. There is nothing like contact lenses for sports, except maybe swimming.

Spire... Don't worry too much about brands. They all cost about the same and they all have different strengths and weaknesses to fit different people's needs. Ideally, you'd go to an optometrist, who'll give you an exam [@ $40, not covered by medicare], measure the size and curvature of your eyes and then try you out on a pair, or pairs of samples until you find a brand that you like. Most are disposable these days -- daily, weekly or monthly wear...

I wear Proclear monthly lenses. They're very comfortable and don't dry out your eyes, but they can be very fragile...

Acuvue2 is what we issue here at the Shaw AFB Optometry clinic. I've had a few pairs of them too and they're great.