Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Contact lenses

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Contact lenses

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-08-07 | 10:41 PM
  #26  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 756
Likes: 0
From: SoCal

Bikes: custom built roadie

Originally Posted by uberclkgtr
I cycle in very dry weather (the Arizona desert) every day with contact lenses - 18 miles a day, plus more on the weekends. The lenses don't fall out, and they don't dry out. I use the day/night ones that one doesn't have to remove every night. You can sleep in them and basically keep them in for a month straight. (I take them out to wash them once a week).
i hope your eye doctor knows you're wearing them for weeks at a time before taking them out. it doesnt matter what brand contacts you use, calcium builds up everyday and if not rinsed regularly will slowly scratch your eye causing eye problems related to old age to come sooner.
stea1thviper is offline  
Reply
Old 05-08-07 | 10:59 PM
  #27  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Bikes: '71 Raleigh Sports, '84 Schwinn LeTour on the trainer (and available for hill repeats), '06 Scott CR1 SL (Ksyrium SL), and a yet-to-be-determined TT bike.

When you first start wearing contacts, it seems as though you have to keep puttin' drops in all the time. Eventually this goes away. Another concern is: how much correction do you require? If it's large, especially with astigmatism correction, you have to be careful with regard to how tightly you squeeze your eyes shut, or to how high or low you roll them. Otherwise, they could roll on you, or otherwise pop out onto your eyelashes. But if you are aware of this possibility, and don't do those things, and keep them adequately hydrated, you shouldn't have a problem. Took me a while to get used to mine playing doubles tennis. So not good when you can't see the ball just before it hits ya between the eyes!

I wear contacts that should be cleaned at least every two weeks, and worn for a max of four. I shouldn't tell you this, but I've been wearing the same pair since end of March. Non-stop. Yeah, I know. Time to change 'em out. If anyone wants to trade lives with me, I welcome a PM.
VegaVixen is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 06:03 AM
  #28  
no longer a newbie
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
The fit of your contacts may be adequate for normal, every day wearing, but that fit may be comprised but the sporting activities unique requirements.

When biking, most road cyclists heads are not completely vertical, and the cyclist typically has to direct their gaze upward to see straight ahead. In doing so, a contact lens will be forced up against the upper lid, and the lens may then be pushed downward, resulting in the lens fitting not on the cornea, but more on the sclarea (white portion), which is curved differently than the corneal surface.

Result - lens will not be hydrated correctly, will tend to lift up and away, move off the cornea, and might even be blinked off.

Possible solutions- speak to your eye care professional about contact lenses fit specifically for sports, typically, larger diameter lenses, that provide move coverage. Might be worth the added expense, if specs are a problem.
89quattro is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 08:07 AM
  #29  
aicabsolut's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 0
From: Washington, DC

Bikes: 2006 Specialized Roubaix Comp

Dirt and pollution (traffic) bother my eyes more than the wind factor. Sunglasses definitely help. I haven't lost a lens yet. Just remember to blink.
aicabsolut is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 08:11 AM
  #30  
botto's Avatar
.
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 40,377
Likes: 50
soft contacts and oakleys for 16 years in ALL conditions. no problems.
botto is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 08:19 AM
  #31  
edbikebabe's Avatar
runnin' down a dream
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,767
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere out there

Bikes: Turner Flux, Orbea Onix Dama.

I LOVE contacts for sports. I've even worn them white water rafting & didn't lose a lens.

I find that wind & dirt do irritate them, but if you wear sunglasses it isn't so bad.

They do take some getting used to - but still, soooo worth it.
edbikebabe is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 08:35 AM
  #32  
MTBLover's Avatar
But on the road more
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 864
Likes: 0

Bikes: Bianchi Volpe '07

Originally Posted by VegaVixen
I shouldn't tell you this, but I've been wearing the same pair since end of March. Non-stop. Yeah, I know.
VV, you do take them out at night, though, right? FWIW, I switched from B&L solutions to Ciba Clear Care during the fungus scare last year, and I've found that I can get up 2-3 months out of a pair. This stuff is awesome (and sort of cool- scrbby-bubbles get yer lenses really clean). Not shillin'- just sayin'...
MTBLover is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 09:24 AM
  #33  
no longer a newbie
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by VegaVixen
When you first start wearing contacts, it seems as though you have to keep puttin' drops in all the time. Eventually this goes away. Another concern is: how much correction do you require? If it's large, especially with astigmatism correction, you have to be careful with regard to how tightly you squeeze your eyes shut, or to how high or low you roll them. Otherwise, they could roll on you, or otherwise pop out onto your eyelashes. But if you are aware of this possibility, and don't do those things, and keep them adequately hydrated, you shouldn't have a problem. Took me a while to get used to mine playing doubles tennis. So not good when you can't see the ball just before it hits ya between the eyes!

I wear contacts that should be cleaned at least every two weeks, and worn for a max of four. I shouldn't tell you this, but I've been wearing the same pair since end of March. Non-stop. Yeah, I know. Time to change 'em out. If anyone wants to trade lives with me, I welcome a PM.
Regardless of the power, if a lens is fit correctly, it should not become displaced due to excessive eye movements or blinking. If this does occur, probable cause is a loose fit.

The lenses you wear are called "planned replacement", meaning that they should only be used for a period of time determined by your ECP (eye care professional). There is a lot of flexibility in the process, some patients can only go 2 weeks max, others can safely wear the same pair for 3 or 4 months. Primary factors that affect wearability...compliance with DAILY cleaning and disinfection, and the individuals tear film. Excessive protein buildup from tears will accumulate on the lens surface, and they will begin to feel dirty. When that happens, it's time to discard, and open up a fresh pair.

Please tell me that you are removing them, and not sleeping with them on.
89quattro is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 09:27 AM
  #34  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,438
Likes: 9
From: Oklahoma

Bikes: Trek 5500, Colnago C-50

Originally Posted by ovoleg
I'll pass, I dont want issues down the line.
LASIK, no issues after 7 years, perfect 20/20, guaranteed for life.
Al1943 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 09:28 AM
  #35  
no longer a newbie
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MTBLover
VV, you do take them out at night, though, right? FWIW, I switched from B&L solutions to Ciba Clear Care during the fungus scare last year, and I've found that I can get up 2-3 months out of a pair. This stuff is awesome (and sort of cool- scrbby-bubbles get yer lenses really clean). Not shillin'- just sayin'...

Ciba Clear Care is a hydrogen peroxide (bubbles) based cleaning and disinfection system, and it is also one of the best available.

Always best to check with your ECP before switching solutions, as you may be allergic to a preservative, or the lenses may not be compatible with the new solutions.
89quattro is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 09:29 AM
  #36  
Per Olav's Avatar
Euro
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Both of mine fell out on my first TT. Was not pleasant, I have a vision of - 6.50 on both eyes, so I was practically blind. Was able to finish, though.
Per Olav is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 09:31 AM
  #37  
no longer a newbie
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Al1943
LASIK, no issues after 7 years, perfect 20/20, guaranteed for life.
Glad to hear your success, but I have to ask, did you get that guarantee in writing?
89quattro is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 09:39 AM
  #38  
MTBLover's Avatar
But on the road more
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 864
Likes: 0

Bikes: Bianchi Volpe '07

Originally Posted by 89quattro
Ciba Clear Care is a hydrogen peroxide (bubbles) based cleaning and disinfection system, and it is also one of the best available.

Always best to check with your ECP before switching solutions, as you may be allergic to a preservative, or the lenses may not be compatible with the new solutions.
Good advice. And, like the instructions for Clear Care say about 10,000 times, do NOT put this stuff directly in your eye, and wait at least 6 hours after putting the lenses in the solution before wearing to allow the solution to neutralize. So, if you're looking for a quick-clean, this isn't for you, but for overnight (when you need to take your lenses out anyway) it's great. IMO, the best no-rub solution out there- it really is no-rub!
MTBLover is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 10:13 AM
  #39  
SteadyHand's Avatar
Former Wipper Snapper!
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Harriman,NY

Bikes: 2006 Giant TCR2

I wear soft lenses and run the Ophthalmology department in a Medical Center in NYC. At first, wearing contacts are distracting. You get over that initial hyper-sensitivity. I swear by them now. I never feel the need for re-wetting drops although that is an excellent suggestion, especially for the new contact wearer.


Good luck.
SteadyHand is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-07 | 10:33 AM
  #40  
vpiuva's Avatar
*
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,458
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Per Olav
Both of mine fell out on my first TT. Was not pleasant, I have a vision of - 6.50 on both eyes, so I was practically blind. Was able to finish, though.
You're good. Mine are 5.5 & 6 and I think I'd need a dog to lead me home.
vpiuva is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.