Glasses vs contact lenses?

[Mrs Oakie]

Because of fogging up and visibility issues in rain, I'm looking at trying contact lenses instead of my glasses when I ride. Is anyone out there able to comment on the difference having used both?

[MIXONE]

I wore contacts for about 30 years and they were great on a bike (and all round).Back to glasses now as my eyes can't handle contacts anymore and they are a pain as you well know.I'd have laser surgery if I didn't want to spend my money on bikes and stuff all the time.

[Kevnz]

I find glasses best but they have to be good solid framed ones otherwise they bend or the arms come loose from squeezing them into your helmet all the time .Contacts dry out pretty quick with all the air flowing through your helmet

[rocketman1]

I have used contacts but back to glasses now, putting contacts in & out was a pain.
Has your helmet got vents around the visor, these help to keep the fog out of the visor, otherwise lift the visor when going slow, this helps keep the glasses from fogging.

[Number One]

I've used both and have IOL as well which does complicates things.

I found contacts would dry out on the bike, even with the face vents on helmet closed...in the end I gave up and just do the glasses thing.

If you haven't worn them (contacts) before I would definitely give them a good practise run before heading out on the bike for a long trip.

ALSO check that your eyes tear/flush regularly...I apparently have irregular 'tearing' in one eye so that one is always drier than the other. The contact in this eye became excrutiatingly painful to wear in the end.

[PrincessBandit]

Have just recently gone back to contacts after about 4 years away from them. One of the prime reasons for reverting to them was because I found it a real pain not being able to wear decent sunnies due to already having a pair of specs on my nose. (I did buy some polarised clip ons but still found they weren't large enough to cut the glare adequately).
Mine are disposable monthly ones which I believe have a better "wetness factor" than regular soft lenses. As far as fogging is concerned, cat crap worked really well on my glasses lenses. I am happy using either form but enjoy not having to go through the rigmarole of glasses on/off every time I put my helmet on or remove it. Plus when I wear my ear plugs the arms of my glasses plus the ear plugs sometimes made my helmet a little uncomfortable at the sides of my head on a longer ride; not a problem with contacts.

[Swoop]

http://aucklandeye.co.nz/

I'm sure there is a version of this in Chch!
Look into it.

[Pussy]

Hey Mrs Oakie... I recently got a set of Nike frames for my progressive specs. I haven't worn them much with my motorcycle helmet, but have with my flying helmet, and they're bloody brilliant.
Not much help to you in the fogging issue, but hopefully a bit of help in finding a set of frames that easily fit in/under a helmet

[The Pastor]

I find contacts way better,

Basicly the pain with glasses are

Fogging,
hard to put on with helmet
can drop and break them

Problems with contacts

if they come out your blind
if a bug or somthing gets in ur eye it can stuff up ur contact
you cant useally change them mid ride

i wear contacts and dont have nearly as much problems as i did with glasses but there still bit of a pain.

[FzerozeroT]

Contacts were always a pain in the ass for me, I get hayfever and they were a trap for pollen and dust. Went for a trip to India last year and got Lasik (Class C), $600NZD, better facilities and service than I have ever seen in NZ.

[PirateJafa]

Because of fogging up and visibility issues in rain, I'm looking at trying contact lenses instead of my glasses when I ride. Is anyone out there able to comment on the difference having used both?

Glasses win hands-down for me.

Never had any fogging issues.

But mostly because I ride pretty much everywhere with my visor up(which I suppose helps with the fogging.

[Redline_8749]

I have disposible monthly contacts, and have never even considered this problem untill now. I don't seem to have any problems, infact I often climb in to bed, then have to get out again cause I forgot I still had my contacts in.

[laRIKin]

I tried contacts and thought they were good until they seemed to float on the eye's sometimes if you hit a lot of jarring bumps in a row.
Or at speed as I got double vision and that is not nice.
I may have had watery eye at the time (hay fever).
Never used them again after that.
Scared me no end as I could not see the corner or cliff.

[James Deuce]

I got contacts once I saw what was left of a mate's face when the glasses he was wearing dug furrows in his skull.

He wasn't going to survive the head on with a truck, but geez, if he had......

I have none of the dramas with my contacts drying out, or moving around, and the increased field of vision is magnificent. I think half the battle with getting used to contacts is just hardening up and ignoring those sensations until you "normalise". Swapping back and forward between glasses because contacts are uncomfortable just lengthens the process, and there are a vast range of contacts vendors selling really different feeling materials. Try different brands or even optometrists if they prove uncomfotable or the eye doctor is unhelpful.

[MD]

If you can ,get laser surgery.

I wore glasses for years, then tried contacts. Contacts were a pain in the arse- yes, maybe I should have inserted them in my eye instead of the bum region?
Contacts when riding would dry out. Or they would irritate and my eyes would over compensate with a flood of water. Either way it was unsafe to ride at times. The cleaning and costs of contacts was too high maintenance.

I've had 14 years of clear, sharp vision since lasek. The ageing process will eventually see me needing glasses one day, but for the joy of not waking up blind, stumbling to find specs or inserting foreign objects into your eye is...priceless. I can remember the fun of coming out of the surf and not being able to find your spot, towel, the beach! And missing out on talent spotting.

Actually Lasek is now about $2500 an eye! Was $1500 but covered by insurance when I got mine done.

[phoenixgtr]

I've had contacts for 9 years now. Never had a problem with them when riding. They don't dry out, they don't fall out.

I hate riding with glasses. They're so uncomfortable, especially with some helmets (my current one's not too bad). They fog up too and it takes twice as long to whip your helmet on and off!!

Contacts get my vote, unless of course you can afford Lasik

[imdying]

Tried em both, laser surgery is the way to go though. Perfect vision. Fabulous. Best money I ever spent on my riding.

[jonbuoy]

Contacts all the way, latest ones just get better and better. less drying out, more comfortable. + I found judging distances easier with contacts than glasses- lense is closer to your eye.

[madbikeboy]

Taking this on a related tangent...

I can't wear contacts, my eyes are too dry, and I get eye infections and all sorts of nastiness.

Soooo, glasses for me.

Here's the tangent - the thing to be aware of with glasses is that if you have astigmatism, as you get to the edge of the glass, it can cause distortion, or depth perception differences. Now, if you're sitting in your nice comfy Lexus armchair, who gives a fuck, you've got airbags. But on a bike, especially when you're riding hard on a track, you need to take that into account because even small amounts of distortion, or small mistakes of spatial reasoning (distance to other objects like apexes or other bikes) can be problematic if you're having to spend attention or focus on it. Imagine being leaned over, looking for the apex, using your peripheral vision to keep other bikes in sight - that slight glance down to the curb to judge that may mean you lose perspective on where that other bike is. I mean, loads of other examples when you're on the road and there are a lot of cars around you, and you need your vision to determine if someone is doing a lane change towards you and they are already on the edge of your peripheral vision...

Or is it just me being an egghead about this?

[Katman]

Be aware though that Laser surgery does have it's risks. I had it done about a year and a half ago and all seemed fine until about 24 hours after the operation. I developed a bad inflammation under one cornea that turned into cloudy vision in that eye for six months and then screwed up vision for the next six when the eye healed to a totally different focal length to the other. After 12 months to let the eye settle right down the eye clinic were prepared to have another go at it. Been sweet ever since.

Having said all that, I would always encourage people to consider laser surgery as an option.

[MaxCannon]

I had glasses from age 5 to 15
Changed to contacts for the last 15 years and would never voluntarily go back.
I have no issues with them when riding, but I wear a full face with the visor down all the time. I imagine my lenses would get pretty dry if I rode with the visor up.
I can't get laser surgery - they won't do it on my eyes because my pupils dilate too far. Eye surgeon says I'd get bad halo effects at night.

If you can't wear contacts I'd recommend checking out a helmet like the Givi H401 with an integrated visor. I've tried on mine with glasses and there is plenty of clearance.
When it's bright -flip the sunvisor down, when it's dark flip it back up. Only takes .5 of a second and it's dark enough for bright sunlight.

[rachprice]

Have just recently gone back to contacts after about 4 years away from them. One of the prime reasons for reverting to them was because I found it a real pain not being able to wear decent sunnies due to already having a pair of specs on my nose. (I did buy some polarised clip ons but still found they weren't large enough to cut the glare adequately).
.

When I was still wearing glasses I got prescription sunglasses.... you keep the normal lenses so when I started on contacts I just popped out the prescription lenses and have normal ones now.

I find riding with contacts sweet, no problems with dryness of anything
Glasses suck with helmets and I find my thick arms affect my peripheral vision too much (had them a long time before i started riding)
You might not get the right contacts for your eye the first time, you can try a few different kinds.
The ones I use now are monthly ones that you would normally take out everyday, because they use silicone now instead of that awful acrylic my optometrist actually told me i can leave them in overnight, which I do and every now and then take out if my eyes need a rest!

[Mully]

+ whatever number for LASIK

I had glasses from 9 to 24 - and was using contacts from 14 or thereabouts.

I couldn't ride with glasses - my helmet squeezed them, which changed the focal point and stuffed up my vision completely.

Never had a problem with contacts - but hated them with a passion. Got LASIK at 24 and never looked back.

I wake up with good vision. Don't have to worry about buying cleaning, inserting, removing contacts and buying solution.

I would strongly recommend looking into LASIK to see if you are able to have it. I think there is one with no blade now (haven't looked into it cos I don't need it anymore)

[Mully]

and I find my thick arms affect my peripheral vision too much (had them a long time before i started riding)


Holy moly. How high are the bars on your bike??? And how thick are your arms??

[TOTO]

Contacts are the best solution for me.

I dont use normal daily contacts tho. There is a product called "Night & Day" - it is contacts made from special silicon that allows your eye to breathe and therefore not requiring to be taken out every day. They can stay in your eye up to 30 days, and you dont even know they are there (unlike normal lenses). I have been using them the last 3 years and am Very very Happy with them. When you go to your optometrist ask him for advice on those and also ask for a trial pair which will last you for 30 days. The trial pair is free if you have an eye exam with the optometrist (and you need an eye exam before you start with lenses anyway).

[discotex]

Contacts and tinted visor are by far the best for summer riding. I love having full peripheral vision.

[madbikeboy]

When I was still wearing glasses I got prescription sunglasses.... you keep the normal lenses so when I started on contacts I just popped out the prescription lenses and have normal ones now.

I find riding with contacts sweet, no problems with dryness of anything
Glasses suck with helmets and I find my thick arms affect my peripheral vision too much (had them a long time before i started riding)
You might not get the right contacts for your eye the first time, you can try a few different kinds.
The ones I use now are monthly ones that you would normally take out everyday, because they use silicone now instead of that awful acrylic my optometrist actually told me i can leave them in overnight, which I do and every now and then take out if my eyes need a rest!

Ditto the prescription sunnies, but I find I wear my normal glasses with a tinted visor. I wear sporty glasses with thin arms (Oakleys) on the bike, and I have other glasses for work (posh Italian label basher type ones...) with thicker arms.

Also, choice of lid makes a difference, if you have a tight Arai for example, it kills glasses, but my Shoei and HJC are both very glasses friendly.

[HungusMaximist]

I recommend you guys looking into Orthokeratology if laser surgery is not your thing (as it carries it's risks) and daily contact lens wearing is too much of a bitch (drying out your eyes)

Orthokeratolgy is new type of treatment where you wear special type of contact lens when you sleep and it re-shapes your cornea while you are sleeping by the pressure of your closed eye lids.

After a few sleeps it would have shaped your cornea to the point where you can see without visual aids. Wear it when you sleep and take it off when you wake up. It's a reversible as if you don't wear the lens for a week or so, your cornea will go back it it's usual state. However it does has it's limitation as to how far it can treat your short-sightedness and astigmatism (the lower your prescription the better the results are going to be)

A better alternative to laser surgery I say and my optometrist offers this new treatment so it isn't anything new. It just that it hasn't been marketed that well but I recommend you have a chat with your optometrist.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/orthok.htm

[wysper]

I would vote contacts too.
The only reason I don't wear them is I can't afford them.

So it is glasses for me.

As for Lasik, I would be too concerned about someone messing with my eyes like that. *shudder*

[NZsarge]

Contacts all the way, latest ones just get better and better. less drying out, more comfortable. + I found judging distances easier with contacts than glasses- lense is closer to your eye.

+1 for me, contacts all the way, wether i'm riding or not.

[Forest]

I've been using daily disposable lenses for the last couple of years.

They're the best thing I've ever done to improve my riding safety. I feel like I have more depth of vision and can switch between near and far focus much faster. Also there's no fogging or dirt build-up, and I can wear regular sun-glasses when it gets too bright.

[Stormer]

Monthly disposables seem to work good for me.
I put in some bright-as devil green ones, and tripped out a few people at work that day.
Some mirror lenses would be interesting...

[F5 Dave]

Glasses are shite, they really are, apart from the hassle of taking them off & on & the fogging & if you get any rain on them. Poos all the way.

Love my contacts:2thumbsup. Hard ones are obsolete except for some people, these are the type you hear most of the myth horror stories. When I changed from normal soft to disposables I had some issues during trials, like mentioned with drying & ghosting. My optometrist gave me several brands to try (they get samples free) & I found one that was just premo.

My wife has had surgery, & is happy, but what is long term effects? + she hates driving at night due to Haloing, so best one of us can.

I do give my eyes a rest day once or twice a week with glasses to ensure better eye health, but not if I’m riding.

[lb99]

10 years ago after breaking 3 pr glasses in 3 weeks, I switched to contacts, it took a lot of patience to get right, but worth it. I don't even own any specs....
I also have some perscription sunnies that I use if the going gets too dusty, or whatever.
I guess I'll have to get some more specs eventually, but contacts suit me fine atm

[slimjim]

contacts....just gota watch if lip-up....on a dusty gaveral sort of road....an leaning back to talk with .....lid up to speak easyier..lol...wind can shift them...lol

[Forest]

I forgot to mentioned that daily disposables, while more expensive, are definitely the most convenient option. They don't require cleaning or solutions, it doesn't matter if they get accidentally blinked out, and they're fresh each morning.

If you want to save a few dollars you can get your prescription posted in from overseas shops like Coastal Contacts (http://www.coastalcontacts.com/).

[Charlie41]

Contacts for me. I've been using disposable lenses for about 8 years now. I have no problems with dry or irritaded eyes....and I can wear my sunglasses...

[YellowDog]

If you can ,get laser surgery.

I wore glasses for years, then tried contacts. Contacts were a pain in the arse- yes, maybe I should have inserted them in my eye instead of the bum region?
Contacts when riding would dry out. Or they would irritate and my eyes would over compensate with a flood of water. Either way it was unsafe to ride at times. The cleaning and costs of contacts was too high maintenance.

I've had 14 years of clear, sharp vision since lasek. The ageing process will eventually see me needing glasses one day, but for the joy of not waking up blind, stumbling to find specs or inserting foreign objects into your eye is...priceless. I can remember the fun of coming out of the surf and not being able to find your spot, towel, the beach! And missing out on talent spotting.

Actually Lasek is now about $2500 an eye! Was $1500 but covered by insurance when I got mine done.
The negative side to Lasic Eye surgery is that you can find yourself awakening with perfect vision next to a rough old dog that you really shouldn't have taken home. Without glasses, she would have looked fine until she has to go.

[Harvd]

Contacts were always a pain in the ass for me, I get hayfever and they were a trap for pollen and dust. Went for a trip to India last year and got Lasik (Class C), $600NZD, better facilities and service than I have ever seen in NZ.

hell no i wouldnt be getting no budget service dun on my eyes. especially if im under anethetic and hes got a scapal... thats just asking for trouble... i might wake up with no kidneys:crybaby: \

i wonder whats the min age for lasek because i dont like contacts but they are great compared to having to wear glasses and hopefully as my eyes are only just legally out they wont say no

stupid eyes

[mctshirt]

If you can ,get laser surgery.

My wife suggested surgery. I had a long hard think about it coming to the conclusion after thirty odd years of corrective lenses I didn't care anymore and I would rather have a motorbike :)

[Badjelly]

I have an eye condition called keratoconus which can only be corrected with hard contact lenses (or corneal transplants). I've been wearing contacts since age 15. It's a pain, frankly, as they tend to dry out and get dust behind them when it's windy. In extreme cases they can wear the front layer of cells off your eye, leading to extreme light sensitivity. This happened to me a few years ago and I remember lying in bed with the curtains drawn, head under the covers with my eyes tight shut, wincing when the light in the hall 10 m away was turned on. Luckily it only lasted a couple of hours. After that I got a pair of glasses to use when my eyes were tired of the contacts. They're really thick (about 9 dioptres, if that means anything to anyone) and they distort hugely, so I can't ride or drive with them, but they let me function around the house of an evening.

Not that this has any real relevance to the original topic (glasses or contacts?) but I just thought I'd take this opportunity to share. What I have learned is that you really, really, really want to protect your eyesight.

[portokiwi]

My ex wife wore both glases and contacts, I paid for her laser for her eyes. She is realy happy with the results. :Oops: Then we split up.

[Badjelly]

My ex wife wore both glases and contacts, I paid for her laser for her eyes. She is realy happy with the results. :Oops: Then we split up.

Usually when you hear that story it's a boob job.

[portokiwi]

:laugh: lucky it wasnt. that would have been a waste for me.
She is a nice lady mother of my huge tribe.
just glad my kids love Mrs Portokiwi:love:

[MarkH]

My ex wife wore both glases and contacts, I paid for her laser for her eyes. She is realy happy with the results. :Oops: Then we split up.

It can be hard on the wife when her eyesight is so good that she can really see what you look like. Obviously her glasses or contacts didn't give her quite enough clarity to be put off by your looks.





:laugh: I'm only guessing here, I don't actually know that you are an ugly bugger.

[portokiwi]

:shit:You were good:third:. Mabe you are right lol. Just hope the future Mrs portokiwi dosnt click on that:doh:

[arj127]

I would vote contacts too.
The only reason I don't wear them is I can't afford them.

So it is glasses for me.

As for Lasik, I would be too concerned about someone messing with my eyes like that. *shudder*

This may be the best place in NZ to purchase lens that i have found (optomotrists are a rip off), have received my orders within 2 days.

Would love to have laser surgery, but don't have the coin for it.

[mazz1972]

IF ONLY I could wear contacts. I've tried disposables three times but my eyes don't like them....itched and constantly watered, and I could always feel my eyelid going over the edge of the contacts and just could not get used to it - I would go around squinting a bit all day without realising.

So it is glasses for me. Currently I've got the small narrow type with clip on sunnies. But it's a total pain when riding as my eyes are very sensitive to bright light and the small glasses/sunnies don't block out enough light.

Been to the optometrist tonight and chose a new pair of glasses, plus in a month or so I will get a pair of prescription sunnies with bigger frames, so better for riding. It will be a pain in the arse as I will have to carry around the sunglasses all the time instead of just the clipons (which have had a very hard life in pockets, washing machine etc!).

Two pairs of glasses is a bit hard on the wallet!

[rie]

I find glasses best but they have to be good solid framed ones

i would like to add that you should definitely avoid plastic frames, no matter how sturdy they seem. it's better to get those thin wire frames made of some awesomely strong metal (sorry i can't remember what they're called) because they bend easily & don't put a permanent dent in your helmet inner.

i suggest looking at adidas, for example. they're perfect for riding.



Contacts dry out pretty quick with all the air flowing through your helmet

absolutely true. =_=

plus, if you lose one it's likely you dont have a spare at that moment in time (murphy's law) whereas if you keep some duct tape under your seat (for temporary repairs and so on) you can always tape your glasses on temporarily for the ride home.

[discotex]

plus, if you lose one it's likely you dont have a spare at that moment in time (murphy's law) whereas if you keep some duct tape under your seat (for temporary repairs and so on) you can always tape your glasses on temporarily for the ride home.

Surely if you apply Murphy's law then you won't have duct tape when you need it?

How about putting a pair of contacts under the seat? I use daily disposables and scatter some around. Some at work, some in my backpack etc.

Having an under-tail exhaust is the only reason I don't keep them under the pillion seat. I'm only -0.75 and can legally ride without them so that's always a fallback option for me.

[HungusMaximist]

i would like to add that you should definitely avoid plastic frames, no matter how sturdy they seem. it's better to get those thin wire frames made of some awesomely strong metal (sorry i can't remember what they're called) because they bend easily & don't put a permanent dent in your helmet inner.


Ditto on using plastic frames, I wouldn't try it unless you want bent frames. I recommend using frames that have spring hinges that would bounce back but even better, you should check out these flexi-metal wire frames which you can bend to extreme stresses (they are marketed for kids but you can get them in adult sizes).

Rie, you should have a look at Stephen's new glasses. It's wire thin, extra light and it's made out of Titanium, pretty much perfect for riding.

[helenoftroy]

I have none of the dramas with my contacts drying out, or moving around, and the increased field of vision is magnificent. I think half the battle with getting used to contacts is just hardening up and ignoring those sensations until you "normalise". Swapping back and forward between glasses because contacts are uncomfortable just lengthens the process, and there are a vast range of contacts vendors selling really different feeling materials. Try different brands or even optometrists if they prove uncomfotable or the eye doctor is unhelpful.

Agree totally,never had a contact fall out or move while riding and the odd time some dust etc has got under one,just pull over - blink furiously and your away again.....:chase: