Any one else here blind?

[dmo]

So, I'm a young guy, but I have terrible eyesight and I'm set to go in for my next vision appointment. It's been two years and there's no doubt that my prescription will need to be stepped up a bit.

So here's my question… Anyone have any experience or issues with those ugly-ass prescription ski goggles or skiing with contacts and standard goggles?

I am very much afraid of contact lenses, but am thinking of trying to suck it up. When I skied three or so days a week at Solitude, UT, I could depend on enough blue sky and warm temps to wear my prescription sunglasses most of the time. When I couldn't, it was usually open enough and uncrowded enough to ski blindly. Don't think I'll have either of those options in southern VT.

 

[JimG.]

So, I'm a young guy, but I have terrible eyesight and I'm set to go in for my next vision appointment. It's been two years and there's no doubt that my prescription will need to be stepped up a bit.

So here's my question… Anyone have any experience or issues with those ugly-ass prescription ski goggles or skiing with contacts and standard goggles?

I am very much afraid of contact lenses, but am thinking of trying to suck it up. When I skied three or so days a week at Solitude, UT, I could depend on enough blue sky and warm temps to wear my prescription sunglasses most of the time. When I couldn't, it was usually open enough and uncrowded enough to ski blindly. Don't think I'll have either of those options in southern VT.

Been skiing with contacts since I was 14; my astigmatism is so bad that laser surgery will not help me.

Never had a problem with the contacts; to me, using them is a routine like brushing my teeth or applying sunscreen on a sunny day. Don't really even think about it.

 

[Sparky]

So, I'm a young guy, but I have terrible eyesight and I'm set to go in for my next vision appointment. It's been two years and there's no doubt that my prescription will need to be stepped up a bit.

So here's my question… Anyone have any experience or issues with those ugly-ass prescription ski goggles or skiing with contacts and standard goggles?

I am very much afraid of contact lenses, but am thinking of trying to suck it up. When I skied three or so days a week at Solitude, UT, I could depend on enough blue sky and warm temps to wear my prescription sunglasses most of the time. When I couldn't, it was usually open enough and uncrowded enough to ski blindly. Don't think I'll have either of those options in southern VT.

Been skiing with contacts since I was 14; my astigmatism is so bad that laser surgery will not help me.

Never had a problem with the contacts; to me, using them is a routine like brushing my teeth or applying sunscreen on a sunny day. Don't really even think about it.

Same here. They finally got contcts to the point that they will adjust my astigmatism well enought that I can avoid things like trees and other skiers.
I can't read without cheaters, but I don't do much of that on the slopes anyway. If you can get enough correction I strongly recommend contacts. No more foggy glasses or goggles.

 

[dmo]

Do you have any trouble with the contacts drying out under goggles, Jim?

 

[Greg]

Check out this thread:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/viewtopic.php?t=1706

You can follow my experience before, during and after committing to getting contacts. Here are my thoughts over 1 year later:

• I now wear contacts full time. I would never go back to glasses, although it does feel good to take them out after a long day.
• My left one fits better than the right. The right one is the first to dry out. Re-wetting drops help.
• They are great for skiing, but since I have an astigmatism and I wear toric (weighted) lenses, they sometimes "spin" or shift hampering my vision. Again, re-wetting drops help lubricate them and get them to "swing" back into place quickly.
• If you decide to go for it, BE PATIENT. I got them for the first time in my life at age 31 and it took me several weeks or even months to get good at putting them in. Like Jim says, it's now just routine and very much like brushing your teeth or hair. I never had a problem removing them.
• It took me several months to get to the point that I felt like I don't have pieces of plastic in my eyes.

With all that said, again, try to stick it out for at least a month in order to give them a fair evaluation. Good luck.

 

[dmo]

Cool. Thanks, gentleman, especially for the full thread.

 

[kickstand]

I got contacts about 8 years ago. I had been wearing glasses for only about 3 or 4 years at the time. I used to ski with neither. When I used to wake up, my prescription was so small that I could usually get by for the day if I never put my glasses on at all. I have to say, wearing contacts was done wonders for my skiing.

anyway, I originally only wore them to the gym and to play baseball. After a while, I just started wearing them all the time. Initially, you will struggle with getting them in. I never had a problem getting them out, except when I really messed up putting them in. I'd say it took a few months of trying every day before I was able to just pop them in without issue.

I would suggest wearing your glasses to work/during the day, then practice putting them in and taking them out when you have time at night or whenever your schedule allows. When I first got them, I was always trying to put them in just before rushing out to a baseball game. Would routinely take 20 minutes. Practice when you have nothing pressing going on, and only do it a couple of times per "practice session". At first, it may irritate your eyes a bit, since you're not used to it. After a while, you'll be able to pop them in and out as many times as you'd like.

good luck!

 

[nancie2k]

get them!! you will wonder why you waited so long. i have had the gas permeable ones forever. you will have peripheral vision which you do not have with glasses.
i use goggles,keeps my eyes from tearing on cold days. on warm days i can wear my maui jim wrap arounds.

 

[Rushski]

I have been wearing contacts and skiing with them for about 22 years. they get a touch dry occasionally, but never a problem.

Will get the surgery one of these days...

 

[thebigo]

Ive been wearing contact since the sixth grade and dont even own a pair of glasses. Much like new skis I would suggest you demo new contacts and also much like new skis different contacts work for different people. Any good eye doctor will let you try a different brand for a week for free and if they wont get a new eye doctor.

 

[RISkier]

Do you have any trouble with the contacts drying out under goggles, Jim?

My wife does. She just can't find contacts that seem to work comfortably for long periods of time. Her eyes dry out and skiing makes it worse.

 

[JimG.]

Do you have any trouble with the contacts drying out under goggles, Jim?

No, that hasn't been a problem for me, but I have heard others who wear contacts complain about it. Carry wetting solution just in case.

My one issue was when I wore sunglasses on cold days. My eyes would water up at speed and inhibit my vision. On one REALLY cold day at Stowe a contact froze to my eye when my eye watered. That's been the worst experience I've had, but nothing that going inside and warming up didn't fix.

I make sure I wear goggles now unless it's above freezing.

 

[djspookman]

when I used to wear glasses 10 years ago, I used the oakley L frame goggles and they worked very well with my glasses under. I'm not sure if they still make them though.

dave

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Oh. I thought you meant you didn't have the option of wearing glasses or contacts...

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Greg is right on point with everything. It's tough to get used to at first, but it's so very worth it. No more dealing with fogged up lenses from wearing glasses inside them. No more having to worry about the weather staying nice if you're wearing your Rx sunglasses. It's by FAR the best solution, short of LASIK.

 

[JohnL]

If you do opt for contacts, getting disposable ones are useful since you always have backup pairs in case you lose a lens or two. (Are disposable lenses all you can get nowadays? - I've been reordering the same type for years now and I'm not sure what all the choices are.) My disposables last for about one month and I buy a one year supply in advance.

When I first started wearing contacts, I did have one pop out while skiing many years ago. Fortunately, I was wearing goggles at the time and the contact stuck to the inside of the goggle lens. I was pretty nervous putting the lens back in my eyes while on the slopes since it was a windy day and if I ever dropped that lens...

No other incidents since then but rarely one of my lenses will start to float in my eye a bit during windy and cold conditons. I know from experience how to blink my eye just right so the lens doesn't pop out.

Those very rare incidents aside, I don't think I'd ever switch back to glasses.

 

[andyzee]

Due to the fact that I need glasses for both reading and distance and I have astigmatism as well, I cannot wear contacts on a daily basis, i.e. work, etc... However, when it comes to sports and especially skiing, I find contacts is the way to go. I find them very comforatable and no fogging.

 

[skiguy666]

Check out Zeal Optics. www.zealoptics.com Their goggles and sunglasses are designed from the ground up with RX lenses in mind.

 

[KingM]

I was so near sighted that I could no longer read without glasses or contacts. I had a moderate astigmatism. I got LASIK and it's amazing how much of a difference that has made in many facets of my life.

 

[frozencorn]

Never had a problem with contacts drying out under goggles versus any other time I wear them. I wore my glasses under my goggles once.








Once.