Glasses/contacts/goggles....help!

[newbie2]

Hi,

I'm a (complete) novice and will soon be heading on my first week-long snowboarding holiday. My problem is that I have been looking around for the last few weeks for prescription goggles etc and am at the stage where I am completely confused...

I know that I can get goggles for over my glasses but apparantly metal framed glasses tend to be the worst for fogging up (guess which I have) and I don't want to spend all week trying to un-fog lenses. I can get prescription inserts for goggles, but then I need to carry my normal glasses with me in case I go inside, not to mention the prescription sunglasses to stop me going blind if I'm walking around a lot....

I do have disposable contacts, but my eyes tend to dry out after a while (generally only wear them once or twice a month and tend to come home with pink eyes) so I'm not sure about wearing them all day every day!

Some advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tirolerpeter]

Glasses/contacts

I too wear corrective lenses (bi-focals in fact) and have dealt with the issue for over 45 years of skiing. The best solution is the contacts. In light of the fact that you will be snowboarding as a novice, you will have a lot of trouble keeping your glasses clear. Since prescription goggles are very expensive your best choice at this pouint is contacts. I only wear them for skiing and this gives me the option of using different color goggles, or just sun glasses depending upon light conditions and temperatures. If your eyes are sensitive (especially since you wear them so infrequently) take some "time-outs" during the day, pull the lenses out and use a "wetting" solution or eye drops to "rest" your eyes. You will work out a comfortable routine in time. Enjoy the slopes!

 

[Greg]

Have a look here:

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

I've been wearing contacts full time for a number of months now and it makes a big difference for skiing. My eyes dry out quickly too and I've had a few instances of some stinging (and blurry vision) as they dried out while on the slopes. It usually clears up while on the lift, but I'm going to start bringing re-wetting drops with me to keep them lubed up a bit.

 

[Boardguy]

Glasses

I use the Bolle X 500 goggles with the insert that holds your lenses. This requires lenses to be fitted to the insert but they don't fog and I have had very good results with them. I am not comfortable with contacts but they would probably be the optimum solution - wear any goggles you want. The Bolles have been a very good solution for me.

 

[newbie2]

Thanks for the advice, you have no idea of how hard it's been to get some really decent advice from opticians over here - obviously they each sell the best solution. Am going to go with the contacts & wetting solution & see how it goes,

thanks again.

 

[KingM]

This is beyond the scope of your question, but after 20+ years of near blindness I had Lasik a few years ago. It's incredible to shake the contact/glasses thing and great for sports of any kind. The cost was about 2 grand, which is not too bad when compared to years of contacts, solution, glasses, etc.

 

[ctenidae]

I spent a season with completely fogged glasses. It is amazingly frustrating. So, I got some contacts. Disposables, and I only use them for skiing. If they bother you after wearing for a while, bring your glasses and a lens case (which you ought to do, anyway) with you. Take the lenses out when you take a lunch break, and then for good once your done, if the drying and irritation is too bad. Otherwise, try wearing them for longer and longer periods on a regular day. Your eyes will get used to them. Also keep a bottle of drops handy, or teach yourself to yawn on cue. Nothing beats natural tears. Plus, you look "cool" if life appears to bore you while waiting in line.

 

[newbie2]

The Lasix idea scares me at the moment. I know three people that have had it done in the past few years - one still needs glasses, one needs sunglasses on a bright day as she is very light sensitive and the other is fine. Probably something that I would do in a few years once I see how the long term situation pans out, as it must be terriffic not to have to think of these things as I also wakeboard and can never see whats going on in the boat - never a dull moment when you can't see hand signals at speed.

 

[KingM]

I've become a little more light sensitive since the Lasik and my visiion is still not perfect, but having come from a point where I'd been so nearsighted that I could no longer read a book without glasses or even tell what time it was in the middle of the night, I'm pretty happy with the results.

The new floating point lasers are supposed to be even better still.

 

[Jay Levitt]

My eyes dry out fairly easily too, and I tend to get Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis.. But I switched to CIBA's Focus Night & Day contacts, and I don't really have that problem anymore. They're sold as 30-day extended-wear, but you can of course take them out every night if you prefer. They let more oxygen into the eye, so they're much more comfortable. I just saw a commercial for a competing brand, presumably from Bausch & Lomb, that seems to use the same technology. (B&L already produce a similar contact lens in other countries, but due to a patent lawsuit they can't sell them here.) It's much nicer to be able to use any goggles I want. Seeing at the beach is another plus.

Also, if you're thinking of getting new contacts, find out if they come in UV-protection form. A ski instructor gave me that tip; I haven't yet found out if Focus Night & Day do.

 

[Vortex]

I Think most goggles that are designed for glasses don't fog that bad its the glasses I have had a problem with. I can't wear contacts tried many times.. (Catcrap) I think thats the spelling. I put it on the inside and outside of my glasses and very little problem with fogging. Most ski shops have it. Its worth a try for 4 or 5 dollars.

 

[golfngord]

I had LAsic surgery for my eyes 4 years ago and have not regreted it.
It has helped with all sports, i am play hockey,squash and board frequently
and now no foggy lenses,its great.

 

[dmc]

Bring 2 pairs on powder days.

Saw people learning that lesson yesterday...

 

[BrockVond]

Thanks for the advice, you have no idea of how hard it's been to get some really decent advice from opticians over here - obviously they each sell the best solution. Am going to go with the contacts & wetting solution & see how it goes,

thanks again.

Good choice, I think. I've been using contacts when I ski for quite a while and they work well. Jay Levitt's advice is very good, btw: Extended wear contacts might be good for you in that they reduce the need for constant rewetting. But try different types of contacts and see for yourself what works best for you.

My son just got glasses and I'm still wrestling with how to deal with that. No contacts or lasik for 5 year olds, so he's stuck with the glasses.

 

[Jay Levitt]

Yes, definitely bring a spare pair of contacts... you never know what will happen.

Also, there are some new types of drops on the market that are both rewetting AND lubricating drops. (Previously, the only lubricating drops were for use without contacts.) I use these every morning and night, and they seem to make a difference. One brand is called "Complete". And there are yet others that remove protein - not so important if you're removing them nightly, but really nice if you keep them in for the whole month.

 

[Skier75]

I too wear contacts, mostly for just skiing, but also have recently used them for snokeling. The contacts are the best thing for me as far as skiing goes. It used to be such a pain in the a$$ with glasses and goggles. Both my glasses and goggles used to fog up on me after a run and I'd have to stop and de-fog everything, every single time. I have tried the cat-crap also, but didn't find that it always worked that great for me. I bring an extra pair of cntacts with me, in case I have a problem with them or whatever, and always bring my glasses to change at the end of the day, 'sides I can't read very well with my contacts in(I have transitional lenses in my glasses now). I do get dry eyes from them too, but use drops to help with that.

As far as wearing the contacts for snokeling goes, I'm very careful not to open my eyes under water and get a real good suction on the face mask. I was told by my doctor I could give it a shot, but be careful. It worked pretty good, I was glad I was able to see soo well underwater to see the fish soo much better!

Now lasik, I'd like to try it, but still just a little leery about it. I still want to wait until they perfect it some more. This is my eyesight we're talking about. Maybe some day......