Cycling wearing contact lenses

[ParanoidAndroid]

May be an odd question but does anyone wear contact lenses whilst road cycling? I do and despite wearing glasses I find I start to get discomfort after a few miles as the wind dries them out. Particularly annoying as it feels like I have grit in the eye when this happens!

Anyone else experience this? I've tried a couple of different glasses options which does help but hasn't fixed it. Just wondered if anyone had any recommendations for glasses that can block the wind and prevent this?

[PhillT]

I do, and had a few issues of excess wind drying them out when I first started riding. Even lost one at speed. But since I got larger glasses (Oakley Jawbreakers) I've had no problems at all. Plus the Prizm lenses are amazing.

[uncinqsix]

I've never had an issue with them. I don't wear glasses while riding, but I suspect good ones would help if you did have a drying out problem.

[Henners]

I tried for a while, but struggled with them getting dry and just feeling a bit off.

I either go without or use some prescription lenses now.

[timnoyce]

ParanoidAndroid said:

May be an odd question but does anyone wear contact lenses whilst road cycling? I do and despite wearing glasses I find I start to get discomfort after a few miles as the wind dries them out. Particularly annoying as it feels like I have grit in the eye when this happens!

Anyone else experience this? I've tried a couple of different glasses options which does help but hasn't fixed it. Just wondered if anyone had any recommendations for glasses that can block the wind and prevent this?

Not all contact lenses are made equal. I work for a contact lens manufacturer and the difference between the 'cheap' ones and the 'good' ones is quite significant. I find that my eyes will feel dry and tired after a day in the office staring at the PC, but in 'normal use' they are totally fine.

[petsco]

never cycled not wearing them, but then I have GP lenses, and not soft ones

Only issues have been little flies, and since getting cycling glasses maybe 20 years ago, never had an issue

[R1gtr]

PhillT said:

I do, and had a few issues of excess wind drying them out when I first started riding. Even lost one at speed. But since I got larger glasses (Oakley Jawbreakers) I've had no problems at all. Plus the Prizm lenses are amazing.

I am exactly the same, had problems with them drying out and also lost one on a descent at high speed. Tried a mates pair of Oakley Jawbreaker and they were a revelation, bought my own pair and not had a problem since. I still carry spare contacts with me just in case.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Contacts are fine normally in day to day use, it's just on the bike with the wind rush around my current glasses that seem to cause the problem although luckily I've not actually lost one yet.

I'll try the Jawbreakers and see how I get on. Thanks for recommendation.

[ParanoidAndroid]

for the Jawbreaker advice, seem to work a treat on my ride today! Thanks for the recommendation.

[R1gtr]

ParanoidAndroid said:

for the Jawbreaker advice, seem to work a treat on my ride today! Thanks for the recommendation.

Nice one, glad you found a solution, not cheap but my pair are one of my best cycle purchases

[g7jhp]

I have contact lenses and were glasses when I cycle.

I have a pair of Oakley Flak Jacket XLJ Sunglasses for sunny days.

For overcast or poor weather days I use cheap Lomo Elite Cycling glasses, great at £10.

[TwistingMyMelon]

I wear contacts and my oakleys all year round, great lenses

Never any issues with shades

Id never not wear eye protection , had to many stones bounce off the glasses!

[HelenT]

As a cyclist and Optician, certainly worth looking at a change of contact lens type, soft contact lenses let oxygen through to the front of the eye either by the amount of water in the lens or in the case of the newer silicon hydrogel materials as a property of the material itself. I certainly prefer silicon hydrogels as less likely to dry out and get dislodged when riding.

[uncinqsix]

HelenT said:

As a cyclist and Optician, certainly worth looking at a change of contact lens type, soft contact lenses let oxygen through to the front of the eye either by the amount of water in the lens or in the case of the newer silicon hydrogel materials as a property of the material itself. I certainly prefer silicon hydrogels as less likely to dry out and get dislodged when riding.

+1 on the silicon hydrogels. They're really good.

[rastapasta]

get a set of glasses with presciption lenses or inserts, like the Julbo's I wear

[Kawasicki]

I'm severely shortsighted...-7.50 in both eyes...it annoys the crap out of me.

Anyway, I use my normal glasses for training rides up to 2 hours. For longer rides, or in very sunny weather I wear contacts and cycling glasses with fairly good results. I've had a couple of instances where turbulence behind the cycling glasses flicked the contact lens off my eye. It is interesting to experience how good a human brain can adapt to certain situations.

[PorkRind]

Cycling glasses are a must, I've found they 1 stop my nose from running due to the way they divert the air around my face and 2 stop crap going into my eyes which leads to me going quicker.

[smn159]

I get this with GP contact lenses but usually only on longer rides of 100km plus. Had been considering prescription sunglasses but might give the Jawbreakers a try.