Cycling UK Forum

An optician will normally start a new lens user with dailies; less chance of problems while the user gets the hang of putting lenses in and out.
I find monthlies more comfortable for all day wear.(16 hours)
I don’t normally wear any glasses at all while cycling; what I love about my contacts is freedom from bloody glasses!
I think it’s wearing glasses for years which lessens the blink reflex; when I started with contacts I had to wear glasses on the bike, but my blink reflex is now good enough that I don’t need the glasses I very rarely get anything in my eye.
I have never had a lens blow out, maybe I’m too slow!
Technically a lens can’t go “ behind the eye” it is contained in the conjunctival sac, the fold of conjunctiva under the eyelids. A lens will stay there for a few hours before becoming uncomfortable in my experience; by then I have already put another lens in!
I’m very strongly left eye dominant; with a distance lens in the dominant eye I can only read with a reading lens in the right eye if I cover the dominant left eye; not a workable situation! When I started with contacts looking behind on the bike over the right shoulder, all I saw was the left side of my nose, I controlled this by closing the dominant eye, although now I don’t need to do that, so even at my age I have some plasticity remaining!
I couldn’t get on with multifocal lenses, the ones with a Fresnel lens on one surface. I use “ready readers” from the pound shop for reading.
Difficulty removing a lens I found was fixed by using a wet finger and thumb, so the lens “sticks” to your fingers with surface tension.

531colin wrote: ↑3 May 2024, 10:25pm ...
Technically a lens can’t go “ behind the eye” it is contained in the conjunctival sac, the fold of conjunctiva under the eyelids. A lens will stay there for a few hours before becoming uncomfortable in my experience; by then I have already put another lens in!
...

I discussed this a fair amount in all my consultations (new to lenses and concerned about what happens when things go wrong). She explained and demonstrated rub the eyelid gently (she showed a motion to use) and it will return to the front. I've no idea how lens specific this is.

Had a few supply issues early on so asked about same but different brand or range. Seems there are cheaper lenses same manufacturer but not as comfortable though I've no idea why, maybe different materials or thicker?

Ian

Google will show you a diagram of your eye with the conjunctiva attached to the globe at the edge of the cornea, folded under the eyelids and attached to the eyelids next to the eyelashes. If you look closely in a mirror you can see the conjunctiva crinkle up when you look out of the corner of your eye.
I only get a lens lodged in the conjunctival sac when I rub my eyes and a lens gets folded. They come out on their own, but I’ll try to remember to rub the eyelid!
I have found more expensive lenses to be more comfortable, or comfortable for longer. So monthlies more comfortable than dailies, and monthlies that you wear 24/7 (ie. while you sleep) most comfortable of all. I’m told this is to do with the water content of the lens, the more water the better, and the permeability to oxygen…so the chemical composition of the lens makes the difference.
I had to give up with the lenses you wear 24/7 after a couple of infections, but I really enjoyed waking up opening my eyes and actually being able to see….. I hadn’t had that since I was about 12!
Pity you can’t get contacts to deal with cataracts and floaters, my next difficulties!
I had a trial with Ortho K lenses(I think that’s the brand)
Hard lenses you wear overnight, they re- shape your cornea so you take them out in the morning and you can see! With nothing in your eyes, no glasses, you can just see! Unfortunately wasn’t successful, but I was pushing the limits for prescription and age!

Psamathe wrote: ↑3 May 2024, 9:37pm

Pinhead wrote: ↑3 May 2024, 1:09pm ...
NO I use MONTHLY contacts, replace once a MONTH, can't stand daily disposables.

Who can be bothered to replace them every day

https://www.visiondirect.co.uk/biofinity

I find dailies really convenient. No fluids, no cases. Each lens in a tiny peel off lid container. Peel off the lid, lens to fingertip, to eye and done. No cleaning, nothing.

One of my concerns before starting was carrying enough for travel (4 months supply). Specialist did a check and daily disposables for 4 months were a lower volume and less weight than 4 months stock of monthly contacts.

Ian

So! what is the difference, cases ! what cases, what fluid !, you haver 100% missed the point

I buy THREE months supply at once, 1 pere eye x 2 eyes x 3 months = 9 lenses IN the so called peel off lid container.

The difference is THEY ARE MONTHLYS.

Put them in on the 1st of the month, then do NOTHING until the next 1st of the month when you swap them.

You take yours out every day, I take mine out ONCE a MONTH !

" lower volume and less weight than 4 months stock of monthly contacts"............. Rubbish, below is the box, of MONTHLY'S = THREE months, no taking out no swapping.

..

Pinhead wrote: ↑4 May 2024, 12:18pm

Psamathe wrote: ↑3 May 2024, 9:37pm

Pinhead wrote: ↑3 May 2024, 1:09pm ...
NO I use MONTHLY contacts, replace once a MONTH, can't stand daily disposables.

Who can be bothered to replace them every day

https://www.visiondirect.co.uk/biofinity

I find dailies really convenient. No fluids, no cases. Each lens in a tiny peel off lid container. Peel off the lid, lens to fingertip, to eye and done. No cleaning, nothing.

One of my concerns before starting was carrying enough for travel (4 months supply). Specialist did a check and daily disposables for 4 months were a lower volume and less weight than 4 months stock of monthly contacts.

Ian

So! what is the difference, cases ! what cases, what fluid !, you haver 100% missed the point

I buy THREE months supply at once, 1 pere eye x 2 eyes x 3 months = 9 lenses IN the so called peel off lid container.

The difference is THEY ARE MONTHLYS.

Put them in on the 1st of the month, then do NOTHING until the next 1st of the month when you swap them.

You take yours out every day, I take mine out ONCE a MONTH !

" lower volume and less weight than 4 months stock of monthly contacts"............. Rubbish, below is the box, of MONTHLY'S = THREE months, no taking out no swapping.


Img_1783.jpg
..

No need to SHOUT, it was all a pleasant chatty thread!

https://www.visiondirect.co.uk/should-i-choose-daily-or-monthly-contact-lenses wrote:Dailies vs monthlies: the facts

Convenience

Yes, we'll say it again - daily contact lenses are the king of convenience, as you don't have to stress about buying contact lens solutions or lugging around a case. You simply wear them for a full day, and before it's time to hit the sack or shower, throw them in the bin. If you like to mix it up between your specs and your contact lenses depending on what you're up to, dailies can also give you that freedom.

Like we've mentioned, monthlies are more effort, as they need to be cleaned and stored correctly before you can wear them the next day. By correctly, we mean you have to be really vigilant with your lens routine and ensure you follow it to the letter. For those that still want to go ahead with extended wear contact lenses, there are reusable options: for example Biofinity or everclear AIR. In either case, chat to your optician before making that move.

Ian

If I'm looking at the right website, the manufacturer says they can be wearable for up to six nights continuously. To be clear, IANAO.

sjs wrote: ↑4 May 2024, 12:35pm If I'm looking at the right website, the manufacturer says they can be wearable for up to six nights continuously. To be clear, IANAO.

According to the opticians, a month straight, I have been wearing them for 5 years no trouble swapping monthly.

sjs wrote: ↑4 May 2024, 12:35pm If I'm looking at the right website, the manufacturer says they can be wearable for up to six nights continuously. To be clear, IANAO.

My understanding is that there are constraints and risks with extended wear contact lenses. My travels often involve altitude (5000m for >1 day) and oxygen levels close to half that at sea level) or maybe 3000+m for longer a month (oxygen partial pressure 14%). Plus things like kayaking (water, even in UK rivers with all that sewage we seem to think they need)

Higher risk of infection from extended wear.

https://www.piedmont.org/living-real-change/how-long-can-you-safely-wear-contacts#:~:text=Extended%2Dwear%20lenses%3A%20Extended%2D,lenses%20are%20removed%20and%20replaced. wrote:“The FDA recommends that extended wear contact lenses be removed and not worn overnight at least once a week for overnight cleaning,” says Dr. Loft. “Overnight wear of contact lenses is the main risk factor for developing corneal ulcers.”

https://coopervision.co.uk/about-contacts/extended-wear-contact-lenses wrote:Risks and other considerations
The biggest risk of extended wear contact lenses is infection, which can lead to blindness. Other risks include corneal neovascularisation (where the blood vessels in your eye grow toward your iris in an attempt to address a desperate need for oxygen), inflammation and irritation.

Here are some ways that these risks can be reduced:

When possible, remove even extended wear contact lenses before sleeping.
Remove contact lenses before swimming, or clean them after swimming.
Avoid handling your lenses without washing your hands.
Avoid smoke and other poor air conditions.
...

Ian

Even if you do wash them daily and re use

1. Less expensive than dailies
2. Take up less space
3. Better for the environment

Pinhead wrote: ↑4 May 2024, 1:02pm Even if you do wash them daily and re use

1. Less expensive than dailies
2. Take up less space
3. Better for the environment

According to my optician, whilst the lenses might take up less space the total bulk & weight with the fluids & containers is significantly more with the monthlies. Before starting I carefully checked as coping with lenses and travelling was a major consideration for me (where I'd be taking maybe 4 months supply as availability whilst travelling would be "challenging"). I can believe ttheir bulk/weight comparison as she showed me the kit I'd need to be taking per month for both monthlies and dailies.

My dailies are properly recycled ie not thrown away but optician has a special contact lens recycling box for them (like the battery recycling boxes in supermarkets.

Ian

Monthly lenses that you take out each night are much more widely used and safer than the ones you sleep with.
Sleeping in monthly lenses, I had conjunctivitis once and a corneal ulcer twice. Corneal ulcers are particularly painful, and to get relief you want a lens between the cornea and the eyelid…but that’s what caused the ulcer!
Not everybody will have the same experience, but I would advise against (for example) going travelling with them, unless you take the cases and solution to take them out; which kind of misses the point.