Contact Lenses - Soft vs GP
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Banter
Forum Discription: For all those non-sailing related discussions
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4519
Printed Date: 17 Aug 25 at 9:30am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Contact Lenses - Soft vs GP
Posted By: pondscum
Subject: Contact Lenses - Soft vs GP
Date Posted: 17 Aug 08 at 8:47pm
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I have worn hard/GP lenses for 30+ years but broke my current pair and the new opticians strongly recommended soft lenses. I only wear lenses for active sports (=sailing) these days. Leaving aside that I still haven't mastered getting the softs out and the fact that they appear more comfortable, I have found that when sailing if I get seriously splashed in the face, the lenses go off the centre of the eye and I can't get them back quickly. As a laser sailor who hikes quite hard on a shifty pond, I quite often get a faceful of water - is dislodging soft lenses a common problem or is it just me having to get used to the lenses? I used to have a GP lens off centre maybe a couple of times a year and a few blinks sorts it. On saturday I was well ahead in the 8.1, splashed in to windward  but did a water start  but then spent the next leg and a half try to get the lenses back on the eye . as my eyesight is quite bad (-7), I was sailing on the wrong lines, sail not adjusted etc etc and could only spot those pesky 2.4's at the last moment . I was wearing  , which should have reduced the splash somewhat.... Net result was that I lost a couple of places Any thoughts? |
Replies:
Posted By: The Moo
Date Posted: 18 Aug 08 at 8:49am
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I have only ever worn soft contact lenses. (Specsavers Daily Disposables) at present. From memory I have only ever lost one whilst sailing and generally have no problems. They rarely get dislodged and if they do a couple of blinks has them sorted.
I also go swimming 3 times a week wearing them, but do not go underwater (though I have been when sailing!) Swimming or sailing I rarely take spectacles or spare lenses for back up as I have become so confident that they will stay in! As regards getting them out, yes they are a little more difficult. I find wetting my fingers helps.... |
Posted By: timeintheboat
Date Posted: 18 Aug 08 at 11:06am
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I wear contact lenses for sailing (again Specsavers Daily Disposables). As above I have only lost one once and I always keep plenty of spares in the glovebox. Occasionally when water gets under them you think it has gone but a few blinks and it normally comes back. No problem getting them out - I tend to pinch them. Having been a glasses wearing sailor I would not go back. A good idea to not leave them in overnight - which can happen if partaking in a bit too much post sailing relaxing. ------------- Like some other things - sailing is more enjoyable when you do it with someone else |
Posted By: DiscoBall
Date Posted: 18 Aug 08 at 11:21am
Used to wear GPs but wouldn't go back now - they're awfully expensive if you do lose /break them. I've only lost one soft lense (monthly) in 8 years despite sailing in silly boats that see you swimming at high speed and never really have problems with them going off centre (maybe you're a particularly wide eyed sailor! ) but sure if you wear some sunnies then that should help.Soft lenses score over GPs when you get a bit of dust under them as the GP lenses make it start scoring grooves in your eyeball.... ouch... |
Posted By: Chris Turner
Date Posted: 18 Aug 08 at 12:41pm
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Laser surgery, the way forward.
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Posted By: The Moo
Date Posted: 19 Aug 08 at 8:21am
I have thought about it, but what I am not clear about is if there is any likelihood of your eyes deterioating again in the future, necessitating either another op or wearing glasses/contact lenses again? |
Posted By: Chris Turner
Date Posted: 19 Aug 08 at 8:59am
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No garuntees of anything but I was told that your eyes will deterioate any way in later life. I went to Moorfields not a back street job, the surgeon who is a sailor put my mind to rest, it has made a huge difference to my sailing actually being able to see marks and shifts a lot earlier. |
Posted By: scullyman
Date Posted: 19 Aug 08 at 9:26am
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Colin - solution 1, don't hike so hard then you won't dunk it to windward! I wear soft lenses and have never had a problem with them, but I guess it depends how moist your eyes are as to how quickly they re-centre. Maybe you should ask your optician? The advice re: dailies and keeping a spare pair or two in the glovebox is a good'un, paticularly since at Frensham you could dunk it at the top mark, stroll ashore, replace them, wander back to the boat and carry on! I find the real nuisance is when you're (broad) reaching in decent winds and waves - it seems to me that the Laser was carefully designed such that the spray hits you exactly in the face which can be quite uncomfortable. No solution as yet... Paul |
Posted By: Laser 173312
Date Posted: 19 Aug 08 at 9:36am
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Definitely have laser surgery. I had it done 10 years ago and have never regretted it. For the cost of a holiday it makes life so much easier, and in the long run it’s probably cheaper than contact lenses. As to your eyes deteriorating in later life, the correction to your short sightedness is permanent. However you may need reading glasses in later life. If you don’t have the treatment you may end up needing bi-focals which are very expensive and not particularly good solution. It was explained to me that the short-sightedness is due to a mis-shaped front of the eye ball, which the laser surgery reshapes. The later long-sightedness which leads to reading glasses is a deterioration of the optic nerve at the back of the eye. So it is two separate problems, although it is common for people who have one to be susceptible to the second. Hope that helps Hugh |
Posted By: oakey
Date Posted: 26 Aug 08 at 10:22pm
Try closing your eyes before water hits you  ....nah soft lenses are more comforatbe but i found that they didnt fit my pupils as well and slide around a bit...just get laser correction and be done with it 
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