bifocal contacts

**HwyRider** · 04-01-2014, 07:33 AM

I've been wearing eye glasses since I was in my 30's. For over 20 years I have been trying to get contact lenses to no avail. They didn't make contacts for bifocal vision and others just told me that I wasn't a candidate for them.

Last week I finally got the contacts fitted and got my test set. What a relief to be rid of the glasses. I have to go back in on Friday to have the prescription adjusted. I can't read with the right eye (prescription to weak) and I have to hold the laptop out about 2 feet in front of me to read with the left eye (prescription to strong). Even with these slight problems I have to say I am really glad that I went this route instead of another pair of glasses. Now I just have to wait until they get the prescription strengths figured out before I can ride. Hopefully it will be soon as the good weather is finally here.

For those that ride wearing contacts. Is there any chance that they can blow out from the wind with regular sunglasses?

Old Bear · 04-01-2014, 08:19 AM

I've worn contacts for years, never heard of one blowing out. Mine certainly have not. They can however, dry out. Carry the recommended eye drops for re-wetting the contacts.

RACNRAY · 04-01-2014, 09:33 AM

I have been wearing contacts for 36 years. The first pair were hard lenses that lasted 22 years. The next pair was of the gas permeable type and lasted 7 years b4 my eyes needed a new script. The pair I have now is about 7 years and also due to be replaced as my old eyes keep changing. For me the gas permeable/hard type helps to keep my prescription from changing so often as the hard lens helps somewhat to keep the shape of my eyeballs from changin as much thus requiring a new script.

In 36 years I only lost one lens cuz I opened my face shield pulling into my yard at nite and had a low hangin pine tree limb smack me in the face, out popped one lens.

Only problem with the hard type lenses is if I get something in my eye it really does hurt and will shut that eye (and if it is bad enuff BOTH EYES!!!).

As Jerry said keep them wet and lubed, I have had certain eye/eye lid movements pop a lens out or have it shift off center.

Always keep some eye drops with you and a lens carrier in case you have to take a lens out.

RACNRAY

BTW....maybe you have the lenses accidently switched into the wrong eyes, I do that sometimes and it is kinda funny when the first one goes in...oops that ain't sposed to be in there!!

**HwyRider** · 04-01-2014, 09:54 AM

Thanks guys.

I checked the lenses in each eye. The reading scripts are just off. That's why this ended up in jokes instead of off topic.

Mav1 · 04-01-2014, 11:11 AM

Are your contacts bi-focal (they have those now) or are you wearing mono vision (one contact for long distance and one contact for close)? I wear contacts while riding and have had no problems other than some dryness. Drops work wonders for that!
I tried bi-focal lenses last year and hated them. They worked better for close, but you lose distance vision with them which I hate to do while riding for safety reasons. Nothing seemed as clear through those lenses either.
Then I was fitted for mono vision. Dominant eye is left at regular prescription and the other eye is reduced for better short distance vision. Some time is required to adjust, but this solution worked much better.
Now, if I am just out running around town, I do the mono vision for convenience. I'm not totally comfortable with the long term effect of mono, so if I'm riding all day I just go back to my regular prescription in each eye and carry the good old reading glasses for reading menus, etc.

**HwyRider** · 04-01-2014, 12:00 PM

Mine are 1 month bifocal. I doubled checked to make sure they didn't give me mono vision.

ramdam1 · 04-02-2014, 02:45 PM

I tried the bifocal contacts for a year. Just couldn't get used to them. They weren't strong enough for seeing close and I had to use a slight RX to see close. They made my distance a lot worse. Felt like my eyes were always fighting each other. Went back to mono for distance and the old glasses off the shelf for close work. I really wish they had worked for me. I had a great eye DR she gave me like 4 different variations. Just could find one that worked. Glad it works for you.

04-01-2014, 07:33 AM	#1
HwyRider Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 4,629	bifocal contacts I've been wearing eye glasses since I was in my 30's. For over 20 years I have been trying to get contact lenses to no avail. They didn't make contacts for bifocal vision and others just told me that I wasn't a candidate for them. Last week I finally got the contacts fitted and got my test set. What a relief to be rid of the glasses. I have to go back in on Friday to have the prescription adjusted. I can't read with the right eye (prescription to weak) and I have to hold the laptop out about 2 feet in front of me to read with the left eye (prescription to strong). Even with these slight problems I have to say I am really glad that I went this route instead of another pair of glasses. Now I just have to wait until they get the prescription strengths figured out before I can ride. Hopefully it will be soon as the good weather is finally here. For those that ride wearing contacts. Is there any chance that they can blow out from the wind with regular sunglasses? __________________ VBA # 02424 VROC # 35971 2010 Nomad 1700 Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Titanium

04-01-2014, 08:19 AM	#2
Old Bear Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 1,434	I've worn contacts for years, never heard of one blowing out. Mine certainly have not. They can however, dry out. Carry the recommended eye drops for re-wetting the contacts. __________________ Jerry "Old Bear" Barker Clarksville, TN Americas Guardians PS MC President, Tennessee 16-A VBA #02203 "Blaze" 2017 Vaquero "Black Magic" 2011 Vaquero, 69k miles, handed down to my son for hopefully many more miles!

04-01-2014, 09:33 AM	#3
RACNRAY Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: SOUTH FLORIDA Posts: 1,210	I have been wearing contacts for 36 years. The first pair were hard lenses that lasted 22 years. The next pair was of the gas permeable type and lasted 7 years b4 my eyes needed a new script. The pair I have now is about 7 years and also due to be replaced as my old eyes keep changing. For me the gas permeable/hard type helps to keep my prescription from changing so often as the hard lens helps somewhat to keep the shape of my eyeballs from changin as much thus requiring a new script. In 36 years I only lost one lens cuz I opened my face shield pulling into my yard at nite and had a low hangin pine tree limb smack me in the face, out popped one lens. Only problem with the hard type lenses is if I get something in my eye it really does hurt and will shut that eye (and if it is bad enuff BOTH EYES!!!). As Jerry said keep them wet and lubed, I have had certain eye/eye lid movements pop a lens out or have it shift off center. Always keep some eye drops with you and a lens carrier in case you have to take a lens out. RACNRAY BTW....maybe you have the lenses accidently switched into the wrong eyes, I do that sometimes and it is kinda funny when the first one goes in...oops that ain't sposed to be in there!! __________________ "TRUE HAPPINESS IS IN THE HEART, NOT IN THE OUTSIDE FIXES" WITH OVER 46 YEARS AS A MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN/HI-PO SHOP OWNER I AM A PURVEYOR OF FACT NOT FICTION! "WE LIVE OUR LIVES IN CHAINS NEVER KNOWING WE HAD THE KEY" Last edited by RACNRAY; 04-01-2014 at 09:35 AM.

04-01-2014, 09:54 AM	#4
HwyRider Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 4,629	Thanks guys. I checked the lenses in each eye. The reading scripts are just off. That's why this ended up in jokes instead of off topic. __________________ VBA # 02424 VROC # 35971 2010 Nomad 1700 Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Titanium

04-01-2014, 11:11 AM	#5
Mav1 Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 138	Are your contacts bi-focal (they have those now) or are you wearing mono vision (one contact for long distance and one contact for close)? I wear contacts while riding and have had no problems other than some dryness. Drops work wonders for that! I tried bi-focal lenses last year and hated them. They worked better for close, but you lose distance vision with them which I hate to do while riding for safety reasons. Nothing seemed as clear through those lenses either. Then I was fitted for mono vision. Dominant eye is left at regular prescription and the other eye is reduced for better short distance vision. Some time is required to adjust, but this solution worked much better. Now, if I am just out running around town, I do the mono vision for convenience. I'm not totally comfortable with the long term effect of mono, so if I'm riding all day I just go back to my regular prescription in each eye and carry the good old reading glasses for reading menus, etc. __________________ Brian P. 2013 Vaquero SE Candy Burnt Orange/Ebony VBA#02576

04-01-2014, 12:00 PM	#6
HwyRider Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 4,629	Mine are 1 month bifocal. I doubled checked to make sure they didn't give me mono vision. __________________ VBA # 02424 VROC # 35971 2010 Nomad 1700 Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Titanium

04-02-2014, 02:45 PM	#7
ramdam1 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Long Island New York Posts: 101	I tried the bifocal contacts for a year. Just couldn't get used to them. They weren't strong enough for seeing close and I had to use a slight RX to see close. They made my distance a lot worse. Felt like my eyes were always fighting each other. Went back to mono for distance and the old glasses off the shelf for close work. I really wish they had worked for me. I had a great eye DR she gave me like 4 different variations. Just could find one that worked. Glad it works for you.