Contact Lenses on the AT

[-Ghost-]

I was just curious if any of you guys have personally thru hiked with contacts or know of someone that did it. I plan on hiking it in 09 and the idea of THAT long of an amount of time in the woods with contacts really bothers me. It seems the potential for eye infection, etc is extremely high. I have been backpacking up to about 12 days with contacts and had no problems, but there is a big difference between a week and a half and 5 months.

Also, i hate glasses...the idea of glasses sliding down my nose every second due to sweat just pisses me off...

[sonic]

And that is why I had Lasik surgery!!!!!!

[hopefulhiker]

I used contacts and glasses but I ended up having to take a few days off the trail because of pink eye in Damascus... I would take contacts, they are good in the rain but I would also take glasses..

[Johnny Thunder]

And that is why I had Lasik surgery!!!!!!

Do you think anyone ever went in for Lazer Eye surgery and came out with Lazer Eyes?

If so, could these combat the dreaded "Lazer, Rocket Arm" I've heard so much about?

[Appalachian Tater]

You can put a inch or inch and a half of lawnmower gas line (plastic tubing) over the ends of your earpieces and it will keep them from slipping. Look at the holders that are basically a string with two little tubes to hold them on at a sports shop or outfitters or drugstore. Basically it's that without the string.

You can also get Cat Crap and other proprietary brands of stuff that will keep glasses from fogging and repel rain.

I knew somebody who used contacts to avoid glare on their lenses while taking photographs. It looked like a lot of trouble but it was worth it to him. The whole sanitary factor was a problem.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

I've done a lot of hiking in contacts - just not on the AT. As long as you clean your hands before handling them (actually before handling the lens, slolution bottle or the case) and haul along a small bottle of the all-in-one cleaning / disinfecting / wetting solutions, you should be fine. This was a real PITA back when soap & purified water were necessary. Seems it would be a piece of cake with alcohol gel readily available.

[Just a Hiker]

Hey there, I know for me, contacts wouldn't work on the trail. Knowing my luck I would catch some Far-Eastern Eye Fungus, and then you guys would be giving me a new trail name. But seriously, I only wear my glasses at night wherever I am camped; however, I see people every year on the trail who do quite well with contacts.

Just Jim

[Jimmers]

I've been hiking with contact lenses for years and never had any problems
with them as far as infections. (yet). Swimming pools and oceans give me
more problems with that. Like Dino said, as long as you're careful to keep
your hands clean you shouldn't have any problems. Just remember to
keep the lenses inside your sleeping bag at night if it's going to go below
freezing. While I've never had a pair freeze, there's always a first time for
everything. And there's nothing worse than putting ice cold contacts
into your eyes 1st thing in the morning. Not fun.

[twosticks]

I was on a 10 day hike with mine in skeeter country and naturally some of the Deet got into my eyes and I came down with pink eye. It's happened twice. It could be that I'm a dirtbag or that I'm not very careful. I still use them, just have to make sure to keep my hands clean.

[ChinMusic]

And that is why I had Lasik surgery!!!!!!

Ditto, had the surg in 2005. Excellent results.

Now, due to my age, I just have to bring reading glasses. I choose to bring 3.0 or 3.5X with me. These are not good for long periods of reading but double for getting out splinters.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

A note for the older hikers - Lasik surgery is not possible after a certain time in life. You have to get the cornea replaced with a clear, solid lens - costs about $4,500 to $5,000 per eye. I'd rather buy gear with my $$'s

[Just a Hiker]

Ditto, had the surg in 2005. Excellent results.

Now, due to my age, I just have to bring reading glasses. I choose to bring 3.0 or 3.5X with me. These are not good for long periods of reading but double for getting out splinters.

Can a person get that surgery if their main issue is Astigmatism?

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Can a person get that surgery if their main issue is Astigmatism?

One of my grandkids did, but she is about 20 yo.

[Blissful]

You can also get Cat Crap and other proprietary brands of stuff that will keep glasses from fogging and repel rain.

Man, that is the one thing I wished I'd had on the trail. Foggy glasses were a royal pain!!

[Blissful]

A note for the older hikers - Lasik surgery is not possible after a certain time in life. You have to get the cornea replaced with a clear, solid lens - costs about $4,500 to $5,000 per eye. I'd rather buy gear with my $$'s

My mil (who is 70) just had cataract surgery both eyes and now they say she doesn't need glasses except for reading. I know I have cataracts in both eyes.

[Just a Hiker]

My mil (who is 70) just had cataract surgery both eyes and now they say she doesn't need glasses except for reading. I know I have cataracts in both eyes.

I have a family history of cataracts, so this concerns me as well.

[ChinMusic]

Can a person get that surgery if their main issue is Astigmatism?

I cannot answer that question with any certainty.

I had an astig in my left eye to a fairly large degree and it is gone. My wife's eyes were NOT candidates for Lasik due to the lack of thickness in her cornea.

Bottom line: It takes a professional exam to know if you are a candidate.

On a side note: I was somewhat afraid of Lasik since I am a dentist that works under fairly high magnification. I was afraid of a loss of visual acuity that the general public would not notice in themselves. I put off Lasik until there were a significant number of surgeons that had gone thru the procedure before me (call me chicken).

For a few weeks after the surg my visual acuity varied from day to day. I was kinda scared. After about 3 weeks (maybe 2) my close vision (with the aid of magnification as I had before) was as good or better than it was before.

[Deadeye]

I had cataract surgery 3 years ago (from an old injury), that's how I got my name. Spent the summer before surgery hiking with only one eye - had some depth perception issues that were pretty funny sometimes.

Anyhow, cataract surgery, while it may improve your uncorrected vision, ain't the same as Lasik, which actually corrects your vision. Personally, I've had my eye poked out with a stick once, and that was enough. I like having glasses on my face. Can't count how many times a low branch has whipped me smack on the lenses.

[sonic]

Can a person get that surgery if their main issue is Astigmatism?

Sure can. I had Astigmatism and the surgery was very successful. 20/20. I still need reading glasses for really close work, but no more glasses or contacts!!

[ChinMusic]

Personally, I've had my eye poked out with a stick once, and that was enough. I like having glasses on my face. Can't count how many times a low branch has whipped me smack on the lenses.

This is a good point. Sorta like wearing safety glasses.

I tend to wear sunglasses a lot but would not wear "blank" lenses just for protection.