Contact Lenses on the Playa?

debkakes · Post by **debkakes** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 1:44 pm

I'd like to hear people's luck with wearing contacts on the Playa. Thinking about getting some, but wondering if the dust/wind factor makes it totally impractical. Thanks!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 1:52 pm

I bring daily wear and just put freshies in each morning and keep a pair in my pocket as well. Tough part is getting your finger clean enough to stick in your eye. Bring plenty of cleanser and drops, handi wipes will help a lot too. I have goggles I throw on in heavy dust storms.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 1:59 pm

Problems can come up, but in general they work pretty well up there as long as you don't touch your eyes unless absolutely necessary! Loose dust usually gets flushed naturally, but when you rub your eyes you grind it in.

The rest of the year, I take my contacts out every night and put the same pair back in the next day. On the playa, there's dust floating around and your hands are never truly clean, so I just leave my contacts in the whole time. If I need to take them out, I toss them in the garbage and use a new pair rather than trying to clean and reuse the old pair. It would probably just make matters worse.

Take one extra pair for every day you plan to be up there and no matter what, save the last pair for the drive home.

If you haven't worn them before, I'd definitely suggest doing so for a couple of months ahead of time so your eyes can get used to them.

I wouldn't want to have to mess with glasses out there. Knowing me, I'd lose or smash them on the first day.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 2:40 pm

this is has been tossed around a lot in previous years. At the end of the day YMMV seems to be the only surefire answer. I would recommend goggles and 2 different kinds of drops: systane and there tears. The systane is really viscous and will leave your vision blurry for a moment or two but is a real life saver if you are in a bad way. The thera tears are very high quality normal viscosity drops.

Last Real Burner · Post by **Last Real Burner** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 12:26 am

What about a pair of those perscription goggles that they make for Handball players? They strap on and they have a little ventilation.

hmmmmmmly,
mr smith

naga brain · Post by **naga brain** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 1:15 pm

I thought I was going to have problems out there, but I have the soft lenses and they were surprisingly forgiving. I took them out every night before collapsing and made sure to have two pairs extra. I also brought two sets of both rewetting drops and the no rub storage solution, just in case one of the bottles cracked or something. And disinfecting baby wipes are totally a must!

One trick I learned last year is that the no rub stuff is great for a late afternoon eye irrigation. It gets all of the crap out. But if all else fails, bring the glasses (esp for the midnight bathroom run.)

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:57 pm

I brought my contacts rather than glasses for the first time last year, and had no problems. Bringing an extra pair of glasses just in case is great advice, also you should consider some kind of google over glasses or clip on sun glasses for you glasses because the sun is so bright during the day.

Sand_man · Post by **Sand_man** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 7:06 pm

I had a surprisingly easy time with my contacts, I think I only used 2 pairs in the entire 8 days. Maybe I was lucky. I also brought every single pair I owned as backup. The most inportant thing to do is keep the cockpit of your vehicle clean and put them in behind the wheel. (not while driving of course!)

Contact Lenses on the Playa?

Contact Lenses on the Playa?

Eureka!!!!

Contacts