Bit of an Odd Question

[Craig J]

This may seem as a bit of a weird question to ask but it came to me today randomly. Can you wear RGP contacts on a rollercoaster? In know this sounds a bit of a weird question but have been thinking about lens wear since my first contact for my right eye is due to be ready next week. I had some real issues with lenses due to a bit of a phobia of having something on my eye, but after weeks of persistance with a practise lens my optometrist let me borrow I'm finally getting a lens in and out of my right eye. I just need to start trying it in my left now, I'm a bit nervous of sticking it in my other eye but i'm sure I'll be fine!!!

[piper]

When I read things like the above it makes me think that the art of fitting lenses is very different in the UK and the US.........most people here do not find that theyk need a long learning period, a break in period, whatever you want to call it. Most places that fit lenses have a surface mapping./cornean topography instrument, and many lenses are simply kept in stock at the Optometrist's office.

A wide variety of lenses are usually abailable from the daily wear, to extended wear, soft, hard, soft skirted.....some with astigmatism correction built in, and in many colors.

Most people don't have pain or discomfort if they attend an experienced optom. ..... Now, it is very nearly rare for many Americans to wear glasses as they usually got into contacts as youngsters.

Apparently things are not like this in the UK.

Yes.......for us KC people, special lenses must be made, but I really don't know anyone who has trouble getting lenses that fit and are wearable.

Must be a difference in the lens making labs or the mathematics of the science of fitting.....

Piper

[GarethB]

Absolutly no problem with lenses on a roller coaster, but what I do find is the wind in the face is very drying and any dust under the lens for me is quite painful, but I have found a good pair of sunglasses helps.

Piper, I think the difference in lenses and the way they are prescribed is down to the fact we have a National Healthcare System funded by the government through the tax payer which most use rather than the American Health Insurance scheme or if you do not have it, you have to find another means of paying your healthcare costs.

[rosemary johnson]

Roller coaster - arrgh. I don't want to go on one of those with or without lenses. Good luck.

As regards piper's US/UK differences - I suspect it is less the US/UK difference, but more the difference between an "ordinary" person, and someone who's KC is getting mroe advanced. And/r comeone whose KC is exacerbated with problems with dry eyes, poor tear production,e tc.
Many "High Street" opticians might dit an "Ornidary" osft lens to someone with just "ordinary" short-sightedness, and not even attempt to fit a hard (corneal) lens to an eye with advanced KC. Let alone a scleral.
When I first got mine, it was usual to put a lens in, and send the person out to walk round the block for 45 minutes, say, to "see if you can wear contact lenses". People who can back with streaming eyes were recommended not to both persisting.
The fitter took one look at me, said "e won't send you out to see if you can wear one. Youre going to have to, so we'll assume you can."
Fortunately, they worked out OK.
I still had to get used to wearing them, by starting off with short periods and gradually building up. But these were the old PMMA (perspex) type. I'd guess people who start off with soft lenses, because those will work with their eyes, have fewer problems and a shorter period of gettingused to wearing lenses.
Only ever worn soft lenses underneath RGP sclerals, so can't say if having worn soft ones before makes it easier to get used to wearing hard ones. Other than, there's less of an "eeeeek!" factor to overcome in getting them in/out.
Rosemary

[Pat A]

Rosemary
From my experiences, wearing soft lenses doesn't help at all when it comes to getting used to RGPs! It might make it less of a problem to get used to putting then in - it's actually easier to put an RGP in I think than a soft lens - but I have found it nigh on impossible to wear RGP's on their own - so am wearing a soft lens underneath.

And like you - you won't get me near a roller coaster with or without lenses - I feel ill just watching them!

But I don't think I'd wear them on a roller coaster personally - my physics knowledge tells the eyes will move very rapidly and you could well end up with the lens somewhere you don't want them to be..

Good luck whatever you decide!

[Louise Pembroke]

Personally, I wouldn't because fast wind against the eye can be uncomfortable

[Craig J]

Thanks for all the replys. I still think my question is a bit silly but nevermind, i would always take them out even if some one told me they would be fine. It was just a silly question which i had to ask . I'm a funny person myself, i love rollercoasters and the such and have a pet snake, so i have none of the "ussual" fears people have, but sit me in a chair with sum1 coming towards my eye with a contact lens on their finger and i sweat shake and squirm. Lol last time i was in my optometrist asked me "do you want me to put it in" with a joking smile. I'm fine with putting it in myself now, but thanks everyone for the replys.

[rosemary johnson]

Now, I had a friend with a pet snake, and was quite happy with him (the snake) climbing orund my hands and arms, He always felt so cold, though.

I've always found my sclerals - RGP version, o rthe old PMMA ones! - easier to get in than sthe soft lenses I got for piggybacing. I now stick the soft lens inside the scleral and put them in together, because i can't get the soft lens to go in and stay in on its own. And if they don't come out both together, then it's major panic stations.

Incidentally, sorry for the typing, but there's something very odd going on with this site/browser combination. Characters I've typed keep getting "missed out" and not echoed on screen - but if I go back and try to edit the missing letters in, they come out twice once I've posted the message. Very odd!
Rosemary

[Andrew MacLean]

I wore my contact lenses when skydiving and when enjoying the rides at Alton Towers.

When skydiving I wore goggles to catch my lenses if they popped out (they did not), and at alton towers I just shut my enes really tight when I came to the top of the climb and just before the big plunges.

Andrew

[Bruce O]

I'm new to wearing contacts as well and have found it hard putting a bit of glass in my eye. It therefore amuses me when people talk about a "good fit" because no matter what type of lens i try it still feels like there's something in my eye. There are some that are more annoying than others and have to come out straight away but with time I've gotten used to having a soft lens in my right eye without noticing it's there, but the hard lens in the left is still noticable and i seem to notice it less day by day which i assume is a "good fit". It's still hard to get away from the fact that I'm walking around with a piece of glass in my eye.