I just found this fine site and have to say I AM IMPESSED...For those of you involved...KOODOS TO YOU!!!
My very first question is for those that are somewhat visually impared ie. need contacts to see more than 3 feet away. How do you handle dirt and contacts and such in multi-day trips. I get by well enough by just leaving them in but if there is a better trick...I am all for trying.
I also can't see anything without contacts or glasses in. I don't know if you have soft lenses or gas perms, but I have Acuvue 2 softs, and leaving them in at night for hikes less than 5 days in length usually works with them. I've tried wearing glasses, but those bug me because they get to be a nuisance. So for longer trips, I use Opti-free No rub. It saves me from having to spend time getting the dirt out of everything. I've also bought the starter kit, because the bottle it comes with is a lot smaller than those big containers.
I just bring my case and solution and take them out at night. I wera disposables, so I bring a few extra pair just in case but i've never needed to use them.
“Life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid”
John Wayne as Sergeant John M. Stryker, USMC in “The Sands of Iwo Jima”
I have seen my Mother with sand in her eyes. She was in extreme pain and could not get her contacts out. My sister and I finally managed to get them out.
We truly wish not to seem impolite or typically stupid with this post. But, our question is whether someone who wears contacts can switch to a regular pair of eyeglasses once in awhile? We don't know anything about contacts so this is obviously a dumb question. However, we'd REALLY like to know the answer to such a question. Please enlighten us. Thank you.
Speaking for myself, I wouldn't want to wear my glasses hiking because they get sweaty, slip around on my face, inhibit wearing regular sunglasses, and have more of a chance of breaking. Not to mention that you need to clean them constantly and they mess with hats, bandanas, and the like. I usually take wetting drops, and periodically take a few drops. I sleep in them when camping and rewet them in the morning. I don't like to take them out because the small amount of discomfort upon waking up is much less than putting them back in after being in the outdoors all day. Once I get a real job here in the near future I will get the laser corrective surgery which is great! The price has really come down over the years, although its still not what I would call inexpensive.
I wear glasses. All the time. I tried contacts but they were too much work. Always putting in drops, and the chance of losing one (especially hiking or camping) was too great. I have been wearing glasses for years and have never had a problem. My sister insists on wearing contacts though and when we go camping, she leaves her contacts in. I can't imagine how leaving them in for several days at a time can be good for your eyes though.
So in answer to your question zuma, its all what you get used to and apparently eyewear loyalty runs deep.
I just sleep with my contacts in and carry some rewetting drops for in the morning. I haven't had any problems with losing a contact either. I would rather sleep with them instead of taking them out any ways, it is just too easy to get dirt or other objects in it when taking them out.
'Where ever you go, there you are'. Buckaroo Bonzai
Yea NightHiker.........my problem is the snakes find me before I find them It is truly amazing how far a person can leap with a 50lb backpack on when a rattler sounds off about a foot away..
I bring along a small travel bottle of solution and a pair of glasses as a back-up. It's just second nature to me since I'm blind as a bat without them.
Usually I wear contacts so I take some saline and a small contact case but I also take my glasses just in case. I like contacts but I have had some problems and now I use reading glasses (!) so I am contemplating Lasik surgery. Last hike, I did take out the contacts at night but you have to have clean hands (no soap residue or hand cleaner and you have to be sure they won’t get frozen overnight) and usually a mirror for getting them back in. Sometimes to save time or trouble I do sleep with them in.
Great, I just switched brands to Acuview 2 soft type that are much more comfortable. I find glasses to be a major pain to deal with....although they are better than being blind.
The last time I went to the eye doctor she recommended some disposable lenses that you can leave in for a month without having to worry about taking them out (talk about a major advantage for hiking!) Unfortunately, I tried on a pair and they didn't really fit my eye contour and were very uncomfortable, so I'm sticking with the Acuvue 2s. But it might definitely be worth a shot for those of you who wear contacts, you might have better luck.
Route Editor
Route Scout
is for those that are somewhat visually impared ie. need contacts to see more than 3 feet away. How do you handle dirt and contacts and such in multi-day trips. I get by well enough by just leaving them in but if there is a better trick...I am all for trying.
It is truly amazing how far a person can leap with a 50lb backpack on when a rattler sounds off about a foot away.. 
