Questions RE: Contacts for Hockey

[thefelixculpa 0]

This might get kind of lengthy, but if anyone can take the time to read it and give some input, I would be very appreciative.

Let me start out by saying that I have very strange vision. One eye is near sighted, the other eye far sighted. Without glasses, if I have just my right eye open, my vision is clear, however if I close my right eye and use just the left my vision is blurry. If I have both eyes open, I am able to see clearly but in reality my right eye is the only one really working while my left goes dormant. This causes a lot of strain and in the past this had caused my left eye to go lazy but I had corrective muscle eye surgery.

I have tried out contacts in the past but did not like them. I had the Acuvue Advanced Hydraclear and they irritated my eyes. I have been playing hockey my whole life without any visual aid and while most of the time I can see clearly, every once in awhile my vision will go blurry and I'll miss the puck. I am unable to wear normal cages because my near/far sighted vision and the bars do not get along, I see double bars at times. I have been using ITECH full-shield bubbles for as long as I can remember but I am finally getting fed up with them and wish to make a switch to a cage. In order to do this, I am going to need to invest in contacts.

My plan is to get contacts that I will wear only on days I have games/practice. I am looking at One-Day disposable contacts, the kind you wear one day and throw away, no overnight storage. I figure if 30 of these come in a box, I could buy a couple boxes for each eye and be covered for an entire season for under $100.

Now for my questions. Does anybody else here use 1-Day disposable contacts for hockey? What brand would you recommend? I know Acuvue is probably the most known but there are many other brands I havn't looked into. Finally, which retailer would be the best for me to buy from? I am thinking an online retailer may give me the best deals. Is 1800contacts.com a good retailer?

Thanks for your time!

[JR Boucicaut 3798]

Contacts are tricky - if they are bothering you, then it's pretty important to go to your local doctor and figure what brand/choice is best. Not a good idea to go and run with the prescription and buy it online. Wow, I'm detecting a trend, maybe it doesn't apply to hockey :)

[Jordan 13]

I have worn cantact lenses for sports for years without a problem. I even wear them for waterskiing and barefooting; never lost one.

If you had a problem, they probably weren't fit correctly. I would definitelt try again. Most optometrists have trial packs of disposable contacts that you can try.

[Kevin 5]

It all depends on what fits best. I have worn contacts for years. Despite trying numerous disposable brands, CSI permanent contacts have always worked best for me. Go to see a Dr.--most will give you free samples to try.

Cleaning contacts is not a big deal.

[troy 12]

Have you visited an optometrist in the past two years for a contact prescription? If not you won't be able to order the contacts.

[gxc999 7]

I have worn cantact lenses for sports for years without a problem. I even wear them for waterskiing and barefooting; never lost one.

If you had a problem, they probably weren't fit correctly. I would definitelt try again. Most optometrists have trial packs of disposable contacts that you can try.

I second the motion. Feel free to wear them in everyday life as well. Glasses are such a freaking hassle and they distort the shape of your face too.

[Chadd 916]

I've tried a few different brands and the accuvue 2 work the best for me. As JR mentioned, trying a few different pair may help you find something that works for you.

[LkptTiger 1]

Am I the only one who had problems with the "breathable" contacts? I gave 'em a whirl awhile back and HATED them. I used them (a trial pair) for a few days (taking them out every night), and usually encountered ongoing issues with them within a few hours of putting them in my eyes. I finally said "fuck this" one day during infield practice before a summer league ballgame; I got so fed-up with them I took them out of my eyes, literally dropped them in the dirt where I was standing (shortstop) and walked-off the field and got my good (old) contacts out of my bag in the dugout.

I'm with Chadd - never had a problem with my standard Accuvue 2s. Hockey, baseball...whatever...I've never had any problems (even when I went at least 8-9 months straight without taking them out of my eyes once).

[troy 12]

Towards the end of the time I wore the HydraClears I experience what you did Lkpt, but the new Oasys' are much better in that regard.

[thefelixculpa 0]

Thanks for the advice guys. I do plan on going to an optometrist and getting my Rx updated. My issues with the Acuvue Advanced were back in my senior year of high school 3 years ago. They would feel okay at first but hurt like hell after a couple hours.

I am not trying to wear contacts regularly, my vision is good enough without them that I can get by doing normal every day things...its just not good enough that it doesn't effect my performance on the rink.

I'd much rather buy a One-day disposable contact, wear it on game day then throw it away, but I'll see what the doc says.

[Chadd 916]

Towards the end of the time I wore the HydraClears I experience what you did Lkpt, but the new Oasys' are much better in that regard.

The only issue I have with the Oasys is they seem to get sticky much more quickly and since I have dry eyes I have to constantly put in re-wetting drops with them. I have found that I have to replace them every two weeks as they either start bugging me or they rip and tear around that time frame.

On the plus side, it's really hard to feel them in your eye, even if you concentrate on feeling them.

[Monty22 832]

Towards the end of the time I wore the HydraClears I experience what you did Lkpt, but the new Oasys' are much better in that regard.

The only issue I have with the Oasys is they seem to get sticky much more quickly and since I have dry eyes I have to constantly put in re-wetting drops with them. I have found that I have to replace them every two weeks as they either start bugging me or they rip and tear around that time frame.

On the plus side, it's really hard to feel them in your eye, even if you concentrate on feeling them.

I'm using the Oasys as well. No issues so far. They do have about a 2 week lifespan as Chadd indicated.

[JR Boucicaut 3798]

I clean my contacts religiously and I take them out every night. I don't like the 2-wk contacts, I switched back to monthlies. I'm wearing PureVisions.

[kovalchuk71 212]

I'm with Chadd - never had a problem with my standard Accuvue 2s. Hockey, baseball...whatever...I've never had any problems (even when I went at least 8-9 months straight without taking them out of my eyes once).

8-9 months? That is NUTS. They were monthlies I hope/assume

[JR Boucicaut 3798]

Hahaha I've worn monthlies for a year.

[LkptTiger 1]

I'm with Chadd - never had a problem with my standard Accuvue 2s. Hockey, baseball...whatever...I've never had any problems (even when I went at least 8-9 months straight without taking them out of my eyes once).

8-9 months? That is NUTS. They were monthlies I hope/assume

Yeah, they were. I gave 'em a good run. They started to get a little uncomfortable toward the end, when I finally decided it was time to take them out and move on, lol.

What was weird was that I had an eye exam after I had them in for seven months straight or so...I was kind of expecting the doctor to notice that I 1) had been wearing them a LONG time, 2) not taken them out at all or 3) had been wearing them for a LONG time and had not taken them out at all. When he asked me how long I had been on the pair I had in, I told him "six weeks" (lie) and that I had "forgot to take them out before I went to sleep last night, but am usually pretty religious about getting them out before bed" (bigger lie). I was floored when he looked at me and said "Wow, they look pretty good for being six weeks old."

[fastbrother7 0]

Ive been wearing contacts forever, and I couldnt tell who my own mother was 4 feet out without them or my glasses. The only thing I cant stand is when sweat gets in my eyes, its brutally foggy after an hour on the ice.