What do you guys with contacts do to keep them in your eyes?

[strad]

While waterskiing of course. I wear a contact in one eye (have 20/20 vision in the other one lol) and I've always wanted to learn to slalom ski. I can't go without the contact b/c I'll have no depth perception, and I can't wear glasses to correct my particular vision problem (not that those would work for skiing either). I'm sure at least some of you have vision issues -- just curious what you guys do. It's a very expensive contact lens so it's not really something I feel like risking a loss on.

[pram]

I skied with contacts for 15 or 16 years and never lost one

you could always have eye surgery on the one eye?

[markismm]

There have been many a time that I have tried to ski with contacts in and one either come out or start to come out. When that happens, I usually would grap it out and stick it in my mouth until the session was over, oftentimes while still holding onto the rope. In either event, I found the solution was Lasik surgery for me. Best thing I ever did. If you are a candidate, I would highly recommend it. FOR ME - procedure was simple and corrected vision to a little greater than 20/20. Not everyone has those results however. Hope you find a solution b/c I know how annoying that is.

[strad]

As far as I know, no surgery available for my problem (karytoconus edit: keratoconus, you'd think I could spell it after having it for 16 years lol). My insurance will only buy 2 lenses per year (they cost about 400 each). If I was a really good skier already, I probably wouldn't worry as much (b/c I wouldn't fall as much hehe), but I'm definitely going to be on the steep part of the learning curve at first and I foresee eating a big facefull of water from time to time.

Just so you know where my skill level is, I've been up on doubles a few times behind a few different boats (one of them was a late 80s PS190, which was by far the easiest to get up behind) but the only time I tried a single I just couldn't get out of the water with it. So I've got a lot to learn lol, and I don't know enough to know the risk of losing the contact.

[billr]

Been skiing with contacts, both hard and soft, since the mid 70's. Never lost one, but I try to remember to close my eyes before I hit the water. One of my brothers wears goggles made for racket (sp) ball and has no problems. He uses rain X on the goggles.

[nmcjr]

I found some dailies that fit really well and I have never lost one. Plus if I do its no loss since they're so cheap. I'm guessing though that dailies are not an option for you?

[mgorczak1]

my son wears disposables..and keeps extra in the boat... lol... on the closing eyes advice...sometimes could be tough when crossing the wake when skiing at 33 miles an hour and crossing the wake 50+ miles per hour... :)

[strad]

Yeah dailies are not an option. The lens has a soft skirt and a hard center -- works by compressing the cone (of keratoconus) so the center has to be hard to do that. I literally go from 20/400 to 20/40 with zero correction on the lens, just by putting the lens on. And with a small amount of correction I'm nearly at 20/20. And the skirt has the be soft otherwise it's super uncomfortable.

I guess I should look into the raquetball goggles and rain-x. That sounded like it might be a good solution.

[pkskier]

I've been skiing with contacts since the mid 70s and I have never even come close to loosing one.

[Kevin 89MC]

I have been skiing with contacts for about 12 years. Never lost one until about 2 years ago. Lost the right eye lens, then a week later lost the left lens. Both were after falling around 1 ball, 34 mph, 28 off I think. Did a bit of a face plant, but I've had much worse OTF's and footing falls where I didn't lose them. I looked around in the water a bit, I would guess they are 6" apart at the bottom of the lake. Driving home was interesting, but my vision is not too bad. At the time I was wearing soft lenses that were supposed to last a year, they were both getting close to 2 years old, so they were likely getting worn out & loose. I recently switched to monthly lenses, got a year's supply for the price of the old 1 year lenses. Doc said if I lose one early in a month, just wear the next one for 2 months.
Occasionally I'll get a little spash in the face while getting up, usually I can clear it out before I need to pull out for the gates. I have been getting better at getting up with my eyes closed, and "using the force" to stay balanced.
I have tried the goggles, water does tend to bead up on them a bit, even with rain X.
Good luck,
Kevin

[bobx1]

From their website "Prescription swimming goggles are great around the pool or if you are doing any ocean swimming activities. They make water play a lot more enjoyable and safe. Sailing, windsurfing, water skiing and other activities are enjoyed without fear of losing contacts or glasses."

Not sure about your perscription though....

http://www.aquagoggles.com/

[strad]

^^Naww, won't work. The contact is part of the fix of the problem, ie the eye doesn't work properly unless it has a hard lens up against it. I am interested in exploring the raquetball goggle fix though. I swim with regular goggles on (and contact in place), but I don't think those would work for waterskiing -- not enough field of view peripherally.

[vision]

As far as I know, no surgery available for my problem (karytoconus edit: keratoconus, you'd think I could spell it after having it for 16 years lol). My insurance will only buy 2 lenses per year (they cost about 400 each). If I was a really good skier already, I probably wouldn't worry as much (b/c I wouldn't fall as much hehe), but I'm definitely going to be on the steep part of the learning curve at first and I foresee eating a big facefull of water from time to time.

Just so you know where my skill level is, I've been up on doubles a few times behind a few different boats (one of them was a late 80s PS190, which was by far the easiest to get up behind) but the only time I tried a single I just couldn't get out of the water with it. So I've got a lot to learn lol, and I don't know enough to know the risk of losing the contact.

Have you talked with your ophthalmologist about PRK or a corneal transplant for your keratoconus?

[nmcjr]

There's also something like these: http://www.seaspecs.com/

Back when lenses didn't fit as well as they do now I used to wear something similar for jetskiing. I just used a piece of string to attach it to my vest in case they fell off.

[Rockman]

I have ski'd, footed, wakeboarded, etc. with contacts for over 18 years and only have lost one, well it really just ripped but I had to chuck it.

I have daily disposables for the summer or ski months and monthly contacts for the off months.

My suggestion, check the internet...you can most likely find them cheaper than the $400 price tag you mentioned. Also, keep you old ones if they are still ok, at least to use for skiing. Just make sure they are clean. It can't hurt to wear an old or a non-100% clean contact once in a while. I have done that many times.

[Cary K.]

These sound like they were made for your application:

http://www.spexusa.com/home/index.php

[strad]

^^cool. I'm thinking about doing a ski camp next summer to get off to a good start on a few different fronts. Need to source the eyewear before then so there's one less thing to worry about. Need to get in shape too -- the camp is supposed to provide some incentive for that lol.

Starting to look around for an 83-85 S & S too. Have wanted one since the mid '80s.