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Contact lenses during IM, experiences?
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AwesomePossum
Apr 7, 12 14:42
Post #1 of 36
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Contact lenses during IM, experiences?
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Any experiences? I've worn contacts for shorter races, but I'm hesitant about using them for the duration of an IM. I use daily disposables (Focus Dailies), and I plan on having spare pairs and a small mirror at T1/T2 just in case. I use Radar XL's so I have some pretty good coverage. My eyesight is also -2.75/-3.25.
I don't really have an alternative, as I'm reluctant to spend the money on prescription sunglasses since my eyesight hasn't really stabilized (I'm 19, and my eyesight has gotten either better or worse every time i get my prescription updated) and I like my radar xl's. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance... but definitely open to suggestions.
Thanks for your time.
yatyas
Apr 7, 12 14:56
Post #2 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I wear daily contacts as well and had no problem on my first IM. I did make sure to have spare pair in T1&T2. Luckily I didn't need them. But I had them just in case
drsteve
Apr 7, 12 14:57
Post #3 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I'll start with the disclaimer: I've not done my first IM yet (Sept. 16th), but have done a 70.3 and a number of centuries.
I've not had any problems with my contacts, not on long days, not on short races. Mind you, my correction is only -1.25, with about the same for astigmatism (only one contact since lens replacement surgery). Other than spares in your transition bags, it might not be a bad idea to have a little bottle of eye drops that you can carry with you (just in case). Assuming I don't have two artificial lenses by September I intend to race with my contact and I won't have spares at transition. I may have eye drops at T2, but that's it.
People race with contacts all the time, and the likelihood of you losing both on a single leg is very low. Trust me, you only need the vision of one eye to race.
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govols
Apr 7, 12 14:57
Post #4 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I've done two ironmans (and numerous shorter races) wearing contacts with zero problems. I do keep a spare pair in special needs just in case but usually my eyes are the least of my concerns during and IM.
saubbie23
Apr 7, 12 15:13
Post #5 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I have daily contacts, and used them for B2B full last year without issues. I had extras in SN and both transition areas, just in case. My contacts actually bother me quite a bit normally, but I did not notice them at all during the race, probably because I was focusing so much or in so much pain in the middle parts of the run :)
tridad3
Apr 7, 12 15:18
Post #6 of 36
(3032 views)
Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I wear dailies and extended sometimes. I have used contacts for multiple 70.3 and a full. Thankfully no issues, but as others have said I made sure to have multiple extras available (T1, T2). I also carried a small ziplock bag with ibuprofen/pepto/ spare contact stuff in a pocket in T1 and kept until the finish.
Tri tri again
Apr 7, 12 15:27
Post #7 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I've done 5 IM's and multiple, multiple Half's and Oly's and have never had a single problem. I'd shy away from prescription lenses for now ... for the reason you mentioned about your prescription changing AND you never know if it will be cloudy or rainy (or dark) and you may not want sunglasses toward the latter half of the race. Your plan to have spare pairs in T1/T2 should be more than adequate!
patf
Apr 7, 12 16:24
Post #8 of 36
(2949 views)
Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I have gas permeable lenses. I'm not sure if that is better or worse for drying out. But I do have problems on long training rides sometimes so I always cary a small bottle (.5ml) of eye drops. if I have problems, I pull off to the side and apply the drops. It does not happen on every long ride, but i don't go out without the drops.
tvjohn2
Apr 7, 12 16:30
Post #9 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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As an ophthalmologist, I would not recommend swimming in contact lenses. That's a good way to get a corneal ulcer.
SusanH
Apr 7, 12 16:59
Post #10 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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6 IM's in contacts, no problems. I don't carry backups on race day but my eyes aren't as bad as yours.
Ti T'war
Apr 7, 12 17:35
Post #11 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I've never had a problem with my contacts and racing. I don't even bother with the back up pair in T1 or T2. Goggles and Glasses keep them safe and sound.
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slow_n_steady
Apr 7, 12 17:45
Post #12 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I've worn contacts for 3 IMs. My eyes tend to get seriously irritated during cycling, but wearing dailies for cycling seems to help. Anyway, because of the tendency for irritation, I had my glasses in my T2 bag. For the first two IMs, my eyes were predictably very uncomfortable by the time I got to T2, so I switched over to my glasses for the run. Because I was wearing dailies, I could just take them out and toss them on the ground and not worry about it. Third IM, eyes felt fine going into T2,so I just kept the contacts in for the run, and that was also fine. I do keep a spare pair in my T1 bag as well, just in case. My eyesight is very bad, so if something happened to my contacts during the swim and I didn't have a spare, my day would be done.
IronRod
Apr 7, 12 18:29
Post #13 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I've been wearing daily wear contacts for 30 years and never lost a contact. Have done 18 IM's with zero problems. Never kept a spare pair in transition either. I like to live life on the edge;-)
18x Ironman
US Army (Ret.), Vietnam Vet ('71-'72)
ipull400watts
Apr 7, 12 18:39
Post #14 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [IronRod]
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I take my contacts out nightly and use them for about a month per pair. Around 7PM almost every night they start to get dry and I generally take them out. However I've done multiple ultra marathons and an IM without zero issue with the contacts.
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blanco
Apr 7, 12 19:14
Post #15 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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One IM with contacts no problems.
In addition to T1/T2 bags I also had a spare set in both the bike and run special needs bags.
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jrd5497
Apr 7, 12 19:51
Post #16 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I've never had any problems with my contacts. Been swimming, biking and running in them for years.
irncpl
Apr 7, 12 20:00
Post #17 of 36
(2745 views)
Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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Been using dailys for a few years now for all swimming and triathlons. Done 4 Ironman distance events and numerous other triathlons without a problem
By all means have a plan, but the best plan is to have a plan to change the plan.
tribern
Apr 7, 12 21:20
Post #18 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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3 IMs and 10 years of triathlon, cycling and competitive swimmer in the first 3 years I had contact lenses (31 years ago). The only time I lost a lens during swimming, triathlon or any sport was when a spare fell out of my bento box while I was grabbing a gel while riding.
mv2005
Apr 7, 12 22:27
Post #19 of 36
(2682 views)
Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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I just went and checked the dailies I still have in my drawer. They have -2.75 written on them but I know one was a little different to the others.
I never used to race with contacts. I used to swim 'blind', following spashing feet and occasionally sniffing the air for the scent of buoys. I'd then change into prescription sunnies for the bike and run. I can't really remember when I tried it for the first time but I finally decided to give the dailies a go. Seemed to work a treat and 'seeing' what it was like to swim with sight was a breath of fresh air (it was all I could take to not write "really opened my eyes").
Anyway I used to think all was good until my last IM (2009 NZ) when it must have got dislodged during the swim. I know I occasionally get goggle issues and that race was no exception so perhaps some water dislodged it. During the run up to T1 I could feel it really irritating me. I got into transition and took a little time to get it out. BUt then I could not get it back in for the life of me. I'm not the quickest in transition but that year I was an extra 4 minutes slower in T1. I then had further issues in T2 and whilst not as bad as T1 still added an extra minute or so.
Since that time I've gone and had laser surgery and don't need anything. Given your age, look into that because it's been one of the greatest, most liberatingm experiences of my life. The younger you get it done the better bang for your buck you get. I'll probably get 10 years before reading glasses start knocking on the door but I am really enjoying the time in between.
So one bad experience out of possibly half a dozen HI/IM's but it really did frustrate the hell out of me at the time.
pdxjohn
Apr 7, 12 22:31
Post #20 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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13x IM finisher, all with contacts. My eyes are way worse than yours (-9 and -6.5). Test out goggles beforehand, make sure they are leak proof, put spares in T1 bag. I had issues with a leaky goggle last summer at IMCDA, but it only meant having to stop mid swim a few times and drain the goggle. Sunscreen around your eye socket will make leaks more likely. Don't screen up near your eyes until T1.
AwesomePossum
Apr 8, 12 8:26
Post #21 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [pdxjohn]
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Wow, thank you all for taking the time to chime in. I found most of the posts to be very reassuring! I will probably do what some of you suggested and have/carry extra pairs and rewetting drops at t1/bike/t2, and be super careful with my goggles. Thanks again.
tri2112
Apr 8, 12 10:22
Post #22 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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4 IMs with daily disposable soft contacts without any issues. I tape a spare pair inside each transition bag and my bike special needs bag. The reason I tape them is that if I dump all the contents on the ground and have already lost a lens (or both) I can quickly locate them just by feel. I keep a pair in the bike special needs since it is more imperative that I see properly on the bike. I am going so slow on the run that I could be blindfolded and still not trip on anything. May seem a bit overkill but I like to eliminate as many potential mishaps that are within my control.
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dprestontri
Apr 8, 12 10:58
Post #23 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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Same here for me...no problems in any of my Ironman's or 70.3's. But spares in T1/T2 is definitely a good idea.
caius
Apr 8, 12 12:20
Post #24 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [tvjohn2]
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tvjohn2 wrote:
As an ophthalmologist, I would not recommend swimming in contact lenses. That's a good way to get a corneal ulcer.
Can you elaborate on how swimming with contact lenses increases the risk of corneal ulcers. We're all wearing goggles so I don't follow. I've had a corneal ulcer once. It was not fun and the risk of vision loss was quite scary.
Zach7956
Apr 8, 12 12:25
Post #25 of 36
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Re: Contact lenses during IM, experiences? [AwesomePossum]
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-13.50 and -14.00 gas perm. Worn them in every triathlon (2 of them Iron distance). I don't worry too much about it. Unless you have problems all the time when training, you shouldn't either. You can still see somewhat without yours (maybe not good enough to bike), so its not like there's a danger factor for you really, as you could just stop and pull the plug on your race. It would be pretty scary on an out and back 2.4 mile swim if I somehow lost both contacts (next to impossible), but worst case I could tread water and holler for help....well, I guess WORST case would be I would have to swim toward what I thought was land and call it a day. Long story longer - don't sweat it. Bring a spare pair if you want to make yourself feel better, but I doubt you'll have any problems.
Zach
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