So my eyes are finally getting to the point where I need to wear my glasses almost 100% of the time. I’m interesting in trying contacts lenses. Is there anything I need to know or should know about contact lenses in regards to training and racing with them in?
I’ve used contacts while training and racing for the last 25 years without doing anything different.
Same, decades with no issue. I’ll often travel with a couple extra and if feeling extra paranoid may stash an extra lense in transition bag.
I’ve used contacts while training and racing for the last 25 years without doing anything different.
Same. I do keep an extra pair in my transition bag and my swim bag.
No problems encountered during 70.3. I do wear bigger shield-style glasses while racing, to avoid wind blowing out a contact. works just fine.
Same as others. Except: I learned the hard way… chill on the eye rubbing (during and not exercising) lest your contact end up in your upper eye. Not fun & can end your race.
I don’t want to risk contacts shifting, drying out, getting stuck in eyelids etc, so I use optical swim goggles and then optical glasses under my helmet visor, and no eyewear correction for the run. I got cheap optical glasses off amazon that match my prescription glasses and the sporti goggles are available on amazon and swim outlet.
Amazon.com: Sporti Antifog S2 Optical Goggle - Clear Lens/Black Frame - Negative 1.5 : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry
Amazon.com: ALWAYSUV Black TR90 Full Frame Distance Glasses for Men Retro Nearsighted Myopia Shortsighted Glasses -1.0 : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry
I have been using hard contact lenses most of my life (for probably 40 years or so) and I am training and racing with them. The most critical / vulnerable part is swimming. I would not want someone to knock-off my goggles in the bulk. You want to make sure you have good goggles that do not let in water. I think hard contacts are better for many reasons (at least in my situation) and you are less susceptible to loose them. And make sure you see a specialist for opticals / fitting them. A good set of hard contacts can last several years with daily use.
Like others I have worn contacts for years. I wear Aquashpere mask style swim goggles to ensure a snug fit and Oakley M Frames during the bike and run. The one thing that’s changed in the last few years is my ability to see my ‘numbers’ on the bike computer. I’ve tried varifocal lenses but they are only slightly better than single vision. It’s a minor issue but it means I have to be minimise the info on the computer to a couple of metrics so as to ensure the display is large enough to see.
I wore contacts for training from when I was 12 years old until I had my laser corrective surgery at 31 (including triathlons for nearly 10 years). I never had issues. Always wear sunglasses/clear lenses and NEVER skip out on them. I was a lifeguard, and lenses will not magically fall out of your eyes even if you open them for a very short bit under water. I never had issues with lenses sticking to my eyes, getting stuck etc…
Depending on how nearsighted you are - you may want to keep an extra pair in your bike storage / special needs. With this - I’d highly recommend (if your prescription allows) to get the disposable kind so you can have extras to stash. For me - I actually never did this but in hindsight probably would have been a good idea as my race would have been over if something happened since I was -6.5 and essentially dangerous to bike without correction.
I never, ever wore glasses to race. I see someone commented about prescription goggles and glasses, but that was never ideal for me. I was so nearsighted that I would have had to do the whole leave the glasses on the table at the swim exit, or wear the darn goggles all the way to transition so I could see.
I mean I’d make the leap to laser correction over contacts, but that’s a bigger leap haha than wearing contacts. Best decision I made ever. Waking up to see the clock felt miraculous.
Already some great suggestions— I’ll only add that taping a pair of contacts to the bottom of my saddle has saved me more than once in training and racing!
No issue at all!
I use one day lenses for sport and just glasses rest of time, seems much easier than e.g. 14 day lenses. Stoee som extra in transition bag or on bike.
The one issue i have had is if you forget to blink on the bike they can dry out and pop out. Having sunglasses on helps against that too.
Just keep in mind that it takes a while to get used to wearing contacts. A week? A month? Can be tough at the beginning; your mileage may vary. Don’t put it off until one week from the race.