Contacts+Sunnies VS Sunnies with correction

[i_can_fly]

Hello!

coz i have short-sighted eyes, now planning to start my Flying training in Oz. Would like ask advise about:
1. Wearing contact lens + Sunglasses, or
2. Wearing a Sunglasses with correction
Which one is better for flying?

Thanks for all your reply!

[kiwiblue]

Mate, I've been flying with contact lenses for thick end of 30 years now, no problems. Less of a hassle if you sit on or break your sunnies too... it's a tad glary, but you can still see what you're doing

[LocoDriver]

G'day
I too have been wearing contacts for over 30 years.

You did not say what your uncorrected vision was, but I agree, go for contacts, wear sunglasses as required.

You will probably find that you will not get a medical with prescription sunnies, unless you have another pair of ordinary glasses/contacts as well.

Hope this helps!

[Oh that's super!]

Contacts with normal sunglasses has worked much better for me than prescription sunglasses, so I wouldn't personally dream of going back to the prescription sunglasses.

[CougarNZ]

Go for Contacts.
just make sure you get it all oked on your medical.

[Sqwark2000]

I have presciption sunnies and whilst I've never tried contacts, I don't find it any more time consuming changing over specs than you would if you retrieved your normal sunnies.

I usually hang the other pair off the storm window latch and quickly change them over when required.

I don't have a requirement to carry a "spare pair". My script is about -1.25 / -1.50-ish from memory

[Capn Bloggs]

unless you have another pair of ordinary glasses/contacts

You need two pairs of clear glasses/contacts, do you not? I wouldn't have thought that a pair of sunnies counts as the "spare pair".

Sqwark,
How do you get away with not having a second pair?

[Ratshit]

I have worn prescription "autotints" for 30 years. Keep plain old garden variety prescription glasses in my flight bag to cover the "second pair" issue.

R

[SM4 Pirate]

When you can just fork out the $4K and get them LASIK'd...

[Capn Bloggs]

Rats,

I have worn prescription "autotints" for 30 years

Explain yourself! How do your autotints work? Are they the dreaded "photochromatics"? How do they go if you are in bright blue/whiteout and then suddenly plunge into a big black cloud?

[Bula]

Has anyone here been Lasik'd?

[Capt. Crocodile]

Originally Posted by SM4 Pirate

When you can just fork out the $4K and get them LASIK'd...

Don't forget if you get laser eye surgery you can't fly for 3 months so check with your DAME prior to doing this. As for wearing contacts, check with your optometrist to see if you have astigmatism. If you do, astigmatism can't be corrected in contacts less than a certain power. I'm short sighted contacts can't correct for my astigmatism so I can only wear glasses when I fly. Don't risk it, tell your optometrist you want to use contacts for flying and see if you're suitable.

[glekichi]

- Considered the auto tinting ones but gave them a miss for the above reasons.

- Considered lasik but gave it a miss due to the above reason, the fact that it is not accepted at all in certain countries, and most of all because even a 1% risk of messing my eyes up and ending my flying career before it began was just not an option.

I could never go back after trying the latest-generation leave-in-overnight contacts. Not only do you avoid the hassle of having to carry cleaning gear etc. around, but they also dont make the eyes feel tired at the end of a long day like the old regular soft contacts did.

[Di_Vosh]

FYI

Bula and others...

Some discussion and info on this thread

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=164272

about the various laser eye surgeries...

DIVOSH!

[Ratshit]

Originally Posted by Capn Bloggs

Rats,



Explain yourself! How do your autotints work? Are they the dreaded "photochromatics"? How do they go if you are in bright blue/whiteout and then suddenly plunge into a big black cloud?

Capn

Never had a problem. Don't know what they're called cause my Bro is an optometrist and supplies them to me. Latest and greatest with a moderate tint. Costs ****loads but I take him Barra fishing to pay them off.

I try to stay out of "big black clouds" - too scarey!

R

[i_can_fly]

Thank you all mates!!

For my case, I have only short-sighted (Both Eyes -2.50) and haven't astigmatism.
So i will wear contact lens + Sunglasses.

For Laser, as i known, not everyone(who's finished laser operation) could have 100% no problem. So i will not consider it for a moment!

Thank you all mates, You're all so nice!

[Capn Bloggs]

Rats,

Latest and greatest with a moderate tint.

Sorry, I didn't explain my question very well. These autotints of yours - does the tint change automatically depending on the light?

[Mark_Tuck]

Although my vision without correction is above the standard required for the class 1 medical, I have recently started wearing prescription sunnies by day, and glasses by night. Can't believe the difference it makes. I did, however pay just over $500 for a pair of sunnies, and about $400 for the normal glasses. (does this cover the 'spare pair' issue?) I am terrified of scratching the sunnies, can't afford to replace them too often, like most of us in GA i guess. Makes me think contacts + normal sunnies would have been the way to go, though the optomotrist (spelling?) didn't suggest this... Anyone give me a rough idea how much their contacts cost...?

[Ratshit]

Originally Posted by Capn Bloggs

Rats,



Sorry, I didn't explain my question very well. These autotints of yours - does the tint change automatically depending on the light?

Capn - Yes, but they don't go as dark as the average sunny, and change pretty rapidly so I have never found the situation you mention to be a problem.

I could not be bothered with contacts and would never risk my eyes to Lasix surgery if my career depended on having correctable day/night vision.

R

[Sqwark2000]

Sqwark,
How do you get away with not having a second pair?

Dunno Bloggs, maybe it's such a weak script that it doesn't fit the requirement to carry the spare pair.

I've had them for coming up 10yrs now and it's never been an issue.

S2K