Eye wear question

[WingZER0]

I've put aside a budget of $300 for a new set of eye protection (my old JT's are being regulated for backup / paintball field use). However I would rather try and keep the cost of it to a minimum (aka accomplish the most optimal results for a reasonable cost).

The complication comes from the fact that my vision requires mild correction (+1.6 in both eyes I think, I'll have to double check my prescription). Most likely I'm probably going to get an ESS Profile Turbofans.

My biggest question is, what's more affordable and what's less likely to cause complications on the field:

A) The RX prescription inserts, about $30 one time cost + lenses.

B) Daily disposable contact. No idea about cost or anything though.


I do have some insurance but I have no idea if it covers contacts (I've only bought glasses with it, 90% coverage). My optometrist appointment isn't for another months or so and I do plan to ask her but I'd like to get a feel for what would probably be more economically feasible. I'll ask my the doc about the health and other stuff.

[GraveTech]

Contacts plain in simple will be more reliable in the field. They will also give you superior peripheral vision then any lens system. Insurance typically covers contacts or lenses, they rarely make a distinction. I would call and ask yor company, or look in your group policy.

I wear Night/Day contacts (can sleep in them safely with no worries except maybe dry eyes) and I would never go back to glasses for an extended period of time. I take these contacts out once a week for a day. If you want some of the best pricing on contacts try: http://www.clearlycontacts.ca I order from them all the time and they have free overnight shipping and a wide variety of contacts available.

If you have never worn them, they will be a little strange at first,e specially when taking them out/putting them in.

If your vision is stable (hasn't changed in the last few years) why not consider LASIK?

[ShaWdowS]

I was looking for an answer to this question too. Have ESS profiles, and need a way to see. I've never had contacts before, maybe it's time to try.

BTW what's LASIK? Laser eye surgery?

[ThunderCactus]

yes

[LUTNIT]

I run ESS NVG profile turbofans with RX inserts and they are quite amazing. The lenses are close enough to your face that you can see as far as your eye can turn left or right, with the fan I get zero fogging or anything else for that matter. The reason I chose RX adapter over contacts is that I can't stand touching my eye and my regular optometrist is 600km away.

[Azathoth]

As a person who is NEARLY LEGALLY BLIND (Left Eye 6 degree's astigmatism along 170 plane -26 diopters of power, Right eye 4 degree's astigmatism -18 diopters of power along 175 plane).

To give you an idea of how bad my vision is I wear Contacts for correction however, they are not disposable and they cost me ~200 a lens.

I DO NOT EVER RECOMMEND LASIK

The procedure has not been studied in detail for me to consider it safe. This doesnt mean that other types of laser surgery are unsafe, I simply consider LASIK Laser surgery unsafe.

I have had 3 friends undergo vision correction with LASIK, and within 2.5-3 years of the operation they have lost nearly all night time vision. They describe their night time vision as looking through a very very dirty glass.

Daytime contacts / Disposables are SUPER cheap. You can get them pretty much anywhere and if you airsoft or play any contact or highly physical sport (that's not underwater) I recommend contacts.


and my favourite one liner...

Yes, Fapping a lot does make you go blind...

[WalterDekter]

As a counterpoint to the alarmist comment above, I had Lasik surgery about 7 years ago to correct a mild nearsightedness and astigmatism.

The Lasik procedure brought me to 20/20 vision within about a month of my surgery, although full healing can take up to a year.

It's honestly the closest thing to a miracle I've ever experienced. I have NO problems with night vision (well, no worse than prior to the surgery.)

The procedure is a bit unnerving but if I had to do it all over again, I would in a second.

[Cheesevillage]

Disposable contacts are easy and cheap to use - especially is you only use 'em for parties, airsoft, and concerts.

(from personal experience)






-Cheese

[Azathoth]

Originally Posted by WalterDekter

As a counterpoint to the alarmist comment above, I had Lasik surgery about 7 years ago to correct a mild nearsightedness and astigmatism.

The Lasik procedure brought me to 20/20 vision within about a month of my surgery, although full healing can take up to a year.

It's honestly the closest thing to a miracle I've ever experienced. I have NO problems with night vision (well, no worse than prior to the surgery.)

The procedure is a bit unnerving but if I had to do it all over again, I would in a second.

My first miracle was in Grade 10 when the very first high index plastic Contact lenses became available for a low low price of ~450 a lens. This brought my vision from 160/20 to 50/20. good enough for a drivers liscence !!!!!

My post is alarmist. Do your research about the surgeon/team/facility before you go in for correction. And realize that if something bad happens the contract you sign generally is there to protect the facility and not you.

[AmRando]

I couldn't pass up replying on this thread.

Lasik seems by far to get all the PR in Canada these days but it really has always been the 'lazy' and altogether less-successful method for eye surgery.

There are actually two distinct methods of eye surgery, LASIK, and LASEK which is very similar to PRK.


The basic differences are that LASIK cuts a flap in the cornea to reshape it, LASEK and PRK basically shave the cornea instead. LASIK merely folds aside the outer layer of the cornea (epithelium), LASEK or PRK strip it off entirely to access the lower layer where the surgery is performed. This is the root cause of the difference in recovery times between the procedures. LASIK lets someone get back to normal life after a few days, LASEK or PRK surgery may mean several weeks of healing.

LASIK has more complications and a higher incidence of reversion or complications of the procedure after time due to the permanent flap created in the cornea, but still seems more popular with the public because it requires less invasive procedure and therefore heals faster up front.


There was an interesting article (here) on eye surgery at the US Naval Academy - naval aviators requiring corrective vision all receive PRK treatment because this method means the surgical procedure is unaffected by high G-forces - one of the known issues with LASIK is that the microscopic flap in the cornea can be torn or shifted by high-G impacts or movement.. such as flying a fighter plane.

[WingZER0]

Looks like a box of daily disposable contacts it is: I can get two boxes of 90 for a little over what the RX inserts cost and apparently they're a lot less maintenance (and my airsoft season where the contacts are necessary is decently short; usually less then 5 months).