Riding with Glasses

[evans36]

OK so this past week I finally went to see the eyedoctor for headaches, and lo and behold - I now have glasses! My vision isn't terrible, but I have a tougher time seeing things far away - like reading roadsigns, etc. The Dr. said it's not awful but will probably get worse as I get older.

So I put on my glasses to drive, and it's awesome! I feel like superman - able to see things way farther away now.

Which got me thinking about how I'm pretty terrible about seeing a distance to a fence until I'm right on it. I am wondering if these glasses would help significantly.

If they will, great. The problem is (1) the glasses are $$$$$ and I can't afford to break them in case of a fall, etc; (2) I don't know if they'll stay on my nose reliably with all the up-downing and whatnot; and (3) I am a bit worried they will mess me up even more (read: fear of change).

So - do any of you have experience in this area that you could share? Who wears prescription eyeglasses when they ride? (Contacts are apparently not an option.) How do you make it work? Does anyone with a prescription not bother to wear them when riding because it doesn't make a difference?

Thanks everyone :)

[quietann]

I've worn glasses since I was 7; I am very nearsighted and could not ride without them!

If you are worried about breaking your glasses, find a really cheap pair... If your prescription is simple (no bifocals etc.) and you take ordinary plastic or glass lenses, this should not be hard. Some of the eyeglass chains run two-for-one deals. Oddly enough, I have had some bad falls and never broken my glasses.

For riding, I've found that glasses that are slightly (very slightly) too small will stay set on my nose.

It will take some time to get used to them; maybe step back a little in the difficulty of your riding for now.

[jumpsnake]

I've had glasses since about third grade and have ridden in them since about fifth grade. I've had several falls, been whacked on the face with the head/ neck of the horse, forgotten about them and jumped into a pond while wearing them (and even the ocean once!) and never had them fall off, or even be damaged. It has really been a non-issue for me, which is great because I am completely blind without them.

[Janet]

I've worn glasses since I was 7.

I always pay for "frame insurance."

Recently, I have had problems with plastic frames breaking when I have a fall. But metal frames have been better. Sometimes, after a fall, I have to take the metal frames in and have them straightened. But that is all.

[Auburn]

I ride in prescription sunglasses. I use a glasses keeper that is made for active sports. It fits on the ends of the arms and has a slide that adjusts it snug to your head. Wal-Mart sells them. I know that they have a name, but it escapes me now. :confused:

Since I can see the jumps better, I do find my distances better. However, it still hasn't prevented me from getting a couple of TE's for jumping a Novice fence, instead of my BN fence. :winkgrin:

[RideForever]

Ummm... contacts anyone!?

The very best way to teach your horse to stop on a dime is when you're jumping and a contact falls out or shifts position. :lol:

[eventer_mi]

Auburn, I think those are called "Croakers".

I occasionally ride with glasses (I have the transitions lenses), and found that in the summer, they slide around a lot due to sweat. Anybody else have this problem, and how do you fix it? I don't have to ride with glasses, since I wear contacts, but since I am blind in one eye, I like to wear them just in case, and I find that wearing sunglasses in the summer tend to make you feel a bit cooler.

[Hannahsmom]

When I had to switch back to glasses a year ago after wearing contacts for 40 years, I bought several light weight pair that have the flexible frames. I told the fitters to make them tight around the ears and used the croakies. They are transition lenses and trifocals but for my cheap glasses I got them for around 100 a pair. They are just for riding. I competed very successfully in them at Prelim and they weren't any hotter since they were so lightweight. Fortunately have not been bucked off in them so no broken glasses yet. I got to liking having the sunglasses built-in but light to dark and back can get a bit tricky. :lol: It is nice not having to mess with contact solution so that is one benefit.

[yellowbritches]

Contacts. I HATE HATE HATE riding in my glasses (I've worn glasses since I was 7 or 8). Screws up my perphrial and makes me want to puke (which is part of the reason I rarely wear my glasses for more than the last few minutes before sleep at night, and the first few minutes before contacts in the morning!).

Cyclists have glasses that are meant to fall into peices on impact. You can get them with prescription lenses. They are sleek and form fitting, usually pretty comfortable with helmets, and come in a variety of styles (mostly pretty sporty, though) and price ranges. May be worth looking into. The original output of cash might be high, but it might end up being worth it in the long run to preserve your regular glasses.

I'm a little weird, too, about riding in my glasses because of them breaking. I fell off as a kid, broke my glasses and cut my face up. Not fun. It wasn't too long after that that I started consistently wearing my contacts to ride.

[cutemudhorse]

I too have had glasses since I was seven. I pay $$$ to get what I need and a frame that I like, but usually replace the lenses and keep the same frame at least once. That said, I have never really thought about not wearing them to ride. I get them all crooked and needing adjustment more often by getting pushed in the face by my dogs! 'Course I usually still have the previous pair lying around somewhere, to use til my new ones come in just in case my dog got my glasses off the kitchen table and chewed 'em up like when she was a pup!

[dogchushu]

I have glasses with a hook around the ears. They don't move at all when I ride.

But if you don't like (or can't find) them, the previously mentioned attachment thing (it's usually elastic with rubber keepers) works just fine.

Do get a second pair in case you break them. Or you put them somewhere and can't find them. Or the dog eats them. Or you step on them. Stuff happens to glasses!

[snoopy]

I do recall Kim Walnes riding The Grey Goose to the very highest levels with glasses.

[gully's pilot]

I have a very small nose (broke it when I was little) and have trouble keeping my glasses in place even with a strap on them. I bought a pair of prescription sports goggles--they look goofy, but work really well, I've never had a problem. My daughter uses them for both riding and soccer (she plays goalie).

Once, in a pinch, I covered the earpieces and nosepads of my glasses with Saddle-Tite, and that worked well, too--but hard to peel off later.

[TheHorseProblem]

The worst thing is, in the cold weather, they steam up after a good gallop!:cool:

[piaffequeen]

I ride with glasses and use an attachement that they sell in Walmart that slides onto the arms (?) of the glasses and you can tighten it and they stay on. I always ran into the problem of when I sweated my glasses would slide down my nose. I cant remember what you call them!

You can also try sports glasses. My parents got so tired of me breaking my glasses during sports that they bought me sports glasses. They take some getting used to because the lens are closer to your eyes but that is just an idea.

Good Luck!

[PletchersMom]

I have been wearing glasses for years, but they are not super strong. More to just crisp up things. I usually dont wear them at the barn because I put them down once, and the next day they were gone and I was out $300 to replace the stupid things.
I have worn them to shows though, because they are transition lens.

[Bogie]

I broke my glasses while out foxhunting last year. Since only my glasses and my pride were injured, I got back on and finished the hunt. Kind of like riding through an impressionist painting!

Here's my post about it: http://equineink.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/when-did-the-ground-get-so-much-harder/

I had broken one of my cardinal rules that day and was riding in one of my favorite pairs. Usually I ride in older frames that I don't care about as much.

I always, always have spare pairs in my car as it would be impossible for me to drive without them.

As for contacts, they were great when I could wear them but my eyes stopped tolerating them several years ago.

[HillaryH]

OP, I'm glad you got your vision checked out. Getting headaches and not seeing as well as you can is a lot worse than having to wear glasses.

I event T level and wear glasses. I'm fairly new to glasses too as I had 20/20 vision until I was in my late 20's. Contacts don't work for me for a variety of boring reasons. But, it's not a big deal. Most modern frames are tougher than they look. Some of them are even pretty stylish. I've fallen a few times and never once broken my glasses. I even sat on them and they survived. When it rains, they can get spotted but going cross-country I barely notice. I just clean them afterwards. Worst problem: You will have trouble indoors in the winter with them steaming up between jumping rounds, especially if you have a sweaty head. My trainer and I just joke about it as I wipe them down between rounds. They are fine once we get going. Really, wearing them is much better than missing distances or getting headaches. In a few rides, you'll forget you even have them on.

[Ray]

I ride most of the time in glasses. I am used to them and have not had any problems - except with all this blasted rain we are having! I ride in contacts for fox-hunting and "challenging" jumping.

[tcgelec]

I've worn glasses for over 30 years. Right now I wear progressive bi-focals, and I don't really have any problems to speak of. I bought the flex-frames, which are metal but you can basically bend them into a pretzel and they snap right back into shape. I've taken a few falls in them and they have always stayed on, and survived intact. It took me a little while to get used to the bi-focals, but that's normal. It just takes a day or so, during which I just flatted, no jumping.
The one problem I do have is fogging in really humid weather, and sometimes in the cold weather. When I'm at home or at my trainer's I can take them off and ride OK (makes me count strides more!) just feels like, as someone else said, I'm in an impressionist painting (love that line).

[Happy2bhere]

Lazik is incredible

[Hey Mickey]

go get some contacts.

Ditto to yellowbritches, glasses mess up my peripheral vision, a lot. If for some reason I have to wear my glasses to the barn, I take them off to ride. I'd rather be blind then ride in them.
So uncomfortable. And then you sweat and they want to slide down your nose...

[LShipley]

Contacts are ideal, but since my eyes do not tolerate them anymore, I use croakies around my glasses when I ride. I am not so afraid of my glasses coming off, but the croakies hold my glasses in place so they do not slip around or bounce up and down while going around a course. No matter how sweaty and gross I get in the Texas heat, they are keeping my glasses in place. Now, they look stupid...but they do the job well!

[WNT]

Can't stand contacts, again for a variety of reasons. I've had glasses longer than I've evented. The trick I discovered on sweltering Maryland summer day, I took my trainer's Saddle Tite and dabbed a bit on each nose pad. We went out and ran around Prelim, sweat running down my face and my glasses perfectly in position the whole time. I also works in the rain. Even in heavy rain, I haven't had a big problem with not seeing.

I would definitely recommend polycarbonate lenses though, they tend to be thinner, lighter and shatter-resistant.

[Squeak97]

I have had friends who got glasses in the middle of their riding career and could suddenly find jumps much better ;)

I've always ridden in my glasses. They have given me NO problems what so ever. In all my falls they have never come off my head or been broken riding, at the barn, or anywhere really. The only problem I've ever had is when it rains your glasses get rained on and its hard to see.

[evans36]

So I tried on my pair today and they're long and rectangular (I have a really wide face - it's weird, I guess it's just a lot of room for a big brain ;) ). They actually get tapped by my helmet on the sides of my face. I think a pair of wire frames that are more low-profile will be better. I also bought a pair of prescription sunglasses that should be in soon, they are aviators so hopefully they'll do a bit better than the plastic frames.

yellowbritches, these glasses make me feel a little queasy too. I'm pretty sure it's the disconnect in the perepheral vision. I was told that would go away... it doesn't???

The sports goggles sound like an awesome idea. Where do you get them? How much are they? None of the stores I went to had goggle looking things. I know it might be a little poseur-ish to wear goggles when I don't even really compete (hopefully that will change), but if something can get broken, I will break it. And I'm due for a fall - it's been over 2 years.

I would love to get contacts, but the doc said it would make my vision deteriorate, since I only need these for distance vision. She said it was *possible* to do a contact in one eye for distance, and I could close my eye for the other, but I feel like a loss of 3-D vision on fence approach would screw me up more than the other options. Thoughts on that?

[Wayside]

The last time I went in for an eye exam, and they asked me what I could see without my glasses on I said "A big white blob". After flicking the screen on and off a couple of times, with no change in answer, the nice lady told me to put my glasses back on, and lo and behold, a huge letter E filling up the whole darn thing! :lol:

Personally, I'm one of those people who prefers contacts, but they can be problematic if you have hay fever like I do, or you're in a dusty arena.

Interestingly, the one pair of glasses I own that were fabulous for riding were the set I was issued in boot camp. Those things stayed put through sweat, bouncing, all sorts of things. Godawful ugly things, those. Big brown frames. We called them BC's in the service, for Birth Control, because they were so unattractive that you were in no danger of breeding :lol:

So I'd second the vote for a second set of "sport" glasses. Cheap, sturdy, comfortable. After a while you'll forget they're there.

[gully's pilot]

If you ask at an optical store, they probably have the sports goggles. I have a father-in-law who owns an optical store and I get mine through him. I'm on my second pair now, but my first lasted for over 10 years. However---since, due to my generous father-in-law, I don't have to pay for them--I have no idea what they cost.

I've fallen off a few times and never broken them. They're very durable.

[IFG]

Can anyone post a link to pics of sport frames?

I have gotten to the point where I need to wear my glasses for more than just driving and lectures. I know that I had a pair of sunglasses a few years ago that were so comfortable, I accidentally wore them into the dressage ring, but I cannot seem to find prescription frames like them, and I sat on them and broke them ages ago.

They were wraparound so that they did not block peripheral vision. Also had rubber on the arms so that they stayed on.

[circusponydreams]

I have had glasses since the 5th grade and contacts since 8th, and if you can tolerate them, contacts are a million times better to ride in!

I agree that it's a good idea to have a spare pair (or two, or three) for around the barn. This site: http://www.zennioptical.com/ has glasses dirt cheap and some of the frames are really cute. I have a couple pairs from them, and I was really glad I only paid $15 when my puppy ate a pair one day. :cool:

[eloquence09]

I am nearsighted and ride in my glasses. If they are properly adjusted they usually stay up on my nose just fine for riding (as long as you don't look down constantly like I do lol). I've been wearing glasses the entire nearly 14 years that I've been riding so yes I have broken them in a fall before. Then again, I'm pretty accident prone and used to break my glasses all the time as a kid...had them eaten by a dog once, got hit in the face with a volleyball in gym class...ugh. Hasn't happened in at least 5 or 6 years though!

I got contacts when I was 17 specifically for riding but I hate wearing them soo I just ride with my glasses and it's fine.

[Janet]

I have had glasses since the 5th grade and contacts since 8th, and if you can tolerate them, contacts are a million times better to ride in!
The OP said the contacts were not an option.
Besides, it is a matter of personal preference. I wore contacts for a year, but I HATED wearing them for riding. It always felt as if I was about to get debris in my eye. I count on the glasses to deflect debris.

[JustinThyme]

I, too, have been riding with glasses for a while. In my younger days I played lots of sports with glasses and using a "croakie" type securing band was the only way to keep the glasses from flying off. To date I've not broken any (knock on wood!) being around or on a horse and have often thought about buying a 2nd pair just for riding. Just need to do it! Contacts are not an option for me any longer, sigh, or I'd go again with the disposable soft contacts. There are lots of back-to-school specials being advertised starting about now, lots of sales on frames as well as lens. Just saw a 2-for-1 deal through a major retailer.

My biggest problem with glasses is the steaming up in cold weather & humid, warm weather. Has anyone tried on their glasses the stuff skiers use on their goggles to cut down on steaming up and icing?

[rivenoak]

I have glasses with a hook around the ears. They don't move at all when I ride.

Same for my glasses. Not that I always wear them, but do tend to when I jump.

[snoopy]

The OP said the contacts were not an option.
Besides, it is a matter of personal preference. I wore contacts for a year, but I HATED wearing them for riding. It always felt as if I was about to get debris in my eye. I count on the glasses to deflect debris.



I would very much agree.....contacts have a way have "catching" every bit of dust and debris when riding. There have been times when I was riding in a sand areana that the contacts would feel "goopy" from all the dust.

[jeano]

http://www.heavyglare.com/324/0/3338/Revision/Sawfly.html

These are my dream riding glasses--found them originally in a military supply catalog. These are what the troops in Iraq are wearing. They meet military and safety specs. They fit under a helmet. The earpieces are adjustable, and they come in a smaller size for female faces. They have a retention strap. They are shotgun blast resistant, for pity's sake. They take a prescription insert and they are unbeliveably easy to change out from clear to polarized to yellow.

Now, I have a very complicated and thick progressive trifocal prescription for my everyday glasses, but I took the Sawfly to my optician and asked for a single distance prescription, reasoning that I would neither be reading nor using the computer while riding. The correction is adequate and the glasses dont budge, and I can take a tree branch across the eyes while riding thru the woods with impunity.


I learned about glasses coming off while riding the hard way and found them by a miracle--(I need glasses to find my glasses). I had an urgent desire, after getting back to my feet, to discover just WHERE the hell the rattlesnake that had spooked my horse WAS.....

[kdow]

I've always had glasses since I started riding, and while I don't normally bother for riding, for other sports (like white water rafting) I used the same sports band type thing that other people are talking about - there are various styles, just find one that will fit comfortably with your helmet.

I do second the suggestion of having a spare pair - I always keep my older glasses whenever I get a new prescription because the change isn't normally THAT much, and so the older glasses are at least enough to not be completely blind if I lose or break my current pair. While you're at it, I'd make sure the people making your glasses know that you're going to be doing sports in them - there is a variety of lense materials, and some of them are safer than others in terms of resistance to breaking and how they break. It may be more expensive, but the last thing you want is little broken pieces of glass/plastic getting into your eye, you know?

If you have a prescription, btw, go back to your eye doctor and ask them to note your pupilary distance also (that's the distance between your pupils - it's important for making the lenses so the shape is just right) and then you can go online and there are a number of sites which sell glasses relatively inexpensively. (I prefer to look in person for my main glasses, so I can try on the frames to see how they look, but for something more utilitarian where fashion isn't really my concern, online works just fine.)

(Another thing you could consider, depending on your needs, are some of the sports sunglasses options. I have a pair of wrap around sunglasses which are designed in such a way that you can swap out the lenses, and the lenses are prescription. So I have one pair of frames and three pairs of lenses - gray polarized, amber - better than the gray on overcast but bright days, and clear UV protectant - because of the coverage and lense material they work just fine as safety glasses.)

[Ray]

I would love to get contacts, but the doc said it would make my vision deteriorate, since I only need these for distance vision. She said it was *possible* to do a contact in one eye for distance, and I could close my eye for the other, but I feel like a loss of 3-D vision on fence approach would screw me up more than the other options. Thoughts on that?

that is weird. you might try a second opinion! I have had corrective lenses and contacts for distance most of my life and never heard anything about contacts causing vision to change. now that I am of a "certain age" and need correction for close objects as well, I have 2 slightly different contacts, one that is a bit better for close objects. I thought it would affect my 3D perception jumping, but so far so good. but any doc that suggests wearing just one contact sounds a bit wacko to me! is she an opthamologist ?

one caveat to my rant is that there is no question that glasses correct your vision better than contacts. and if you wear contacts to ride, you will want to keep re-wetting drops with you to wash out the inevitable ring dirt, and you will no doubt experience the thrill of a lens coming out when you are jumping a course, catching the lens on your sleeve and preforming a mounted re-insertion of lens :) I have disposable, wear-just once contacts, very cost effective and no biggie if you lose one.

[Gnep]

For run of the mill riding I wear titanium frame , the super flexible stuff, very light. For X-C sportsglasses, they give you the x-ray vision look, scotty beam me up.

Against steaming up or rain rain-x.

I advice for X-C sports glasses, absolut shatterproof. Metalframes are very dangerous, especialy the parts that rest on your nose, they can penetrate your nose or eyes. Plastic shatters and than has very sharp edges that can cut you up pretty good.

If you wear shades, make absolutely sure that they are made for sports, shatter proof and with no pointed or sharp edges and uses a behind the head strap.

If the weather is realy bad, jockey gogels and than borail them

[okggo]

I became blind after getting a computer job (grr) and need them to see in front of my nose (literally). I've never had a problem with them staying on, but what royally sucks is wet, misty and/or humid weather. They fog up and get wet and I can't see a thing, take them off and I can't see a thing. I've had some interesting rides under those circumstances (ugh). Thankfully I have a horse that CAN see and tends to object when I try to point him into the arena fence.

[starrysky]

I have worn glasses since I was 6, and have ridden in them my whole life. As a kid, I remember being thrown off of a horse and having a lens pop out - I think it was a crappy pair of spectacles though.

I have had my current pair for 2 years, but they are in great shape, so what I do is keep my former pair (the pair I had right before these, which have the same prescription) in my tack trunk in a case, and I switch to those right before I get on. My everyday glasses are way too expensive to have broken in a fall.

The only issue I have with mine is that they occasionally fog up in the winter when I am riding really hard and I pause to take a breather - I usually can't see for a moment. It's no big deal though - you'll get used to it.

I have contacts, but just can't get used to wearing them. Maybe if I did, those would be a better option.

[middy]

I like you have just in the past 3 years gotten glasses (and like you it was mostly because I couldn't read road signs) the first year I ONLY USED THEM TO DRIVE!!! I paid $$$$ for the "unbreakable" glasses and they are really lightweight and I love them but I was afraid I would loose them. Now about a year and a half ago I started "forgetting" to take off my glasses when I got out of the car (isn't getting older a b**ch) but I have noticed that everything is better with thim except staring at the computer all day. so now I pretty much wear them all the time. When I started riding in them I didn't think I noticed a difference UNTIL I didn't wear them. I will always ride in them now and they haven't fallen off once (and I ride pretty hard and at least on of my horses may be called certifiablly crazy) I haven't had any problems.
I say ride in them for a couple of weeks and then don't ride in them. I bet you will really notice the difference.

[CookiePony]

I'm blind as a bat without mine and I hate, hate contacts (anyone want a free box of -6 or -6.5 Acuvues?). I got glasses with bendy frames after falling off a couple of years ago and crushing my last pair. Someday I will get Lasik, when I stop spending so much money on events.

[Phlash's Mom]

I wear contacts most of the time, but switch to glasses at night to give my eyes a "rest" from the contacts. I never wear glasses to the barn - I can't stand riding with them, especially with a helmet. At least with contacts, you don't feel like something's on your face, no sweat/dust on the nose-piece or lenses, they don't slide, get fogged-up, and you don' have to worry about them breaking - but you can still see! :)

[magnum]

I've worn glasses since I was 12. Contacts interimittently, but no longer an option due to EXTREME dry eye (I start Restastin this week). They get scratched and iritate if you clean stalls, anyway. FYI - Dry eye ALSO means Lasix is NOT an option, either.

So, glasses it is.

The only damage mine have suffered (I have -2.75, not a terribly heavy RX), is if I fall off and hit my head (then they go flying ... and I need my glasses to find my glasses! :winkgrin: ) ... or if a horse hits me in the head by being careless. Usually with their own head. Or, sometimes with a knee if they stamp at a fly while I am "down there." There is nothing more painful than a knee that shoots the side bar of your glasses right in to your softer temple -- :eek: OW!

So, I have become quite strict about ground manners and "body space" with my horses. Side benefit is that anyone who handles my horses thinks they are absolutely ANGELIC compared to everyone else's (it is only self preservation on my part!).

FWIW -- I have a needle thin Titanium pair of "Flex-on's" that have gone thru 6 years now and 3 sets of lens replacements. They are like a Timex ... have taken TONS of licks but keep right on tickin. I would suggest getting the smallest FRAME possible like this, as it is less likely to receive any blows due to the smaller profile.

Also FYI - Not ALL SPORTS sunglasses are good Rx prospects, even those in doc's offices. Some of them can distort horribly (namely, the ones the cyclists prefer, as their "wrap around" does awful things to an Rx!). The wrap around also has to be VERY fitted to the sides or temple area .... I am tiny boned and ended up with a pair that must have been intended for a football player (w/a big fat head, LOL!). ..... They literally stuck out 1/2" at each temple and would NOT go tighter .... had to have a discussion with my Optometrist after selling me those! He agreed to replace them ... they should have never been issued to someone of my size at all. I am now going with a "flatter" and smaller pair. They won't provide as much peripheral coverage, but at least I won't get headaches now and they should stay in place!

Magnum

[magnum]

p.s. Nothing is more of an inconvenience around the barn than having to wear glasses. The 2 worst enemies are rain drops and shavings dust .... To reduce that, always wear a baseball cap. .... How I envy anyone who is not quite so cursed!

I can't imagine having the liberty to run to my horse trailer in a rainstorm at a show ...and then NOT having to figure out how to get the lenses clean again with dirty hands and not the most perfect towelette handy .... all without scratching them!

Magnum

[Gnep]

http://www.sportrx.com/order.asp?product_id=RS11

those are the ones I wear for X-C, I had them on in 2007 when I had those two very bad crashes, the glases stayed on, no lense poped out.
One more thing if you have bifocals, do not use bifocals in those, the lense is not very large and the bifocal gets into the way, secondly if you have your eyes examined for those glases make sure that your far vision is more important than close up, 2 meter is close enough.

[RnR]

Well, I rode for about 5 years with glasses and was fine. I fell off with them too, and like others said, somehow mine never came off. The worst that would happen is they would bend and I would just have to get them readjusted.

That being said, I switched to contacts about a year ago (which I know you said wasn't an option, but just a funny story). And when I switched, I kept poking myself in the eyes! I was SO used to riding with glasses and having them slip down my nose, that letting go of the reins for a split second to push my glasses up became a habit... even when they weren't there. So I would go to push them back up my nose and end up stabbing myself in the eye.

It was horrible, haha! Took me about a month to stop doing that!

Good luck with them though. I never had any serious problems with them.

[Blinkers On]

Ummm... contacts anyone!?

The very best way to teach your horse to stop on a dime is when you're jumping and a contact falls out or shifts position. :lol:

I have been in glasses since fourth grade or so and contacts since I was 12 or 14. I rode in my glasses for years before turning to contacts and my glasses for night time only. I won't ride in my glasses anymore. I did suffer a significant facial laceration from impact and glasses years ago. I also have issues with stairs with the glasses on. Sort of like double vision as I see below the glasses rim blurry and the glass is perfect. and I find myself sometimes "confused" as to which is real. I am very blind and dependant on contacts for peripheral vision though

[Falconfree]

The trick I discovered on sweltering Maryland summer day, I took my trainer's Saddle Tite and dabbed a bit on each nose pad. We went out and ran around Prelim, sweat running down my face and my glasses perfectly in position the whole time.

Now that is an excellent idea! I've never had a problem with my glasses falling off because they are fitted very well, but they do move around a little bit when I'm sweaty.

Ummm... contacts anyone!?

The very best way to teach your horse to stop on a dime is when you're jumping and a contact falls out or shifts position. :lol:

ROFL, truth!

[JPye55]

God I am so glad somebody posted on this! I'm 23 and an upper level event rider from Area V. I've been blind as a bat since I was born and have been in glasses forever. I wear contacts the majority of the time but I can't see out of them very well and I absolutely HAVE to jump in my glasses. I see an opthalmologist every six months and saw three other specialists a couple years ago when I started to not be able to find a distance to a jump to save my life (Odd for an advanced rider). I think my trainer yelled, "You need to get your F****** eyes checked!" so I did! Go figure I had zero depth perception, crap clarity, etc. etc. No surgeries would fix all my problems (or even most of them) and Lasik is not an option.

The glasses have changed my riding world! I litterally went from having a horrible eye to being deadly accurate. But it's not all that easy. If any of you guys have competed at ALL this season you've noticed the IMMENSE amount of rain we've had from Florida and Georgia to Jersey to Texas - You name it! I would LOVE any suggestions for what to do when it rains!? I can't see anything and there is no wipping them when everything on you is soaked through. Tried that - It only makes it WAY worse! I've managed to muddle through this season (I got lucky with the timing of the downpours!) but I'm still really worried about it. If I had to ride in a lot of rain I'm just not sure I could. HELP!

Also - On the whole transitions lenses thing, those are nice except for when you jump into the dark and have to navigate your way around in there. I missed a gate at the same show in the same place twice in the last year (despite knowing that property like the back of my hand AND trotting!)because it takes those darn things 2-3 minutes to change back to clear! It gets VERY dark LOL!

[tcgelec]

That's why I gave up on Transitions lenses a while ago...too long for the "transition"...if it's too bright I would rather just have straight prescription sunglasses or clip-ons for my regular glasses (they have great ones now that match the frames exactly...no more nerdy "flip-ups)...at least then your eye adjusts to the dark tint rather than having to keep adjusting back and forth....two minutes too late!

[twofatponies]

Didn't read all the replies, but I find the danger with many glasses is that if you hit your head or face at all, not only do they bend or break, but they really bruise your nose. I now ride with a pair of the flexible-frame kind, with "croakie" holder if I am on a long or fast ride, and that does the trick!

[gully's pilot]

Just to add a funny story...I'm 42, and a few years ago I started to be really bothered by deep wrinkles at the inside edges of my eyebrows. I'm not particularly vain, but those wrinkles bothered me.

Then I took a header, and the inside edge of my googles cut my forehead--a quite neat vertical cut, right in between those two wrinkles. And when it healed, the very small scar pulled my forehead tighter--voila! The wrinkles popped out! They're much less noticeable now.

I call it my DIY plastic surgery.

[Mukluk]

I occasionally ride with glasses (I have the transitions lenses), and found that in the summer, they slide around a lot due to sweat. Anybody else have this problem, and how do you fix it?

The Optigrab!!!

http://everything2.com/?node_id=692885

http://www.gamesfirst.com/articles/al/2peripherals/opti-grab.jpg

[morgannut]

I've had glasses since they discovered I couldn't see the blackboard in 1st grade....waaaayyyy too many years ago to mention! Can't see further than the end of my nose without them.

Currently I have bifocals that are made of polycarbonate lenses in titanium flex frames, I suspect my face would break before my glasses would. I ride and shoe horses in them, for shoeing I use the Croakies strap that someone else mentioned, as when I'm bending over and sweating they do slide down a bit, though that's never been a problem while riding, though sometimes I wear the strap anyway when I ride, just as a precaution.

For what it's worth, a few years ago I was shoeing a horse when the owner hit her in the head, causing the mare to fling me halfway across the barn, dislocating my ankle and fracturing my cheekbone - my glasses ended up about 40 ft away in a stall, they were completely unharmed. Those were just regular plastic frames with regular plastic lenses, too.