Contact lenses...

angry inch · Post by **angry inch** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:47 pm

Talked a bit about contacts a while ago... I just got mine for the first time. Anybody have any flying related do's & dont's related to wearing them??? Thanks!

MRO · Post by **MRO** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:03 pm

Make sure you get it put on your medical. If it says "glasses must be worn" than contacts are no good. Makes sure it reads "glasses or contacts must be worn"

TorontoGuy · Post by **TorontoGuy** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:06 pm

I wear either glasses or contacts. I'd say, make sure you take your eye drops with you, 'cause the air up there is dry. Also, I'm thinking about taking my glasses along, too. Just in case. Unlikely, but better safe than sorry.

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:59 pm

TorontoGuy wrote:Also, I'm thinking about taking my glasses along, too. Just in case. Unlikely, but better safe than sorry.

I think you need to have them with you anyways, or atleast a 2nd pair of Contacts... so no extra pair of Contacts, you'll need the glasses anyways... CARs XXXX somewhere... Unless it's been changed... I don't bother keeping up with this stuff... Oh, and unless its a commercial only thing(was asked on my cpl exam, where my 2nd pair was)?

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 4:30 pm

You're so vain, you probably think this thread is about you...

-istp

Aeros · Post by **Aeros** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 4:43 pm

cyyz wrote:
TorontoGuy wrote:Also, I'm thinking about taking my glasses along, too. Just in case. Unlikely, but better safe than sorry.
I think you need to have them with you anyways, or atleast a 2nd pair of Contacts... so no extra pair of Contacts, you'll need the glasses anyways... CARs XXXX somewhere... Unless it's been changed... I don't bother keeping up with this stuff... Oh, and unless its a commercial only thing(was asked on my cpl exam, where my 2nd pair was)?

You are refereing to Standard 424. There is a table that outlines the various standards that must be met in order to qualify for a medical. This table includes the following restrictions (of which many pilots are not aware):
1.35c (or 2.35 and 3.35 for Cat 2 or 3 Medical Certificates) states that if you require glasses that the applicant has a spare pair of suitable correcting glasses available for immediate use when exercising the privileges of the licence.

1.37 (again 2.37 and 3.37 for Cat 2/3) talks about those that wear contact lenses. It states that all contact lens wearers shall have replacement spectacles available for immediate use in the event the contact lens(es) become dislodged or are required to be removed in flight; and

Hard contact lens wearers shall be required to have two pairs of spectacles available to overcome the frequent phenomenon of spectacle blur. In such cases, one pair of spectacles shall correct the vision immediately following removal of the lens(es), the second pair shall correct the vision after the eye is stabilized.

A couple of other things to note
The requirements for a backup pair of glasses do not apply to those that hold a Category 4 Medical. Additionally, you can't use perscription sunglasses to meet the requirements of an alternate pair of glasses for night flights.

TorontoGuy · Post by **TorontoGuy** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 4:54 pm

Some sensible rules!

Driving home from flying two weeks ago, one of my lenses got sticky and rolled up under my eyelid. Glad it happened on the ground!

w squared · Post by **w squared** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:21 pm

You hit the nail on the head, Aeros.

If you want contacts put on your medical, you may have so see an optometrist. TC may mail you a form after your initial medical is submitted requiring your optometrist to answer a bunch of questions about you and your contacts.

As Aeros said, the "two pairs" thing is for wearers of hard contact lenses. Those of use that wear soft lenses only need to carry one set. I carry two sets anyways (one plain, one dark tint, both the same prescription)

One other thing...make sure that your spare glasses are accessible from your seat, without having to undo your belt. You're going to have your hands full enough without having to go through contortions like a thirteen year old russian gymnast to reach your spare glasses.

Hotel Tango · Post by **Hotel Tango** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 11:15 pm

Anybody heard of those Nike contacts the athletes have been wearing?

Read about them being worn by athletes to increase contrast and vision. I think it's the amber tint they give them. I also read on an aviation newsletter that they may be benificial to pilots as well. If it works it would be a nice tool to improve our vision while flying.

BTD · Post by **BTD** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 6:06 am

Thanks for those references. I've known about that reg for years but I could never figure out where it was.

The only problem I've had with them flying is when I was a student with and instructor flying an aerobatic aircraft. The instructor put it into a nasty spiral during the recovery phase my contacts slid down to the bottom of my eyes. I was still able to do the recovery fine even though I don't see that well with out them. Once we were in a climb I blinked a few times and they were back where they should have been.

I use to wear glasses all the time but now I couldn't go back. Your peripheral vision is so much better with contacts you don't have to turn your head everywhere to look right at something to see it.

BTD

Lommer · Post by **Lommer** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 12:38 pm

Yeah I read a pretty in-depth piece on those Nike contacts. The trick they use is to enhance certain colours which increase your dynamic visual acuity (that's your ability to see things in motion and is not tested for any medical, your static visual acuity is what they test with that letter chart). The example they used is that a baseball batter would use red contacts, as these would enhance the red stitching the ball. Being able to see how the ball is spinning more effectively enables the batter to make a better swing. IIRC, each colour of contact is tailor-made for a specific application, but apparently these contacts do work and enhance performance in some areas. Just wearing a pair of amber contacts around all day will do absolutely nothing for your vision.

So, are these useful in aviation? Perhaps, but I can't think of an application where enhacing a pilots dynamic visual acuity by increasing the contrast of one colour would help...

TorontoGuy · Post by **TorontoGuy** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 1:02 pm

I love my contacts but may, within a few months or a couple of years, be restricted by practicality to my glasses when flying. As with many mid-aged people, I'm slowly starting to head towards a need for bifocals -- half for reading, half for general vision. Contacts work ok now, but I expect one day I'll have to revert to eyeglasses with bifocal lenses to be able to switch glances back and forth from outside to the dash instruments. It's a pain, but what can ya do?

rotorfloat · Post by **rotorfloat** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 4:31 pm

Do you still have to use the contacts for at least 6 months before you are ok'd on your medical?

Aeros · Post by **Aeros** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 6:10 am

rotorfloat wrote:Do you still have to use the contacts for at least 6 months before you are ok'd on your medical?

Yes

TorontoGuy · Post by **TorontoGuy** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 6:49 am

I'll never be able to peel them off my eyeballs if I have to leave them in for 6 months!

Hotel Tango · Post by **Hotel Tango** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 6:31 pm

TorontoGuy wrote:I'll never be able to peel them off my eyeballs if I have to leave them in for 6 months!

I don't know how to respond to that... Is he joking? Is he serious?

TorontoGuy · Post by **TorontoGuy** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 7:27 pm

zzjayca · Post by **zzjayca** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:56 am

TorontoGuy wrote:I love my contacts but may, within a few months or a couple of years, be restricted by practicality to my glasses when flying. As with many mid-aged people, I'm slowly starting to head towards a need for bifocals -- half for reading, half for general vision. Contacts work ok now, but I expect one day I'll have to revert to eyeglasses with bifocal lenses to be able to switch glances back and forth from outside to the dash instruments. It's a pain, but what can ya do?

No problem. There are now bifocal contacts on the market. I'm sure they are more expensive than normal contacts, but it means you won't be forced to revert to glasses.

Check out this site: http://www.niagara.com/~eyedocs/bifocalcontacts.htm

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:54 pm

I only have the "eyeglasses required" on my lic, but I thought I'd try the contacts out one day anyway and I fould that while flying in IMC I don't blink enough and my eyes dried out really badly. By the end of the day I decided never to fly with them again.

You may have more luck, buy my eyes are pretty dry to begin with so just not worth it. When your eyes dry out repeatedly, they grow extra blood vessels on the surface to irrigate them and consequently your vision deteriorates faster than normal. That's what my optomatrist said anyway...

angry inch · Post by **angry inch** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:41 pm

so, Co-Joe, how often do you wear the contacts?? I just got some & am trying them out. So far, I don't like 'em... my eyes just don't get comfy with them in and I don't see as well as with glasses. My eyes are on the dry side too... Haven't tried them out flying yet...

Hotel Tango · Post by **Hotel Tango** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:03 pm

angry inch wrote:so, Co-Joe, how often do you wear the contacts?? I just got some & am trying them out. So far, I don't like 'em... my eyes just don't get comfy with them in and I don't see as well as with glasses. My eyes are on the dry side too... Haven't tried them out flying yet...

Same problem I have. The only reason I tried was so that I could wear a good pair of sunglasses. But the dryness and irritation was too much after a long day so I'm gonna stick with the clip-ons.

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:31 pm

angry inch wrote:so, Co-Joe, how often do you wear the contacts?? I just got some & am trying them out. So far, I don't like 'em... my eyes just don't get comfy with them in and I don't see as well as with glasses. My eyes are on the dry side too... Haven't tried them out flying yet...

I only wear them Snowboarding and Mountain biking, and the odd time when I go to the bar. I initially tried the re-usable ones that you have to clean every night and soak, and found I hated them. They never felt clean, and I felt like I had sand in my eyes all the time.

I switched to focus dailies a while backl and love them. They are the daily disposable ones. The advantage is that you are always putting brand new ones in and there's no cleaning involved, no opti free, etc... The down side is that they cost about 1.50 / pair. Also they are really really thin and do tear easily (especially if they've been frozen???). One time I spent an hour in the bathroom at Sunshine Village trying to fish a torn lense out of the back of my skull!

But like I said, my eyes dry out soo fast that I don't even like to put them in at home before driving to the hills, and I tear them out before I even remove my boots at the end of the day. Funny eh? I cried at Titanic, but I don't produce enough tears to sustain wearing them more than 8 hours? I need to get a portable DV player and watch sad moving while flying maybe?