Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Contact Lenses

I backpack hunted for several years with contacts. In fact wore contacts from 13 years old to 27. I couldn't sleep in contacts most nights (even extended wear) without paying dearly for it the next day. Just didn't agree with me so I dealed with digging my contacts out of my eyes every night in my bag with my muddy/bloody hands, but it beat contacts and my hands were "mostly" clean

It can be done. Be sure to sleep with the contact case next to your body in your bag to keep them from freezing. But if you can make extended wears work for her I would say jump on that 100%, I was one of the people they just didn't work for. But in 2011 I paid the money to get Lasik. Hands down the best money I have ever have spent on optics

Granted you don't want to do Lasik until one gets older anyways from what I understand so give extended 30 days a whirl. Wish they worked for me.

If you get lucky enough to have cataracts, the surgery works better than Lasik, lasts longer, and insurance will pay for it (at least it did before Obamacare).

The Biofinity Lens is designed to be worn for 6 nights/7days and then overnight cleaning to reduce bacterial counts and protein buildup, for 4 weeks before replacing the lenses.

I use the 2 week disposable Accuvues. Leave them in for 2-3 days at a time while hunting and bring eye drops to wetten them in the morning. Been doing this since a long time now. Works, but Lasik would be nice...

I had RK surgery at the end of 1989. This was before Lasik was available. Still 20/20, though I sometimes need reading glasses if my eyes are tired. If you add up all the money you spend on glasses, contacts, supplies, doctor appointments, etc..., it's cost effective. Factor in no more dealing with fogged glasses, dropped or ripped contacts, and its a no brainer.

The Brunton Compass I take with me has a mirror.

Calvin,

I wear two week contacts for 3-4 months. Take 'em out every nite dirty fingers or not. Gently clean them in my palm once every two weeks. There's no way I'm gonna pay the extra coin for extended wear lenses. No reason too, its a scam. I have worn mine for up to 4 straight days but I don't like to. I just happened to be that tired.

I've bought lenses from Soviet Canuckistan using my expired US prescription. I'll probably go to prison for admitting that.

Left eye likes Acuvue Oasys, right likes biomedics 55. I wear them to hunt and play sports only. Can't stand them for driving. I'm not interested in eye surgery because I can pass the drivers exam uncorrected, and don't need reading glasses for my desk job. Eye doc described me as "perfectly nearsighted" for my work.

It's no biggie. Wash your hands in creeks and bring a spare pair.

PRK was my huckleberry to ditch contacts/glasses and I've never spent better money. Night vision is better as well.

I've gone weeks, wearing daily wear. They're kind of a pain but not a big deal. I use a little possibles bag for solution, case, spares and baby wipes for gunky fingers, plus a pair of glasses for wake ups at night. The bag stays in a pocket or in the sleeping bag to avoid freezing.

Ella

I've used Extended wear contacts for about 25 years. They work well for me. I'll go on a 10 day elk hunt and never take them out, just a squirt of solution in the morning and I'm ready to roll.

Glasses and hunting are a bitch. Btdt.

For you guys who think reasonable aseptic technique isn't all that important with contacts, there are a couple fungal eye infections, that while not common have the potential to at minimum ruin your hunt. At max will ruin your vision.

Fungus is not all that uncommon in the outdoors. And how many have acquired a case of athletes foot while out hunting? Change you socks, get it on you hand, then stick it in your eyes.

I know, I know you have been doing it that way for years.

Yup. A case of raging pink eye in the middle of a pack trip isn't nearly as much fun as it sounds.

Pink eye will not blind you. Fungal Keratitis on the cornea may.


Contacts are porous plastics that are the equivalent of little Petri dishes. An almost perfect media for bacteria growth. Combine it with the moist environment of the eye and bad stuff can start multiplying. It is a wonder it doesn't happen more often.

not alot of backpacking but alot of camping with them....my ex could leave hers in for a month at a time, actually longer to the point she would do damage to the surface of the eye....i on the other hand rarely can keep mine in longer than 18 hours, if i sleep in them it feels like my eyes are full of sand....i cant stand wearing glasses anywhere but just around the house anymore...

I wanted contacts for outdoor pursuits, including having the ability to wear different non-prescription fishing sunglasses and shooting glasses, but I didn't want the hassle of maintaining contact lenses.

I opted for the single-use disposable contacts (B&L Accuvues of some sort). You wear them once and throw them away. I think they come in boxes of a 30 day supply.

They might be one of the more expensive options, but I never had plans to wear them every day. Because they are daily disposable, they are supposed to be some of the thinnest, most comfortable contacts to wear; however, the thin construction makes them a little bit more difficult to place in the eye than contacts with a little more body. Every day begins with a clean, sterile lens and no need to mess around with them at night. If you lose or tear a lens, it's not that big a deal when you have 30 spares.

It turned out that I could never get used to wearing contacts without having the feeling that something was in my eye. I tried several brands and types, but never could wear any of them without discomfort. Anyway, I still think that the daily disposables would have been my best option. You could have plenty of extra lenses to pack along, and if something unexpected happened, I'm sure you could probably squeeze an extra day or three out of one set.

They want 3 bills for an eye exam here locally. I'm going to wait till I'm south to get get the exam and contacts. I'm too cheap to pay 3 bills for a 30 minute appointment. Thanks guys.

Another Lasic vote. I've been 20/15 for 12 years.

LASIK will seriously change your life and how you operate.

Seriously look into it Calvin.

Extended wear contacts are a bad idea. Increase your risk of an infection that could cause longterm visual loss 10 fold. Yes some are approved to sleep in but you are rolling the dice.

How do you feel about extended wear underwear?

H goog bacterial keratitis