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Original poster

If you have bad eyesight do you take your glasses with you when wearing contacts?

110 replies

PineConeWar · 06/01/2022 10:46

I have very bad eyesight (-11) both eyes and always wear contacts when I leave the house. I also always carry my glasses with me whenever I go out in case I need to take a lens out for some reason. I usually wear hard lenses, which are more susceptible to grit etc if it's windy.
DH gets really annoyed because it means I always need to take a bag for activities where he would just take stuff in his pockets. I'm terrified of being stranded somewhere because I can't see. Wouldn't be able to drive home or even cross a road safely. Am I the only person who does this? Or is it something everyone with bad eyesight does?

OP posts:
itwasntaparty · 06/01/2022 15:11

-5 and I don't actually have any glasses in current prescription- yes I know.

Always take spare lenses, disposable.

JSL52 · 06/01/2022 15:11

I'm -8. I have a spare pair in the glove box and sometimes carry spare lenses.
I was just thinking the other day , I need to carry spare glasses just in case.

lostmymarblesbutfoundthewine · 06/01/2022 15:13

I have started doing this. I'm -- 13 and have developed dry eye. I still live in my contacts as I'm conscious of the thickness of my glasses.(they are thinned as far as they can go)
I have worn glasses about 35 years.
I also stress that if I was in hospital in a coma then my lenses will mould into my eyes (absolutely no reason for me to be poorly , I also worry about my beard growing 🤣)
Unless you have a subscription so strong you can't alway appreciate how hard and quite stressful it can be if you have a.problem with your lens when out.

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GloriousGoosebumps · 06/01/2022 15:16

I always take my glasses with me when wearing contact lenses. I have very occasionally lost a soft contact lens when it has ridden up under my eyelid and when I've managed to retrieve it it's not been in a condition to be reinserted or I've rubbed my eye and a lens has popped out. Having my glasses with me just seems an obvious thing to do. I certainly wouldn't be able to drive if something happened to my contact lenses.
@BHX3000 if I break a heel or need a new pair of knickers or split the seam on my trousers there'll be half a dozen shops that I can pop into and buy a cheap pair of shoes/ knickers/ trousers etc but its a very different matter when the problem is a lost contact lens, you cant just pop into the nearest opticians.
@PineConeWar why does your dh believe that it's ridiculous to take a handbag? Why does he get annoyed about it? How does it affect him?

MirandaWest · 06/01/2022 15:16

I'm -11 or so. Should probably take a spare pair of contact lenses with me as I would be lost without the ability to see. Have worn them for over 30 years and only once had an issue (and then I did have glasses with me).

Not that I've been arrested or hopefully am likely to be but if you are and you wear contact lenses and had to stay in the cells for the night it wouldn't be much fun.

I can't see why he's bothered about you taking a bag with you though - that is weird.

BasiliskStare · 06/01/2022 15:16

Not quite the same but I was born with 10% sight in one eye - plus astigmatism plus lazy eye - I have to wear glasses as contact lenses won't work . Good reminder for me to get back up specs... & if any one told me I couldn't to that - I would (ahem) disagree with them

RoseMartha · 06/01/2022 15:21

I always take my glasses when wearing contacts. In case I need to remove them. Only I can drive so would be an big issue if i had an eye problem with contacts when on a day out with dc.

OldTinHat · 06/01/2022 15:25

I always have my glasses with me when I wear my contacts out. The optician told me to always have them.

Turquoisesea · 06/01/2022 15:51

I’ve worn contact lenses for 30 years and it’s never occurred to me to take my glasses with me. I didn’t even have any glasses (only contact lenses) until I was 28 (my optician was horrified at that). I’m -4.75 and if anything happened to me lenses I definitely couldn’t drive home. I will start taking spare lenses out with me as this never occurred to me that I should (foolishly) although in 30 years I’ve never lost a lense while out. I don’t blame you for taking your glasses out with you though, I should really do the same.

Doubleglouceater · 06/01/2022 15:53

@lostmymarblesbutfoundthewine

I have started doing this. I'm -- 13 and have developed dry eye. I still live in my contacts as I'm conscious of the thickness of my glasses.(they are thinned as far as they can go) I have worn glasses about 35 years. I also stress that if I was in hospital in a coma then my lenses will mould into my eyes (absolutely no reason for me to be poorly , I also worry about my beard growing 🤣) Unless you have a subscription so strong you can't alway appreciate how hard and quite stressful it can be if you have a.problem with your lens when out.
As a thick glasses wearer who can’t wear contacts I would say they are nothing to be embarrassed about.The more of us that wear them the more normalised they will become!

I always keep a spare pair of specs in my bag as you never know...bizarre that anyone else should think that unreasonable.

YouCantTourniquetTheTaint · 06/01/2022 16:03

Mine is - 6.5 in my left eye and - 1.5 in my right eye, if I wear contacts, yes I do bring my glasses with me, just incase.

Original poster
PineConeWar · 06/01/2022 17:05

Do people carry a spare set of underwear, shoes, clothes,
I carry spare underwear and leggings when I go hiking, pair of socks (intended for when Dc walk in a river Hmm but DH was the last to use those!)

I was planning on taking a smaller bag because I reckon I will need
Phone (pocket)
Hand gel (pocket)
Hat for me and DC plus their sunglasses (goggles integrated in helmet) to wear at lunch.
Wallet - ID cards, cc, health cards, travel passes, cash - won't fit in pocket
Spare masks
Spare gloves
Keys
My glasses!

My outer coat pockets aren't zipped so I can't keep anything I don't want to risk losing in those.

OP posts:
ImInStealthMode · 06/01/2022 17:09

My prescription isn't as strong as yours but I do keep an old pair of glasses in the car all the time. If I wasn't in the car (walking, public transport or someone else driving) I could just about manage to get home without although it would be a pain, but if I'm driving and lost a contact lens I'd be stuck. In any case it's not often I'm very far from home without the car.

Harriedgymmum · 06/01/2022 17:20

Just bear in mind, when your DH requires reading glasses when he gets older, don’t carry them in your bag for him! Mine used to ask me to carry his! 😂

I carry a change of underwear, washing things, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush when on an overnight flight, all of which I use in a tiny aircraft toilet. A pair of glasses, sunglasses and the other accoutrements too!

EishetChayil · 06/01/2022 17:46

I keep a pair of glasses in the car.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 06/01/2022 17:56

@itwasntaparty

-5 and I don't actually have any glasses in current prescription- yes I know.

Always take spare lenses, disposable.

Me neither, I'm -5.5. I really need to get some the next time I go for a check up.
minipie · 06/01/2022 23:08

Do get some glasses that are at least close to current prescription. If you get an eye infection or injury you won’t be able to wear lenses.

PamelaDoov · 06/01/2022 23:14

I always take my glasses with me, even on a night out. If one of my lenses was irritating my eye it would spoil my day!

PriamFarrl · 06/01/2022 23:17

I’m -11 and I don’t unless I know I’m going to be out late.
I really should keep a pair of glasses in the car.

Blinkingbatshit · 06/01/2022 23:30

I have a spare pair of glasses in the car - wouldn’t want to lose a lens and be stranded…taking a spare lens with you instead may just be a good idea!!

AllLopsided · 06/01/2022 23:38

My DH is -6 and never takes his glasses - sometimes he doesn't even take them on holiday! I think he's crazy. I would definitely take them. I only wear them for driving but always have them in the car even if I'm not driving because a) it's nice to see where I'm going and b) you never know if the driver might become incapacitated (by a missing contact lens, perchance?).

TheAbbotOfUnreason · 07/01/2022 00:06

I can’t easily switch between lenses and glasses (I’m -9 and -7), so I don’t bother taking glasses out with me unless we’re away from home for a few days. I probably should keep a spare set of lenses in my backpack.

I am unfortunately welded to my reading glasses now though.

Mollysocks · 07/01/2022 00:15

DH gets really annoyed because it means I always need to take a bag for activities where he would just take stuff in his pockets

WTF?! He gets annoyed because you carry a handbag, like most women?

OP I’m -9 in both eyes and I carry my glasses everywhere too. Your DH is being weird. Not only do most people carry a bag of some sort, you NEED to.

Sideways rain shipped my hair into my eye once and knocked my lens out, it was just one but still made it very difficult walking back.

BrennieGirl · 07/01/2022 00:31

My prescription is similar to yours. I've been wearing lenses on and off for over 30 years. I always take my glasses out with me. I don't think I've ever actually needed them but I would be very anxious if I didn't have them with me.

I don't think people who don't have very bad eyesight understand how vulnerable you can feel without your glasses. I woke up the other morning and couldn't find my glasses on the bedside table. I must have knocked them off the table in my sleep. I felt around all over the table and floor and couldn't find them. I was so panicked. I had to call DH up to find them for me.

VetOnCall · 07/01/2022 00:31

I'm -4.75 and wear daily disposable soft lenses. I always have spare lenses available - I keep a few pairs at work, in my gym bag and in the car, and I stash a couple in a pocket or backpack if I'm out and not in very easy reach of the car (I don't do handbags). I also keep a spare pair of glasses in the car so I can grab them if needed in a hurry.

I've worn contacts for over 20 years and quite a few times I've rubbed one of my eyes and dislodged or torn (so painful!) the lens, so I would never want to be without spares and/or glasses in easy reach. I absolutely couldn't drive, do my daily CrossFit classes, walk the dogs or function at work with just one or no contacts.