Every time I do a performance driving event or autox, my contacts dry up, at this point a blink is all thats needed for me to cyclops it. I have not tried driving in my glasses yet. What do you guys do? Suggestions please...

Every time I do a performance driving event or autox, my contacts dry up, at this point a blink is all thats needed for me to cyclops it. I have not tried driving in my glasses yet. What do you guys do? Suggestions please...

Helmet with face shield. Other more expensive option is LASIC.

Carlos.

Helmet with face shield. Other more expensive option is LASIC.

Carlos.

I don't know much about Lasik. Some people who get it have problems seeing at night.

Glasses.

Lasik isn't an option yet. I wish it was though, driving isn't the only sport where my contacts are a hindrance.

I think your problem might be that you are not relaxed enough, and therefore rarely blink which is obviously going to cause your contacts to dry up.

I raced in glasses for years and "hated" it, even though once I actually got on the track I rarely ever noticed them, let alone have them affect me. I got contacts a few years and havent had any problems with my eyes drying up, and absolutely love them cause I dont have to mess with them while putting on and taking off my helmet, or worry about them moving around.

If you are new to "performance driving" you may want to use your glasses untill you become more comfortable and relaxed handling the car at its limit. Then switch back to contacts and see if you still have the same problem.

I'm very interested in this thread. I'd like to hear more opinions from people who need glasses at the track

I'm very interested in this thread. I'd like to hear more opinions from people who need glasses at the track

Glasses suck because they get in the way putting on your helmet, once your helmet is on they put pressure on them and they may not sit exactly as you like them so the whole world looks different. Eye ports on helmets all of a sudden become a higher priority, ie they suck. I can't stand to wear contacts but for sports they're a must for me, for karting glasses vibrate too much, in a car they're mostly OK other than the issues I listed.

Carlos.

Everyone seems to recommend a closed face helmet. Don't suppose anyone would recommend an open face one?

When you try on helmets (don't buy helmets without trying them on) make sure to take your glasses, as they add a whole new dimension to helmet compatibility. Other than that and having a tinted shield for sunny days, I have no complaints about running with glasses at dozens of events over the last three years or so.

Everyone seems to recommend a closed face helmet. Don't suppose anyone would recommend an open face one?

Not me.

Everyone seems to recommend a closed face helmet. Don't suppose anyone would recommend an open face one?

I only recommend open face helmets to those who don't value their face.

I only recommend open face helmets to those who don't value their face.

I don't ever see road racers using open face helmets, but I do see quite a few rally racers. I would figure that they would be more likely to use closed face with all the extra debris.

I run a closed face lid, with my visor up. I need to make sure that my next batch of contacts is cut perfectly to my eye. I tried fitting my lid while wearing my glasses, but didn't like the feel, glasses didn't sit right.

I wear contacts and run with my visor open the majority of the time without any problems that I've ever noticed. Unfortunately I don't have any advice other than to just take some kind of wetting solution with you and apply frequently :dunno

contacts with sunglasses or face shield

I don't ever see road racers using open face helmets, but I do see quite a few rally racers. I would figure that they would be more likely to use closed face with all the extra debris.

A) Rally racers are a different breed and usually aren't very smart. :stickoutt

B) Rally racers need to communicate...if their intercom goes down, yelling is the only option and a closed face helmet makes that hard.

C) Rally racers occasionally need to get out of the car to make a repair on course. Not so easy with a full face helmet.

at a recent DE event at WGI, a 997 turbo lost it coming out of turn one, and hit the inside wall. He was wearing glasses and an open face helmet. The airbag deployed and the force pushed the top of his glasses into his eyebrows. Ended up with stitches all across his eyebrows.

I wear glasses with a closed face helmet. Mine are the Flexon brand, so they're very flexible and comfortable.
-Ted

Dino, I have had the same problem.
Once I blinked a contact nearly out of my eye and I was trying not too loose it while completeing an autox course, as you might imagine, it was not my fasted time of the day.
My suggestion is to use a visor or using wet drops before you start. I have not tried my glasses because I fear I would loose some pereferal vision and/or they wouldn't fit with my helmet, but I can't be sure as I haven't ditched the contacts yet.

I use contacts and a full faced helmet with the visor down. I don't have a problem with my eyes drying. I'm not a doctor but I think dry eyes can also happen if you aren't hydrating thru out the day.

One option for using a full faced or open faced helmet and contacts is to purchase some driving glasses that fit like goggles. I picked up a pair at a large motorcycle dealership. I can't remember the brand I can get it if anyone is interested. I used this setup for a while and they worked really well at keeping the wind from your getting into your eyes.

Paul Q

BTW -- Do Rally racers where HANS devices?

I wear glasses. I have a very "bendy" set of flexible glasses, and they are very thin and easy to sneak in once I've got my helmet on. If I wanted to, I could drop a smoked shield over it for summer use.

I wear glasses. I have a very "bendy" set of flexible glasses, and they are very thin and easy to sneak in once I've got my helmet on. If I wanted to, I could drop a smoked shield over it for summer use.

See my signature :cool :D

Hmm, I'm not wearing my glasses, but are you wearing glasses? :p

I wear glasses with a closed face helmet. Mine are the Flexon brand, so they're very flexible and comfortable.
-Ted

Same here. They don't bother me at all. When it's cold I use some no fog solution(shampoo) which is really needed while sitting on the grid. I have gone through a couple of pairs from having them fall on the floor while taking off my helmet and I stepped on them..:eek: That's why I always bring a backup pair with me to the track.

The suggestion about not being relaxed/blinking enough is a good one, but not much you can do about it at the moment really.

What brand of contacts do you wear? In general, a contact that "breathes" more, will actually dry out quicker if you don't blink very much. I've worn AcuVue II disposables since they came out and don't have any problems with them on track, or elsewhere for that matter. At my last check-up, I decided to try one of the new, more breathable brands and they dried out very quickly, even under normal conditions. Disposables are also nice cause you can bring some back-up contacts if you do lose one, just pop another one in.

The only time I have a drying-out problem is when I'm playing the PS2 or PC games. I tend to not blink while doing that, and it is a problem (but at least there I can pause it :D)

FWIW, I use the Simpson hybrid helmet (large eye port, chin guard, and visor) with sunglasses.

at a recent DE event at WGI, a 997 turbo lost it coming out of turn one, and hit the inside wall. He was wearing glasses and an open face helmet. The airbag deployed and the force pushed the top of his glasses into his eyebrows. Ended up with stitches all across his eyebrows.

I was at this event and talked with the driver afterwards. The gashes from his glasses were serious. I wont even wear sunglasses now because of it. The paramedics were saying it happens all the time and the cuts are always dangerously close to the nerves in your face.

I'm a contacts w/ a full face helmet, shield up always kind of guy. Darkened shield if the sun is ever too bright, but I've never needed it or pulled it down.

Edit: Kenster, which car were you in? I dont remember seeing that many BMWs @ Chin.

I occasionally have an issue with a dry lens, but repeated blinking usually takes care of it. Even more troublesome is if the toric lens (astigmatism correction) becomes mis-aligned. If it's unusually hot and/or windy I use a rewetting solution just before getting in the car. My eyesight is 20/400 uncorrected, and as such I don't like wearing glasses when driving, since my peripheral vision is not corrected. That really bothers me - I notice it even on a simple trip to the corner grocery store.

Soft lenses, full-face helmet, clear shield DOWN - use the shield or impact resistant glasses. Rocks/debris/etc can and will enter the car and your eye port.

Warning: If you're wearing glasses and a full-face helmet, be sure not to drop the shield when you're sitting in the grid. Once fogged, the glasses get really hard to unfog, at least until you're on track and can stick your head out the window. ;-).

Also, balaclavas become a pain in the tuchus. They make it much more difficult to get the temples behind your ears, and they encourage fogging.

As one of those poor souls who can't use contacts, I use presc sunglasses and had to replace my frames with fine wire ones that could fit comfortably. Most of the time I leave the visor up, hoping that the glasses (which have a lot of coverage) will furnish adequate eye protection, because I hate the feeling that I'm looking through three increasingly-dirty peices of glass or plastic. But when the fur flies, I go visor-down.

What brand of contacts do you wear?

I was about to ask that... I started with glasses, but didn't like it, so moved to contact lenses and used to have trouble with them drying out a bit, as well as having my eyes completely blood-shot at the end of the day.

I switched to Night & Day contact and haven't even had to use eye drops for the last couple of years because of it. I think wearing sunglasses now helps a bit, too.

Night and Day ones really work? Maybe I'll try em...

Night and Day ones really work? Maybe I'll try em...

For me they do. I really like them a lot, and used to always have troubles with my eyes drying out. And, while I don't like to do it, if it's a really early morning the next day, I'll just leave them in over night and still not have troubles. I do prefer to take them out at night for the most part, however.

Night and Day ones really work? Maybe I'll try em...

I'm sure this is something that varies from person to person, but the AccuVue II's that I wear, I leave them in 24/7 and I get 4 to 6 weeks out of one pair on average (sometimes longer, sometimes shorter.) I've always had good check-ups, and I've even started actually telling my optometrist. They tell me as long as they aren't giving me problems, they're cool with it.

I can't stand wearing glasses... my depth perception and peripheral vision is always compromised, and they give me headaches.

Obviously, I go through re-wetting drops, but in general, I only use them in the mornings. Maybe I just have quality tear ducts? :redspot

I occasionally have an issue with a dry lens, but repeated blinking usually takes care of it. Even more troublesome is if the toric lens (astigmatism correction) becomes mis-aligned. If it's unusually hot and/or windy I use a rewetting solution just before getting in the car.

the rewetting solution is a good option. I work for an ophthalmology manufacturer...we make contact solution, rewetters and do LASIK so I like this topic!!!
I would say you can try first to use some drops if the contacts feel dry. Changing contacts can be an option.
As far as LASIK goes, I am considering it for myself at this point. There are a lot of myths on LASIK out there and technology is evolving all the time.
Feel free to email me if you want some drop ideas (i am not going to promote my brand out here).

Might have to give those night&day a try. I'm pretty sure i have AVII's. I'm do for a new set here pretty soon. I never sleep with my contacts in.

I wear glasses with a closed face helmet. Mine are the Flexon brand, so they're very flexible and comfortable.
-Ted

same, pretty comfortable.

I would get lasik but the halo/starburst at night are an issue.

Edit: Kenster, which car were you in? I dont remember seeing that many BMWs @ Chin.

I was in the green & white E36. It's a work in progress for IP next year. Safety stuff is complete, working on rest of car this winter.

If going glasses route, I suggest getting polycarbonate lenses.

For me, wearing glasses suck for almost every form of motorsport or anything involving hand-eye coordination. I lose all sorts of peripheral vision when I wear glasses, which is critical for most competitive events. The handful of times I forgot to put in contacts I did "poorly" in competition with the glasses (which I have equal corrected vision with, supposedly). For Solo driving, you are never looking where you are driving "now", and lots of times you are aiming for an apex that's damn near behind you... I wear an open face helmet for better visibility, too (not a concern at these events, safety wise).

I used to wear contacts every day (decade+) but constant use was causing too much irritation and redness/bloodshot eyes ("eye stress" or some term). My eye doctor recommended glasses predominantly, plus gave me some of the newer high moisture content contacts.

I now use the contacts for racing, target shooting, playing pool, darts, or whatever else I am doing that requires peripheral vision. I use "lens lubricant" wetting drops throughout the day when wearing contacts, but a long racing stint might be a stretch, I could see that. Most of the time I wear glasses, and they double as safety glasses (several scratches on the lenses attest to their usefulness in the shop).

Lasik is still not 100% risk free, but its getting close, from what I have been reading. A few of my friends that were early Lasik adopters had dry eye syndrome, didn't get 20:20, or both. It seems to get better every year and I am very close to making that leap...

Everyone seems to recommend a closed face helmet. Don't suppose anyone would recommend an open face one?

Dale Earnhardt Sr. would.

A visor is really a good idea even if your car has a windshield. Here's a real life example - a friends car went into the gravel trap on the drivers side. He said you would not believe how much gravel got scooped up went into his face. He was glad he was wearing a full coverage helmet with the visor down. There's lots of other scenarios - deer strike, car ahead of you grenades the motor - both of those have happened to me.

I wear glasses with a full helmet...no problems at all and quite comfortable. My helmet is the Aria GP-5W (wide eyeport)

Closed face helmet, contacts with a bottle of eyedrops.

One thing you might want to look into is a supply of the "one-day" contacts. I've found a fresh pair makes a big difference in terms of staying supple versus drying out. You don't have to fully switch, but pick up a months supply or something, run them on track weekends.

-Charlie

Lasik, hands down. Before surgery, I couldn't read the "E" at the top of the chart (prescription was -4.75). The day after surgery, I was 20/15 in both eyes, a month later I was 20/10 (yes, that's better than perfect!). No halos, no dry eyes, has absolutely changed my life! I told my family I did it for work reasons (I'm a cinematographer), but racing was the really main factor!

Lasik, hands down. Before surgery, I couldn't read the "E" at the top of the chart (prescription was -4.75). The day after surgery, I was 20/15 in both eyes, a month later I was 20/10 (yes, that's better than perfect!). No halos, no dry eyes, has absolutely changed my life! I told my family I did it for work reasons (I'm a cinematographer), but racing was the really main factor!

It just concerns me that it's not reversible. If contacts cause a reaction, you can just take em out. If glasses give you a headache, you can take em off. If Lasik screws up your eyes, that's it.

Lasik, hands down. Before surgery, I couldn't read the "E" at the top of the chart (prescription was -4.75). The day after surgery, I was 20/15 in both eyes, a month later I was 20/10 (yes, that's better than perfect!). No halos, no dry eyes, has absolutely changed my life! I told my family I did it for work reasons (I'm a cinematographer), but racing was the really main factor!

Ditto,,, My story is identical to Maxxfishe's (except I'm not a cinemetographer I was a lighting designer).
I wore glasses (Really thick ones) for 32 years.
Lasik has for certain changed my life.
I'm like an evangelist for it now.

I had 20/20 vision the 3rd day after the operation, no starbursts, dry eyes, headaches, nothing. Just had my physical, still have 20/20, now 6 years after the procedure.
No more glasses inside my helmet, no more prescription sunglasses, no more buying a helmet that fits well with glasses inside.
Buy any helmet that fits, any sunglasses you want.
The first year after my Lasik I think I spent $1000 on sunglasses just because I could walk into a store and buy whatever sunglasses I wanted off a rack.
I couldn't reccommend Lasik more.

When I see people with glasses, or dealing with putting contacts in,,, I want to shake them and say, "get the operation, it will change your life".

If nothing else, get the Lasik pre-exam to see if you are eligible for the procedure,,, its the best eye exam you will ever have. you will learn 1000% more about your eyes than when you visit the doctor to get your prescription checked.
Then talk to a Lasik doctor and consider it.
Its really a miracle (well it was for me).

Good luck
jimmy p

What about PRK?

I specifically got a helmet to fit glasses originally. I like my glasses personally so I will continue to use them!

I even have oakley's that are prescription for driving!

4 years of autox in a convertible. I only wear glasses (have never used contact lenses) and I have a Bell M2 full-face helmet. The M2 has a larger eye port for people that wear glasses. I honestly don't notice the glasses when I'm on course. the tops and bottoms of my frames are "hidden" in the top and bottom of the helmet's eye port. The sides of my frames are in my field of view, but I don't really notice it when I'm on a run. I have sunshades for my glasses, so I'm able to compensate for changing light conditions. I have a clear visor on the helmet. (If I was on the track for 20 minutes lapping sessions or races instead of out in the parking lot for 50 seconds, I might think twice about dealing with changing light conditions.)

It is a 2-step process putting the helmet on- first put the helmet on and then put my glasses on, but it really isn't that much of a pain. I'll do this 8 times over the course of a day, more at test-n-tunes and it doesn't bother me. I usually run with the visor down since I drive a convertible. (See sig)

I do have issues with the helmet and my glasses fogging up in the cooler weather (below 65 or so) but in the heat of the summer it isn't an issue. I'm thinking of getting a breath deflector for next season.

My first set of frames I had when I started to autox were very uncomfortable with the helmet. (I bought the glasses before I bought the helmet.) Now I just take the helmet with me when choosing my frames. My current frames are very comfortable with the helmet on.

Scott

I had Lasik in 1999. I had 20/200 in one eye and 20/400 in the other with GOBS of astigmatism. I LOVED my Lasik for a long time (read the disclaimers - it's not permanent) but in early 2007 found that I needed glasses again - I work at a computer a lot. Went back the the doc and what I found was that my astigmatism had returned. My eyesight is not terrible, it's just that they focus on different planes - so kinda sucks.

Sure, I could get LASIK again - and I might (doc has a "lifetime" warrantee). I NEVER liked contacts. I just had very sensitive eyes and it always looked like I was BAKED - so I started wearing glasses. I race with glasses today and don't even notice them with my full face helmet. Just get some flexible frame ones and you will be fine.

I had Lasik in 1999. I had 20/200 in one eye and 20/400 in the other with GOBS of astigmatism. I LOVED my Lasik for a long time (read the disclaimers - it's not permanent) but in early 2007 found that I needed glasses again - I work at a computer a lot. Went back the the doc and what I found was that my astigmatism had returned. My eyesight is not terrible, it's just that they focus on different planes - so kinda sucks.

Sure, I could get LASIK again - and I might (doc has a "lifetime" warrantee). I NEVER liked contacts. I just had very sensitive eyes and it always looked like I was BAKED - so I started wearing glasses. I race with glasses today and don't even notice them with my full face helmet. Just get some flexible frame ones and you will be fine.

Supposing you had your visor up and glasses on, would you still be concerned about anything shattering or getting driven into your eye/face?

I wouldn't be concerned about the glasses shattering, especially if you have the visor down.

One thing I dislike about glasses is that they fog up on cooler days. That's my only gripe with them. I feel like I don't lose any peripheral vision or anything else.
-Ted

Ted, is that an Arai GP5 I see in your sig. I think the key is geeting frames that don't wrap around you ear, rather rest ontop. I think I might have to hack my JB weld reenforced Vogues and see if that makes any difference.

I also like my AccuvueII contacts. I actually keep them in for months at a time. no drops, no fuss, no nothing. i forget i even wear contacts. The doc says my eyes are healthy and fine and said its ok to continue this.

I also wear a hybrid style helmet so my eyes are exposed to the wind/air a bit while driving.

I guess my point is to at least try several different brands of contacts before you right them off.

Ted, is that an Arai GP5 I see in your sig. I think the key is geeting frames that don't wrap around you ear, rather rest ontop. I think I might have to hack my JB weld reenforced Vogues and see if that makes any difference.

Right on the money Dino, it's a GP5K.

These are pretty close to what my glasses look like, and the end of the frames are identical. I just insert them at an upward angle, then once they clear my ears, I bring them down. :dunno
http://www.flexon.select.allbrandsglasses.com/images_catalog/AQF00K00.jpg

I just insert them at an upward angle, then once they clear my ears, I bring them down. :dunno This works for me too.

Scott

This works for me too.

ScottJust curious but why do you run your car in BSP when from the looks of the mods in your sig you are STU legal?

Just curious but why do you run your car in BSP when from the looks of the mods in your sig you are STU legal?I've been waiting for someone to ask this question. I usually run in STU and my preferred class is STU. My local club runs split-day events and most of them are on Sundays. I don't like to skip church to go autox, so I just run in the afternoon heats. Some weeks, STU runs in the morning heats, but BSP runs in the afternoon heats. I just run in BSP on my STU street tires. In the cooler weather, I can give the R-comp drivers a run for their money for the first two runs until they get heat in their tires... then I'm toast.:D

Now that the season is over, I'll have some time to update my sig with newer pictures from events where I actually ran in STU. The funny part is, since there are fewer drivers in BSP, I usually place better in that class than I do in STU. Last place of 4 cars is better than last place of 12 cars, right?:help

Scott