Contact Lenses - When Shooting a Bow

[dukhunt]

Right, it's not that Lasik increases your chance of having to get reading glasses. A lot of that is genetics, so if at some point you'll need readers, you'll need them regardless of whether you got Lasik or not.

Yes that’s correct. I got it done at the age of 31 and still without cheaters at 39.

 

[wyodan]

For those of you that got lasik, how old were you when you got it done?

I was 38, and got the PRK procedure instead. It is a longer recovery time, but my eye doc told me it is a safer and better procedure. The laser center said they are both really close the same. It is a great procedure, but working at a computer strains my eyes, along with the damn cell phones. I'm really debating going back to a flip phone.

If you stay with contacts, I used to use a peroxide solution over night (can't remember the name), and make sure I only touched the outside of the lens after rinsing them. I was able to do significant backcountry experiences for 15 years that way. I always made sure I had a spare set of lenses too, just in case.

Laser surgery was awesome, I love being able to get up in the morning a just go do whatever. And read my clock from across the room.

 

[wyosteve]

Everyone needs reading glasses as they age due to hardening of the lens. I had PRK 22 yrs. ago and just recently started using readers. But overall, my vision at last exam was still 20/20 and 20/15. A few minutes for the procedure will be a life changer if you decide to go for it.

 

[7Bartman]

Considering getting PRK as I hate contacts. That being said, you might want to have your optometrist write you a script for daily contacts. They only run about $1 a piece and I can fit a weeks supply in pack without taking up too much room. I too, cannot shoot my bow with glasses on.

 

[live2huntelk]

Anyone else notice that when you look through your peep (on a compound bow) to your site with glasses on that your pins (multi-pin sight) are a jumbled mess? I have to shoot with my contacts in or I’m not shooting at all due to my poor vision.

Any eye Dr.'s on Rokslide? Anybody use multifocal or bi focal contacts.

 

[MTSabo]

I got the PRK when i was 28 two years ago. Best decision ever. I went with PRK as there is no flap that can get tore back open as with lasik. Pain was pretty brutal after the procedure but worth it.

 

[Sam's dad]

I wear contacts when I shoot a bow. I can’t see both the pins and the target with glasses, similar to other posters.

One cautionary note for other contacts users: I use the peroxide solution (Clear Care) and last year, when I was backpack hunting, I left my contacts outside the tent overnight. The next morning I tried to put my contacts in and the solution hadn’t neutralized, and I couldn’t put my contacts in because they burned. Not sure if it was the cold temps that affected the solution or something else, but now when I’m backpacking I use regular contact solution.

 

[NJDiverDan]

The real pain in the ass is backpacking with contacts. Putting contacts in at 4:30 AM (ish) is brutal. I really need to consider lasik.

I use monthlies when hunting. According to my Dr. they can stay in for 7 days without issue. I bring saline and I drops to flush before bed and when I wake up in the morning, but they just stay in. Eyes are a little dry when I first wake up, but better than trying to get my hands clean enough to put in / take out.

 

[Sam's dad]

Yeah that’s good idea. Keeping hands clean in the backcountry isn’t always easy.

 

[jmez]

Have you tried a verifier or clarifier peep? The Specialty archery peeps will help with that effect also.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

This may or may not work. A verifier peep is designed to be used for people that need reading glasses and have trouble seeing the pins. A clarifier peep is designed to be used with a lens in the scope housing to give a clear view of the target.

The verifier is not designed to be used with a second lens which your glasses or contacts would be.

I emailed Specialty Archery about this and they said a verifier likely won't help if you already wear prescription lenses as its not designed for that. Their dealers should have a card with different lenses that you can look through to test them, they recommended I try that to see if it worked. I don't have a dealer around with the set so never did it.

 

[mbrady3]

I have to shoot with contacts because I can't actually see "through" my glasses. It is ways at the very edge of the frame or right in the opening over the nose. If you are looking through the lens at that angle it will distort things. I found it much easier to use contacts while hunting, that way you don't have to mess with glasses with putting bino's to ur eyes as well.