Fencing with new eyes!

[NJP3]

Went to the eye-doctor and found out that my vision was 20/60 so I picked out some glasses and just got them in today, I put them on and... bam everything is amazingly clear, I had no idea how bad my vision was. Since then I have been in awe, taking them on and off in amazement. I cant wait to see if this helps my distance and point control!! Anyone else fence with glasses? problems?? should I consider wearing contacts??

thanks
NJ

[Lemberg]

I don't but I really need to get me some contacts because my vision (probably by virtue of being a university student and having a lot to read) keeps slipping and I notice that it doesn't only afffect my precision and reaction on piste but also even my balance in some ways... At least I hope it's due to no glasses ALthough I think contacts are away to go. There's a guy in my club that wears contacts and wore glasses before when fencing and he says that contacts are much more comfortable and totally worth it.

[Tomas N]

I wear sports goggles. I get the heebie jeebies thinking about putting contacts in my eyes. If you go the sports goggles route, I suggest getting a pair that sits away from your head a bit. Someone in my club had a pair of wrap around goggles, but they fogged up quite a bit and he had to buy a different pair. Sweating a lot in an enclosed space will do that.

Tomas

[edew]

20/60 is nothing. The refraction through the mask mesh is enough to correct that imperfection.

Try fencing when your eye degenerates to 20/350 or worse.

[Catlady]

I wear glasses. About the only thing I've noticed is sometimes they fog up and you do have to be a little more careful putting on your mask (so you don't knock them off), but that's about it. I know someone who has a pair of "recspecs" and seems satisfied with them so I guess that's an option. Many people swear by wearing contacts to fence. I think they're more trouble than they're worth, and I like looking like an intellectual, even if I don't qualify as one, so I just stick to glasses all the time. I know a contact wearer who swears he absolutely can't fence wearing glasses, and I guess it's strange at first, but frankly once you adjust it's not that much of a problem. My only issue is I forget I'm wearing a mask, go to push the glasses back up on my nose--they're not really slipping but it's a nervous habit ingrained from about seventh grade on--and am surprised when I run into a mask.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Originally posted by edew
20/60 is nothing. The refraction through the mask mesh is enough to correct that imperfection.

Try fencing when your eye degenerates to 20/350 or worse.

i dunno what my fractio is but i have -4.75.....i've had it since I was about 3. and yes fencing with glasses is an incredible improvemnt, although you may want to buy contacts

[The0ne]

I fence in glasses and it works for me. . . I just have a different method of putting my mask on than most people in my club.

[BigD]

I have fenced both with glasses and contacts and glasses are a pain in the *** to me. I prefer the contacts, especially during tournaments when you are frequently putting on and taking off the mask.

An elastic strap on the stem will help a great deal to keep the glasses securely in place.

[MyraTrue]

NJP3- I know what you mean about not knowing your eyes were so bad. I never knew I needed glasses until I failed a lab quiz in biology from the front row (giant fish is projected on the screen, and we're supposed to use the key to decide what it is. Question one: does it have a caudal fin? Caudal fin? I can't even tell that a FISH!!!! )

If you can fence with glasses, its cheaper than contacts, I'll give you that. But like the others have said, its sometimes hard to get your mask on, and my glasses always slide down my nose when I fence. And fog up. I did get contacts, and they are much nicer as far as ease of fencing. My only problem is that I've got very dry eyes, and my contacts will dry out, especially when I'm tired (and then everything vanishes into a haze of white).

By far, I'd never go back to glasses when I fence. I still do, sometimes, and a strap helped to keep them on pretty well.

Good luck!

[onesandzeros]

Because I have astigmatism and can't afford the special contacts, I have been stuck wearing glasses while I fence. Recently I purchased one of those eyeglasses straps and am very pleased with the way they keep my glasses where I want them to be. No more slipping off the nose!! I highly suggest it.

[DangerMouse]

Originally posted by MyraTrue
But like the others have said, its sometimes hard to get your mask on,

I've had contacts for a while now, but every now and then I forget to put them in before fencing. This used to make me extremely unhappy for the night. I recently got one of the Leon Paul Contour Fit masks. The use of an elastic system instead of the normal mask tang makes it much easier with glasses.

[Ken Mondschein]

I absolutely can't fence without my contacts, and refuse to get Lasik in case they screw it up and I can't wear contacts at all.

[I_luv_saber]

I was just thinking the other day about one those new clear masks... the vision 2000 I think is what it's called. Wouldn't it be cool if sometime in the near future they were able to have the plastic shield be perscription! Wow, I was just thinking how amazingly cool that would be! Oh, and by the way I wear glasses, and they are a pain in the neck when using masks with the new sweat guards in them.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Originally posted by onesandzeros
Because I have astigmatism and can't afford the special contacts, I have been stuck wearing glasses while I fence. Recently I purchased one of those eyeglasses straps and am very pleased with the way they keep my glasses where I want them to be. No more slipping off the nose!! I highly suggest it.

I have a stigmatism on both eyes, but custom contacts are going out. They are now making all types, thus not as expensive.

[sabreur]

I have pretty miserable vision, but forgot my Croakie last night (I only have about a dozen of the damned things....), and fenced without my glasses--I actually found that it helped me perceive movement better. I also found it made it easier to see who started the attack while directing.

Of course I fence sabre, so seeing fine movements of the blade is not so important .

Cheers, MR

[CSports]

I am a American Board of Opticianary certified optician. I own a sports Optical shop in St. Louis and I specialize in all the hard to find glasses, for sports, hunting fishing shooting, skiing- with that qualifier being said,
To get Mask on over your glasses, you could try a Doo rag- You will see a lot of Football Players wearing them now- the glasses will slide on past your temples ( ear pieces) much more easily-

and to keep them clean- get an empty gallon milk jug- fill it with 2 to -3 pints of the 66% Isophrophyl alchohol, then add 1/2 tablespoon dishsoap (NO MORE IT WILL STREAK) and then fill the rest with water- you now have a gallon of lens cleaner- tits the same stuff they sell in the stores for 6 to $8 a bottle- Your need to clean your lenses with a soft cotton cloth- NO PAPER PRODUCTS< NO KLEENEX< NO PAPPER TOWELS, NO PAPER LENS CLEANING TISSUES- Soft cotton cloths. IF you can try to keep those little foil packs of alchohol wipes ( the ones the nurse or doctor use to wipe your arm before you get a shot) and wipe your lensesin between bouts. they will fog up a lot less. When you prespire you emit oils and it is the oils on your lens that are fogging.

[Cerian]

I use glasses and other than having to put on my mask with both hands I don't have any problems with fogging or slipping.

[40Saberthieves]

I use contacts. Much better.


And wb Cerian, I know you from another board.

[Cerian]

Let me guess, your name is similar to pilum.