UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I have an appointment to pick up my first pair or RGP's on Tuesday (wish me luck ). I have read that they can sometimes pop out during physical activities, and I am wondering what you recommend that I not do in the lenses. I like to run, and occasionally play sports like basketball. I also live near the beach, and go swimming in the ocean and in pools sometimes. Also, is it ok to shower and nap in them? Thanks for the help!

Hi TimTim,

Firstly good luck for next Tuesday!

Secondly, if you have a good fit you should find (fingers crossed) that your lenses will stay in quite snuggly. Its not always easy for your speciailist to get a great first 1st time around but usually, the better the fit, the more likely the lenses are to stick around.

However, in answer to your question (on a personal level, this no doubt will be different for others) I find the only time my lenses try and make a run for it (pun intended) is when they dry out - blink often enough, keep them lubricated and they tend to stay in like those plastic sucker things.

I tend to find my lenses most like to jump out when I'm cycling, but I've cured this in part by always wearing wrap-around shades at the same time - this reduces the drying effect of the wind and also acts as a kind of safety net if they do dry out.

When I go swimming I prefer to take them out - mainly for hygiene - I think what little boys do in swimming pools (sorry for the image) and I worry about any infection I may pick up from the water and into my eyes. I go swimming (when I do) with the other half and so there is always some there to guide me should I confuse the lifeguard with the way out

Lastly to the shower - if you can see to wash without them take them out. Otherwise soap in your eyes tends to be worse that it already is. Plus it gives your eyes a rest and allows you to rinse the rubbish out of the corners of your eyes without fear of catching the lenses.

Hope this helps.

Ed

Running and cycling no problem. I usually wear sunglasses for both to avoid drying out / grit in the eye. When its raining I normally wear goggles on the bike (to catch the lenses if they fall out). However, I use a bike every day and am yet to loose a lens that way (I'm gonna wish I never said that). I wear goggles for swimming, except when I am with my 3 year old son, because he sometimes grabs them, so I don't wear lenses at all for that. I wouldn't like to try swimming with lenses but without goggles. I cycle every day, run 3 times a week and swim twice a week, and I have never lost a lens on any of those occasions. I have tended to loose them taking them out / putting them in (down the plug-hole) or once driving because I had just had them in too long and the lens dried out and fell out!

tim

I wore RGP lenses for skydiving. No problem there.

I'd avoid taking a shower with them in: they might be washed out and float away down the drain. I can't swin, so there was no problem there for me, but I think they may not be a prctical proposition for kayaking or canoeing.

All the best.

Andrew

I think you could wear rgps for watersports if you wore goggles or similar. I use a set for cycling but they are actually motorbike goggles. They cost about £30 and could be used for a number of watersports or anything really, climbing, caving etc etc I think they stop grit gettting in the eye but also they would catch a lens if it fell out.
You can also wear the lenses when diving as long as they were cleaned effectively after use.
There was also a thread in the mists of time about martial arts. I don't do martial arts anymore, but I friend who wore rgps when I did.
I think the key to all of things really, is to have a spare pair and then give it a go. You may loose a lens but you might loose one just brushing your teeth. Don't let KC rule your life (I think that should be our group motto?)

On a lighter note, a patient recently asked our receptionist if it was safe to keep his lenses in during sex! Our seasoned receptionist promptly replied that it all depended on how vigorous the said activity was!!

Mine fall out if they dry out, I wear mine in the gym and am fine. the cinema drys my eyes out ( air con? )
Anyone been on a rollar coaster wearing them?
My optom knows someone who goes skiing in his with no probs. i think at first you are very cautious but after a while think Oh sod it I am going to do it anyway!
Its a learn as you go on thing I think

I certainly used to ski in my RGPs. Of course, they'd be protected somewhat by the black sunglasses I was also wearing... but I never lost a lens!

Don't sleep with your lens in that's always a bad idea.
As Andrew said, you can swim with googles, personally I wouldn't risk sports which are dangerous or increase the risk of pressure against the eyes like diving or parachuting

Hey there!

I have to say that I do pretty much everything in my lenses as i don't see in detail without them which is annoying and gives me terrible headaches. I go swimming in them but always wear goggles. I did worry about this when I first started going but now everything is fine! I have jumped 50 foot into a pool wearing goggles and lenses and had no problems as I just floated straight back up! My surgeon had a little worry though as I had only just had all my stitches removed from a graft hehe, but as I told him it had to be done as it was my 30th!!

I don't sleep in lenses, this is really bad for your eyes as they dry out terribly, but I have been known to fall asleep for an hour and then to take them out dry to lubricate them again.

I did start aikido but sadly had to give this up as my MS got too bad, but I was fine with lenses in. Just tell the instructor so that they know if you get knocked.

The main problem I find is lenses drying out and dust from outside. I always carry blink eyedrops with me for this which works really well and don't forget to carry a lens case as you might need to take them out if they are too painful.

Hoping that helps and best of luck with it! Lenses do take a while when you first get them to get the right fit, but it is really worth the wait!!