I wear glasses and contacts, contacts when Im doing somthing sweaty or dirty, glasses when im at work or relaxing at home. Im contemplating getting Laser surgery pretty soon, but have a question for you guys. What are the most rugged glasses you can think of? Im thinking some type of military issue or maybe Ray Ban aviators.

I wear a rimless style most of the time and I have a pair of wayfarer's I have prescription lenses in. The Wayfarers are pretty tough, as tested by my small son grabbing them off my face whenever he can. lol..

If we had a natural disaster having glasses that could withstand abuse would be an asset.

What do you bespeckled folks wear as your survival glasses?

Polycarbonite lenses like used in professional sports.

Alternatively, several commercial glasses makers (such as Oakley) will make prescreption lenses... that of course, fit their frames.

Polycarbonate lenses, or the thickest safety glass you can stand.

I recognize that it is not a conservative option, but I had LASIK surgery performed back in early 2006, and I have been quite happy with the results.

My decision to ditch my glasses and contacts was precipitated by two events:

1) On September 11, 2001, I was in the World Trade Center. In the ensuing confusion, I lost my eyeglasses, most likely when I hit the deck to crawl under a car when I realized pieces of a building were coming down around me and I was not going to outrun them. Good times.

Luckily, my prescription was not particularly strong, and I was able to see well enough to walk hoome and retrieve an older pair of glasses, kept as emergency spares. However, it was troubling to be so reliant on such a fragile piece of equipment.

2) Sometime in the summer of 2005 I went for a 60+ mile bike ride at high speed on my road bike (up rt 9w towards Nyack from Manhattan, for those who are curious). Despite wearing some high dollar, cycling specific sunglasses to cut the wind, the contact lense I was wearing was completely plastered to one of my eyes. I had to soak my whole eye in a cup of saline solution for 20 minutes to get the lense out - if that hadn't worked, it was off to the ER for me. Again, it struck me that the equipment I needed to maintain my vision was somewhat precarious, given the activities I loved to do. (not to mention how annoying it was when my glasses fogged up while hiking, and how impossible it was to keep contacts clean on backpacking trips)

LASIK surgery was absolutely terrifying. And expensive - I did not go with a low-cost provider, nor would I recommend doing so. Find the best doctor, regardless of cost. However, I now have uncorrected 20/15 vision in both eyes, which is pretty cool.

I'm happy to write more about my LASIK experience, if anyone is interested. And I still wear high-quality safety glasses whenever I engage in an activity the poses even the slightest risk to my eyes.

i wear glasses and if i wanted "survival" glasses i would get the safety glasses that guys who work in steel mills or body shops have.i'm sure any Big Box optical shop would have them..if you wanted to go all out ask for the side shields--

The most common combat specs I saw in Iraq were from Wiley-X.

Lasik was definitely a life changing thing for me. My brother had the procedure about two years before I did, and he was pretty much able to tell me exactly what to expect.

Recovery during the first couple of weeks after can be pretty painful at times, but I have to say that it was all worth it.

I'd also be happy to answer any questions, if any, based on my personal experience with it.

BTW, I was 20/525 and 20/550 before procedure...blind as a bat, and a lifelong glasses/contact lens wearer.

Peace!

Wow, Hthomp, I thought I was bad at 20/180!

I plan on having some sort of surgery (Lasik or PRK) once I'm active duty for a while. I have heard, though, stories about changes to vision after the procedure. Specifically, gradually changing to a 20/40 or so power, as the eye continues to evolve.

BTW, I just got done with a 2-week stint in opthamology; not that I'm an expert, but if you have questions, I'll see if I can scrounge up an answer.

Wiley-X no questions asked. I received a good sized rock to the left eye two years ago on my motorcycle. Almost ripped my entire head off my shoulders if you ask me. The Wiley-X eyewear was totaled, but I had no damage to my eye or the orbital bone around it. My face looked like a raccoon, but nothing happened to change my script.

Saw a testimonial from a Minnesota National Guard soldier regarding his Wiley-X goggles that saved his eyesight after an secondary IED went off to catch rescuers responding to a primary IED detonation in Iraq. Nuf said

Ray Ban Outdoorsman , pretty good protection (I have had rocks kicked up by passing vehicles hit me in mine numerous times with nary a chip), and you look like a pilot (or highway cop)...

Yep, thats what I always think, I hate that I am dependant on a piece of plastic that gets sweaty and dirty just to see.

RE- Lasik, I just started researching , bt it seems they talk abot the teaser rate of 500 per eye, but once u do any digging, you realize its about 2000 total at least to get it done.

Given that glasses are cheap - I'd pick up a spare set or two to keep handy.

you miltary vets out there need to know that if you have at least a %10 service connected rateing for anything..hearing,scars,whatever,you can get a eye exam and glasses at a VA hospital..call first,the wait maybe up to a month...

I purchased the Wiley X SG-1 ballistic goggles from opticsplanet.com, good quality, interchangeable lenses, quickly changes from snap on temples to strap. $105 in their basic configuration.

I've been drooling over these and have sent several hints (catalog with sticky notes on the pages) to Mrs Claus.

If that don't work, I have to buy them myself.


Duluth Trading

see http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/

for links to on line glasses

I used to have a nice pair of flexon frames. (Lost in an accident that claimed 6 lives.)
I also have several pairs of heavier safety glass style frames.
I will never uses glass lenses again after having one shatter in an accident and leave a shard of razor sharp glass in my cheek.
Polycarbonates can be bought that are more resitant to scratching than glass is.
Plastic lenses also seem to be less likely to get burns and pits in them if you are working with a welder or grinder.

You should always have at least two pairs of clear glasses and if you need them one pair of prescription sunglasses (Polarized?) if you are going to be near water, snow, sand or other bright areas. They will prevent snow blindness.
In addition to my regular glasses I keep a pair of those incredibly ugly polarized "Fitover" glasses. The Fittovers are large enough to wear like goggles with my regular glasses under them.
For skiing and other winter activities a pair pf anber lenses are good because they increase the contours you can see in the snow. On onercast days even faily rough areas of snow and ice can look very flat because the shadows disapear.

I was just in Costco and noticed they had a big display of clam pack 3 sets of eyeglasses, some with cases, in various strenghts for under $20. Might be good to get a set in various gear places... of at least the glove box so I can read the menu like I could not last night

Glasses for the long term = lasik Cheaper over the long term.

Wiley-X would be my choice as well. They have either normal ear pieces or a strap which are easily interchangeable. You can also change out the lenses easily. They don't allow air flow as well as sunglasses but they are better at this than normal goggles.