contacts while working

[yinzer]

brought up in another thread, didn't want to hijack with a whole different discussion.

ive been sick as balls for quite sometime, and now i am having problems wearing contacts. i seem to have less problems wearing them while working, than the rest of the time, however. thing is, i prefer contacts+glasses, over prescription lenses, because i like to be able to see when not looking through the lense without having to switch glasses.

over time, though, i have had people advise me against wearing them while working, and even heard some crazy stories about them melting on to peoples eyes. however, its always someones friend... like those guys that think they're a glass of orange juice. so im not sure how valid the claims are.

on the other hand i know several people that have done this for longer than ive been on a torch, that say its bs.

just looking for some personal experiences here, or any valid information/things i can read. i would also like to be able to have enough information to feel comfortable answering student questions on this topic, so if anyone wants to throw down some facts, please do.

i did find another thread, but its just a couple people saying they wear them, and im trying to pull a bit more info than that.

[Mike_Aurelius]

There are certainly pros and cons on this subject.

Some guidelines to follow if you choose to wear contacts:

1) Always wash your hands *with soap* before removing or inserting contacts.
2) Use pure saline wetting drops at least once an hour (again washing your hands *with soap*)
3) BLINK!!

[chadwick]

Mike addressed the only problem I've had, and I've worn contacts behind a torch for years. I probably end up not blinking enough, and I'm definitely bringing stove rewetting drips to the studio!! My eyes are usually a little irritated when I finish, but these reasons are no doubt the issues I've had.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[JayBoogie]

I think the story of someone's contacts melting is bogus. Think of how hot that would have to be to do that. I mean, how hot do the lenses of your shades get when working? Maybe if you have your face 3 inches away from a raging kobuki flame, but I don't think contacts would be the first to go. That said I wear mine with no issues. Yet.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

[Mike_Aurelius]

They don't melt, but they can *stick* to your cornea, and the ER trip will be...unpleasant.

[Greymatter Glass]

I wear contacts when working, never had a problem. I use the Refresh brand Dry Eyes single use droppers, not every hours, but as I feel my eyes getting sticky or dry for sure, and I always lube 'em up and get them rehydrated a few minutes before taking them out.

Your glasses offer your contacts the same protection your eyes get.... attenuated IR, physical protection, etc... so if your lenses are "melting" your eyes would have like 2nd degree burns on them as well. Soft contacts are made of a form of silicone (usually) and can handle pretty high temps, certainly higher than your eyes would be comfortable at.

That said, I do want to get a pair of Rx didys

[PyroChixRock]

Mike suggested in another thread awhile back to put a "BLINK!" sign somewhere you see it all the time, like on your crack off bucket. This is simple, but some of the best advice I've been given. Do it! It help. ;)