[Cosmoline]

I've recently started using contact lenses. These have been excellent for most outside activities in the winter because they don't fog up. But the past two trips to the shooting range, the contact in my shooting eye (right) inexplicably bunched up and started giving me double vision. The only thing I can figure is that my squinting muscles are popping the thing out of place. On Saturday it was so bad the contact came completely loose when I was testing handloads on the levergun and got lost inside my eyelid for awhile. I'm using one day disposables.

Anyone else have this problem? Will it go away if I switch to longer-term contacts?

[oneounceload]

I use the type that you can leave in for month. (I don't leave them in as I secrete too much protein)..If I blink too much, get a little wind in there and start to tear up, or rub them the wrong way, I have made them come out.

You might try carrying some basic artificial tears type of drops, and if you feel your eye is getting dry, put a drop or two in. Be careful of contaminants on your hands from shooting

[Cougfan2]

I never had a problem with it when I wore contacts, but mine were not soft contacts, they were hard gas permeable because of my astigmatism. Not sure if that makes a difference.

[blkbrd666]

I use monthly disposables and forget they are there...for month(s). Never have had them pop out. Have had them move around if my eyes get dry...I just flush eyes with saline if that happens.

[Cosmoline]

Hmm. With the icy cold wind off Knik Arm dryness may have been a major factor. I'll bring some drops with me next time.

[N003k]

I use daily lenses myself, take them out every night and change them every 2 weeks type. I only have problems personally when I rub my eye too much, or if it gets dry. Never had any problems while shooting though.

[czarjl]

I would give the eye doc a quick call... it might be as simple as reweting drops or you may need a minor ajustment to the size contact you wear.

[FenderTK421]

I just started wearing the 1 day disposables. Sunday I went to the Rabbit Creek range w/ six friends. It was my 3rd day w/ the contacts- They worked great. Had no problems and could finally see down range. I did bring some rewetting/lubricationg drops w/ me. If the contact feels itchy or scratchy i put 2 or 3 drops in. Was really wanting to know how they would perform in the dry/cold/wind. I am very pleased with mine.

[Cosmoline]

I'll check into the sizing issue as well. Thanks!

Small world--I was just at Rabbit Creek Saturday. Other than the contacts it was a nice sunny day. Some kind soul even let me shoot an STG-44 replica.

[FenderTK421]

Wow... I'd give my teft lesticle to shoot one of those. Was it the Sport system Dietrich BD44? It's a great range, really friendly people. A guy let me check out his brand new Ed Brown 1911 and even shoot his S&W 629 .44 Mag. Nicest feeling .44 I have ever shot. I let him fire off the 1873 SAA replica in .45 Colt. Some of the nicest, politest people I have ever encountered.

[Cosmoline]

That's one thing I love about shooting up here. You never know what you're going to see. The fella set up on the bench next to me and I just stood there staring at it for awhile, in awe with my mouth hanging open. Very little recoil and a much smoother action than an AK.

[searcher451]

I wear soft contacts and have for years; I've never had a problem losing one during a range shoot -- not even when I attend the ones where the guys drag in the cannons and blast away. If you are losing your contacts during a range shoot, my guess is that you are wearing contacts that aren't properly fitted to your eyes.

[EddieNFL]

If I'm not careful when shooting prone, mine will move around, but I've never had one come out. Benched or standing gives me no problems.

[TonyDedo]

You're keeping your eye open longer than you normally would and drying out the contact. Remember to blink - and bring eyedrops.

[Gungnir]

Eye relief...?:neener:

No I don't wear contacts any more (had the surgery) but when I used to dry environments would totally make them sticky, bunch up and so on and with my current humidity being ~14% relative indoors, and 8% outdoors, I can't imagine yours being massively higher (you're in the Northern Suburb of Seattle IIRC). So it's likely that.

Also if you're new to Contacts, you might be not blinking enough (sounds weird I know) but your cornea triggers the blink action, so if it thinks it's wet enough, then you won't blink get a blink reflex. Plus when you're shooting you tend to stare more as you're lining up. So that won't help either.

[xcgates]

Definately get some eye drops. I almost always carry some in a pocket, and I take out my contacts out every evening if possible. Make sure you get eye drops appropriate to the type of contacts you are wearing (hard or soft). You might also want to grab a couple different brands, as some brands have caused some irritation.

I actually have the type that you can leave in for a week at a time, and they are quite useful if I am on a trip, as I frequently will sleep in the back of my car or other odd location, and can't always find a way to take them out.

[mustang_steve]

What's nasty is when the lenses get hard in cold weather.

I gave up on lenses long ago....I'm back to glasses until I get lasik.

[Magic_Man]

Mine have never come out.

[Elvishead]

Just close your eyes when you shoot.:neener:

[brassdog]

Sounds like your contacts are getting too dry.

I typically don't wear them at the range since I have an astigmatism in my dominant eye. This makes everything slightly blurry when I'm wearing my contacts. Not an issue for pistol work but at the longer ranges I prefer to see a little more crisply.

Guess that means I get two flavors, original and extra crispy.:rolleyes:

[Just One Shot]

Try super glue.
:what:
:neener:

[Rock_Steady]

only time I ever had contact problems while shooting was back in Basic Training when the M-16 would blow all the gases from the chamber back in my eye and irritate it. Hard to see the 300m target when everything goes all swimmy.

[ultradoc]

what about lasik surgery? might be the cuncussion from the gun?

[deadin]

The only thing I can figure is that my squinting muscles are popping the thing out of place.

If you are having to squint while sighting, it sounds like you may have the wrong prescription for shooting. Might try using an iris to bring everything into focus.

the M-16 would blow all the gases from the chamber back in my eye

This must have been "back in the day" when they didn't require shooting glasses.:eek: