Re: Shooting with contacts
I've been wearing contacts since I was in Jr. High. I didn't need much presciption then, and still don't need a ton now. My prescription is -2.00 in my right eye, and -3.00 in my left eye. I have a VERY good eye doctor that has been an optometrist for almost 50 years. He's very intelligent, and keeps up with all the new technology as well. He uses all the new machines, checks everything manually, and has always been VERY accomodating to my shooting. For the past couple of years, I've offhandedly mentioned getting some time of laser correction done. My presciption has been stable for several years now, and I'm 28, so I was a bit more serious when I discussed it with him last visit. I'll tell you exactly what he asked me and told me.
He asked "do you hate your contacts?" I replied, "No, I'm pretty used to them since I've been wearing contact lenses since Jr. High. I just want to wake up in the morning and be able to see, or have to worry about contact lenses." He told me, "I would really suggest that you do NOT get the laser correction done." He went on to tell me that while I think my eyes are an inconvenience now, and don't like being near sighted, I would have more eye problems later in life. Obviously they can only cut so much away, and correct your vision so many times. He said that by the time I was in my mid 40's, maybe 50's, I'd be wearing reading glasses, AND still need presciption lenses in my eyes. He said it depends on how fast your eyesight detriorates again (and it will). Eventually you won't be able to get "touched up again" (with current technology), and because of how you have modified your eyes and with them changing, you'll start having problems with your close vision (far sighted). I don't like my contacts, but if I normally probably wouldn't have the problem, I damn sure don't want to be fighting with bifocals in my mid 40's or early 50's. I think I'll stick to my contacts for a while and see if technology changes any.
Some of you may already be aware of this, but it is SERIOUSLY something to consider for the future. You may think that 40's and 50's aren't that far away, and you want to have the convenience now. Whether any of us like to accept it or not, our 40's and 50's get here quickly, and then will you want to live with the inconvenience of bifocals for the rest of your life? For me, the answer is "no". I'm going to hold off, deal with what I always have (it's not that bad, and you get more and more used to it), and not have to worry about other eye problems in the future. Maybe I feel this way because in relative terms, my eyes aren't that bad. If you are seriously considering getting your eyes lasered (PRK, Lasik, etc.) ask LOTS of questions, and consider the effects it can have on your future.
