running with glasses

car0line

Hi was just wondering if anyone has any ideas about running with glasses, basically i am shortsighted so i need glasses to see in the distance. For running i don't like wearing glasses but then i am running half blind without the glasses, that's not too bad if I am just training but if I am going in for a race, like the Clare Burren Marathon coming up in May, its a huge disadvantage not being able to see properly. Contact lenses don't suit my eyes, i find them too uncomfortable as well as hard to get out, so i was thinking maybe rimless glasses, not too heavy and i would still be able to see, what do you think?

ThisRegard

I wore rimless glasses for a while but they would still slide around especially when the ridge of my nose got sweaty. I know some people can get away with them fine but I persisted with contacts before eventually getting surgery.

Have you tried all types of contacts? I found the large soft disposable ones pretty comfortable, the small hard ones are a form of torture.

the_syco

What is it you don't like about wearing them whilst running? Someone may have a solution. Also, have you looked into sports glasses?

TFBubendorfer

I'm very short sighted. But I can always make out the road, so there's no real need to wear glasses. I can't see any details and if someone waves at me while I'm out running I usually don't know who it is but none of that is a serious problem.

I do run with glasses occasionally, especially in races where I need to see what's on aid station tables. I prefer without but it's not much of a problem.

More specific for your Clare Burren challenge, I did an IMRA mountain race once and wore my glasses for that. Again, it's not much of an issue.

mel.b

I wear glasses while running and tbh i don't even notice they are there. If you've had your glasses a good while it may be worth taking them into the optometrist and getting the nose pads tightened - that was the only thing i found, an old pair of glasses i had used to slide downso i was forever pushing them up. However i get a new pair of glasses about 6mths ago and no problem now.

Running in the rain with glasses is more of a problem as they become covered in rain splatter and then you can't see where you are going!

Murph_D

I just wear my regular glasses (wire frame so light and quite snug). Could do without them but line to be able to see scenery, and my watch (bi-focals). No bother at all.

SmartinMartin

Don't do it, you'll spill it all, even with just one glass.

echancrure

I need to wear my glasses when I run and to be honest it's not a problem unless they completely freeze over (extremely rare). Rain drops on glasses is frankly not much of a bother.

I sometime get them tightened in a shop.

That's it; keep running.

robinph

I don't bother with glasses for the majority of training runs, there is even a regular longer route I do with is 50/50 road and trail and I'm relatively happy running that course without the contacts in now as I know the route well enough and I'd not be doing it unless it good daylight anyway. Contacts are always in for big races, or ones that I've not done before, or running with the buggy, or parkrunning with the buggy, but I'd be happy to parkrun without the buggy and without glasses/ contacts.

Try getting some kind of strap to hold the glasses in place, or you may be able to get some prescription sports glasses which will strap onto your head safely so they don't fall off when you get all sweaty.

crisco10

Wear glasses for all training runs; have small, thin rimmed ones that are just fine. I do make sure that the nose piece is kept good and tight so they don't slide down. Probably helps that I'm not an overly sweaty person.

The rain etc can be a bit of a distraction so wear daily disposable contact lens for races to avoid that. Happened once or twice that the contacts just haven't "sat" well mid-race so popped them out and off I went half blind. Not ideal, but not the end of the world either.

Bludub

I wear glasses for pretty much all my runs. Generally they are no problem. I find wearing a cap stops most of the rain getting on my glasses. The only issue I have is that sometimes in an IMRA race the inside can fog up from my breath near the top of a climb. This clears very quickly if you take the glasses off for a few seconds - irritating but only in a minor way.

hot buttered scones

I nearly always wear glasses when running. I couldn't find contacts to suit me. I always found it a bit difficult to find a pair that didn't slip. I had one light weight pair that were ok - still slipped a bit but not too much. Then I bought a pair of "Spine" brand glasses from vision express that have springs instead of hinges on the arms and they're great. Never slip and are very comfortable. I also have a pair of prescription wraparound sunglasses for sun which are even better - just a cheap pair from the local opticians. I think I'll try and get those "reaction" lenses in the wraparound frames for running - the ones that get dark in the sun - when I need a new prescription.

crisco10

hot buttered scones wrote: »

I nearly always wear glasses when running. I couldn't find contacts to suit me. I always found it a bit difficult to find a pair that didn't slip. I had one light weight pair that were ok - still slipped a bit but not too much. Then I bought a pair of "Spine" brand glasses from vision express that have springs instead of hinges on the arms and they're great. Never slip and are very comfortable. I also have a pair of prescription wraparound sunglasses for sun which are even better - just a cheap pair from the local opticians. I think I'll try and get those "reaction" lenses in the wraparound frames for running - the ones that get dark in the sun - when I need a new prescription.

I must admit, have never heard of this. But all I hear is "new toy"!!

****runs down to optician, credit card in hand****

Clearlier

crisco10 wrote: »

I must admit, have never heard of this. But all I hear is "new toy"!!

****runs down to optician, credit card in hand****

Reaction lenses are great. They're not a great replacement for sunglasses but for everyday use they really help especially if you're a little bit photophobic. Only thing is that they don't darken when you're in the car as the relevant sunrays are filtered out by the windscreen.

OP - you haven't said what your issue with glasses is? I wear mine all the time and the last time that I had an issue was about 20 years ago when they fogged up in a cross country race and I started running with my head at a very funny angle (because that seemed easier than taking them off).

By far the most comfortable pair I had was a pair of prescription wrap around sunglasses with integrated rubber nose pads. They were fantastic but some steward broke into my car one night and nicked them. There are restrictions on what you can get depending on what your prescription is so you'd need to get advice from your optician on what can be managed. My prescription changed slightly as I got older and I found that I wasn't able to use them any more when I tried to replace my sunglasses.

In addition to the good advice already given if you're concerned about them falling off you could try putting some rubber pads on the arms.

car0line

Thank you so much for all your replies, i will take some of the advice and try various things again, maybe the easiest is just change my frames and persevere with my glasses. Thanks again, appreciate it.

opus

I always wear glasses running although if it's a race will swap to contacts just to make life easier. Going without neither isn't really an option for me Tbh never really had any problems with the glasses and have even done the odd race where I forgot the contacts.

sheesh

get the strappy thing that fits on the ends that go over your ears I use that for skiing and it works ok

lway

I usually wear an old pair for running, on long runs they tend to slip down the nose and the bridge of the frame rubs on my nose causing irritation. Wear a peaked cap to limit rain and sweat getting on them.

Girl in Optician eventually persuaded me to try contacts so now do long runs in daily disposable contacts. I find wearing the contacts in the shower afterwards makes them easier to get off. The contacts are semi-permeable to allow moisture on your eyeball so I think the steam from the shower softens them up again and makes them easier to get off. (that's my theory anyway:))