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May, 2025

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Skiing with Glasses and or Contacts

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03gade
Posts: 856 - Karma: 3,263
So my vision has been getting worse over the past decade but I've never really felt the need to ski with glasses. However, I went skiing the other day and once that cloud blocked out the sun I couldn't see shit.

I just had an eye doctor appointment and I had to up my prescription so it wasn't in my head. So I think I'm at the point where I may need to do something about this.

skiing with glasses seems like a disaster but it doesn't sound like contacts are a much better solution. I do have prescription Oakley sunglasses coming so maybe I just don't wear goggles? Lasik is probably in my future.

Most importantly who uses contacts to ski and what's your experience like. I'm squeemish about shoving shit in my eye but maybe I'll make an exception for skiing if it's worth it.
4 years ago
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
do you always ski without goggles? contacts give me no issues. people ski with their glasses under their goggle all the time as well

**This post was edited on Jan 25th 2021 at 2:57:42am
4 years ago
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Slunky
Posts: 691 - Karma: 2,344
I use contacts to ski and they work perfectly, they aren’t even that hard to put on or uncomfortable
4 years ago
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EPfanboy
Posts: 485 - Karma: 3,554
if you wear Oakley goggles you can get prescription inserts for them
4 years ago
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gilbertressel
Posts: 639 - Karma: 8,508
Ah, a thread made just for me. I used to ski with glasses under my goggles back when I was just starting out because my vision has been bad since I was 9.

It was terrible. Get contacts.
4 years ago
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8103 - Karma: 64,484
Pretty much all of oakleys goggles are ment to have glasses fit under them I have line miners and their fine with my glasses.
4 years ago
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a_burger
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 21,143
Had glasses from age 4 till about 19. I was kinda squeemish about it too, took me 30 minutes to get them out the first time. The motivation of not having to wear fucking glasses 24/7 was enough to keep trying, it gets way easier after a week or so. My only issue is they make my eyes a little more sensitive to light, but even putting a clear lens goggle on seems to diffuse it enough to the point that its not an issue.
4 years ago
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FaunaSkis
Posts: 631 - Karma: 6,846
I've skied with contacts under goggles for 10+ years and have only really had problems when i've drank too much the night before and havn't brought water/eye drops out with me and my eyes are dry as fuck.

I've lost lenses in slams but i tend to carry a case with spares so i dont have to end my day if I have a fall and lose a lens. (I wear dailies/2 week lenses so its nbd to have spares)

Recently I've got lenses which have transitions, like you get in glasses and in goggles, this stops a lot of the strain on your eyes using low light/clear lenses, and the transition effect is stronger in the cold so they work better than normal while skiing.

I dont have a choice to wear glasses though, as my eyes are too fucked up so, its wear contacts or dont ski.
4 years ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7967 - Karma: 23,259
03gadeSo my vision has been getting worse over the past decade but I've never really felt the need to ski with glasses. However, I went skiing the other day and once that cloud blocked out the sun I couldn't see shit.

I just had an eye doctor appointment and I had to up my prescription so it wasn't in my head. So I think I'm at the point where I may need to do something about this.

skiing with glasses seems like a disaster but it doesn't sound like contacts are a much better solution. I do have prescription Oakley sunglasses coming so maybe I just don't wear goggles? Lasik is probably in my future.

Most importantly who uses contacts to ski and what's your experience like. I'm squeemish about shoving shit in my eye but maybe I'll make an exception for skiing if it's worth it.


I've been skiing with glasses for years. My vision has been pretty terrible since I was a kid. I tried getting contacts, but just could not get used to putting them in, plus my prescription is so strong it makes them really expensive. I have Rx sunglasses and usually just ski without goggles, but that isn't feasible if it's there's any kind of steady precipitation or you're skiing fast in cold weather, so I choose goggles with wide lenses that sit further from the face, so my glasses can fit under them. It's a fog nightmare sometimes, but works reasonably well most of the time.
4 years ago
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MarkusFin
Posts: 366 - Karma: 2,631
contacts are the only option
4 years ago
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Rich_D
Posts: 100 - Karma: 539
Depends a bit on your prescription - but contact lenses should be ok for nearly everyone nowadays. It takes a little getting used to putting them on your eye and removing them - but it’s not too hard (and you wear ski boots on your feet To put it into perspective)

the only drawback of contacts is that they can make you a little more light sensitive and also a little more sensitive to wind etc - but goggles make that no hassle. Also you get a much larger and less restricted range of non prescription sunglasses if you’ve got contact lenses on. If you do any other sports or social stuff contact lenses will transform what you do and probably how you feel about yourself.

anything specific questions let me know I’m an optician.
4 years ago
2 0
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7448 - Karma: 79,870
Contacts. That way you don't need special script sunglasses, goggles, glasses, etc. I fucking HATED wearing glasses. Poking my eyeball 2x a day is so worth it. You get over it after the first few times you put one in upside down and it feels like knives in your eyes
4 years ago
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katrina
Posts: 2395 - Karma: 15,195
My eyes were really bad and it got to the point where contacts would irritate my eyes so I couldn't wear those either. I finally decided to get Lasik after years of stressing over it and it was the best decision I ever made. I could see better than I ever did with contacts or glasses and it's really nice not to have to fuss with all of that anymore.

So rock the contacts if you have the option but if you can pull the trigger and get Lasik at some point it's worth it. And after about a year or so it paid for itself because of how expensive my contacts were.
4 years ago
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cydwhit
Posts: 5079 - Karma: 43,074
Try contacts for sure, as others mentioned. They are 10,00000% better than skiing with glasses. Don't mess with prescription inserts or OTG goggles if you can't help it, they look stupid, feel stupid, and fog all the time.

I've only ever had problems with them winter camping when I forgot to sleep with them in my bag and the solution freezes, and even then you can thaw them in your mouth and put em in no problem. (Gross, I know).

I've only ever lost one once skiing, on the biggest huck of my life, and it just fell out into my goggle and I put it back in.

That said, I'm probably gonna sack up and get Lasic as soon as I can afford it.
4 years ago
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9742 - Karma: 65,784
don't sweat it man, you have some good options. prescription goggles are an option but that's kind of expensive and limiting imo

lots of goggles fit over glasses but i find that whole approach a little much, plus you might have new fogging issues

i say get contacts, they're a dream for sports. toss an extra one in your ski jacket in case you lose one some time, but generally it's a non issue for me, i wear contacts every day i ski
4 years ago
4 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
I had the same progression as you, and had to adjust to new prescription mid season

So I tried contacts, I can’t put them in and out on my own so it’s a no go but I tried them for 4 days when my wife was there to help, made my eyes very dry and if you ski without goggles 1 run be prepared to peel them off your eyes and be in pain for days
I’ve never had off bc my prescription glasses and sunglasses are very expensive
I recommend prescription goggle
inserts from sportrx.com this is my first season with them and they work great, when I really dialed my venting and heat control there’s no fog

they also have this retro 40s motorcycle goggle thing I’m surprised I haven’t seen ppl wearing it
03gadeSo my vision has been getting worse over the past decade but I've never really felt the need to ski with glasses. However, I went skiing the other day and once that cloud blocked out the sun I couldn't see shit.

I just had an eye doctor appointment and I had to up my prescription so it wasn't in my head. So I think I'm at the point where I may need to do something about this.

skiing with glasses seems like a disaster but it doesn't sound like contacts are a much better solution. I do have prescription Oakley sunglasses coming so maybe I just don't wear goggles? Lasik is probably in my future.

Most importantly who uses contacts to ski and what's your experience like. I'm squeemish about shoving shit in my eye but maybe I'll make an exception for skiing if it's worth it.
4 years ago
2 4
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Brule.
Posts: 3988 - Karma: 6,714
Been wearing contacts while I ski since I was 16. Never noticed that my eyesight was shit until I was 14. Never had a problem with it and I’ll bring eye drops with me sometimes if I decide to go rip with no goggles and/or for when my eyes are dry af. Definitely worth wearing contacts while skiing.
4 years ago
4 0
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isaacwrong
Posts: 2444 - Karma: 19,565
Contacts...alway keep a set of glasses in my bag incase they decide to pop out. Side note, unless you work in a dusty/agriculture type of work you'll be set for life
4 years ago
3 0
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dognutsdogfart
Posts: 2630 - Karma: 35,186
I just ski with glasses under me goggles which is not even that bad. I have contacts but i cant get the fricken stupid darn things in my eyes...
4 years ago
1 0
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03gade
Posts: 856 - Karma: 3,263
Thanks everyone, I'll probably order some contacts and go from there. The inserts seem like a good alternative but contacts seem more tried and tested
4 years ago
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gilbertressel
Posts: 639 - Karma: 8,508
03gadeThanks everyone, I'll probably order some contacts and go from there. The inserts seem like a good alternative but contacts seem more tried and tested

Yo idk how american opticians work but are yall not getting fitted for them or what? In the UK you have to prove you can put them in and take them out before you're prescribed them.
4 years ago
2 0
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7448 - Karma: 79,870
gilbertresselYo idk how american opticians work but are yall not getting fitted for them or what? In the UK you have to prove you can put them in and take them out before you're prescribed them.


Lol what
4 years ago
1 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
From the looks of the Uk I’m guessing y’all also have to prove you can use a toothbrush before you can have one
gilbertresselYo idk how american opticians work but are yall not getting fitted for them or what? In the UK you have to prove you can put them in and take them out before you're prescribed them.
4 years ago
4 0
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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
Contacts all the way. Just bring an extra pair. One time I lost one crashing in the powder and had to drive all the way down i70 with one contact lens
4 years ago
1 0
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mcswizzle
Posts: 842 - Karma: 2,298
Guess its the unpopular opinion here, but I prefer glasses these days. I have larger goggles (Giro Methods I think?) that I can fit smallish frames underneath really easily, no gouging or annoying pressure points involved. As long as you keep your goggles on for a couple minutes before skiing (last little bit of chair ride) to let fog clear out you generally won't have any issues. I skied a couple days in really soggy conditions without any serious fog issues, which surprised me but I made sure to keep goggs on for the most part. Its also nice to cruise in very flat light with just glasses.

At any rate, def try contacts as people are recommending, but glasses can be totally fine as well.
4 years ago
2 0
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drifts
Posts: 621 - Karma: 4,508
I haven't ever had an issue with my contacts while skiing but losing them wouldn't be a day ender for me so I dont carry an extra set or anything. sportRX makes inserts and prescription goggles so maybe thatd be worth a look
4 years ago
2 0
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,788
Contacts all day, for anything active. I love my glasses, but they're not worth it when I'm skiing/hiking/swimming/etc.
You can get contacts fitted (we do this in Canada too), and you can get more breathable one-day lenses which are more comfortable. Once you get used to putting them in after a day or two it's just a no brainer.

Not much worse than having prescription gogs/sunnies and then taking them off for whatever reason and then immediately being blind.
Like if you crash and you need to clear em out but you need to get out of a line or landing but you're blind either way.
Or you're hiking a rail and you wanna stash the gogs but you can't because now you're blind (or you need to keep your glasses on you)
Or if you're touring and you just wanna chill with some sunnies on the way up and transition to gogs on the way down.
Or if you go the glasses under route and end up crashing and smashing your glasses into your face (likely scratching your goggle lenses in the process). Not to mention the extra fogging.

In my experience, contacts are the best option and totally worth it.
4 years ago
2 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10082 - Karma: 76,457
Contacts over glasses. Lasik only if you really need/want it. I abused my night and day (30 day lenses) and would wear them for months at a time. Really dumb cuz I coulda got a bad infection. Eventually my eyes wouldn't be able to have contacts in for more than 6-8hrs without getting dry af. That's when I decided to get lasik
4 years ago
1 0
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gilbertressel
Posts: 639 - Karma: 8,508
SavageBiffFrom the looks of the Uk I’m guessing y’all also have to prove you can use a toothbrush before you can have one

Damn I wasn't tryna mock but you went straight there I guess. Doesn't it seem kinda weird that something that ultimately rests on your eye, a more important organ than yo teef, can just be bought online? Sounds like a recipe for someone to hurt themselves that's all I was tryna say.
4 years ago
1 0
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Julius_Steezer
Posts: 776 - Karma: 4,551
SavageBiffFrom the looks of the Uk I’m guessing y’all also have to prove you can use a toothbrush before you can have one


Imagine a situation where one country’s pre-requisites for contact lens prescriptions are more stringent than another country’s checks before legally selling firearms
4 years ago
6 2
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
Oh man just a joke sorry if it was offensive and I see your point now that you put it that way, which has always been one reason I use glasses and prescription inserts, plus the inserts maintenance is lower, but for those who contacts work for good for them
gilbertresselDamn I wasn't tryna mock but you went straight there I guess. Doesn't it seem kinda weird that something that ultimately rests on your eye, a more important organ than yo teef, can just be bought online? Sounds like a recipe for someone to hurt themselves that's all I was tryna say.
4 years ago
1 0
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Rich_D
Posts: 100 - Karma: 539
SavageBiffFrom the looks of the Uk I’m guessing y’all also have to prove you can use a toothbrush before you can have one

Does your wife have to help you with that too?
4 years ago
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
Nah m8 yours is in charge of all bathroom related duties
Rich_DDoes your wife have to help you with that too?
4 years ago
4 0
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38124 - Karma: 130,051
grew up as a kid wearing glasses, switched over to contacts at like age 12 (Im 25 now), been a daily contact wearer ever since. Definitely go with the contact and eventually lasik route. My prescription is for contact lenses that you can keep in without having to clean them every night, but I do recommend having a pair of glasses for when you do take your contacts out and aren't skiing, and clean your contacts a few times a week to avoid them drying out. My contacts dried out over the weekend skiing and I was blind as fucking bat, couldn't see transitions in some relatively flat-light conditions, and was struggling to ski. Definitely throws you off a bit.

I had my vision worked on a few years ago again, updated my prescriptions, got a pair of reading glasses, got an eye chart/brock string for eye exercises (totally recommend, you'll start noticing how much more quicker you can scan stuff with your eyes), and yeah it helps. Just make sure to always ski with eye protection, whether its goggles or sunnies but that goes without saying.
4 years ago
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