Glasses or Contacts ON coasters

Jess: Most ladies don't complain about people thinking they are younger than they are. And when you're my age guys don't either.

I'm blind as a bat without my glasses and can't wear contacts due to cornea problems. I rode over 100 coasters without a strap and had no problems. SFA is very picky about glasses though, so I now wear a strap. I do find that I sometimes have to remind ride ops that the park rules allow glasses with straps.

The only coaster I've been on where they wouldn't allow you to wear glasses even with a strap was Batman and Robin, The Chiller before the conversion to lap bars. This was probably a good idea since it beat your head so mercilously that your frames would have been scrap by the end of the ride.

A piece of advice for anyone who wears glasses or contacts. When you go to the park or most anywhere else, always keep a spare pair of glasses in the car. Almost anything can happen to your glasses and contacts can pop out and get lost. They don't need to be your current prescription. Your old lenses will get you home. I've only needed my spare pair a couple of times, but it can be a real life saver when you are 400 miles from home.

I wear glasses and always have a strap on them. I like the Croakies that have the little adjustment bead in the back that you can loosen and tighten easily. I can't drive without the glasses, so losing them is NOT an option.

I've worn glasses since I was 6 - and I remember on my first coaster at about age 10 - Carolina Goldrusher mine train at Carowinds - holding onto them for dear life fearing they'd fall off. If you've ever seen Christmas Story you know what breaking / losing glasses is like to a kid hehe. Over the years I'd hold onto them - or take them off, and not be able to see.

This wasn't a big deal back then, as I was a typical GP'er that maybe hit a ride once or twice on a trip. Three years ago when I went back to Carowinds after a long absence, first thing I did was to get a strap so the fear of losing my glasses didn't detract from the experience.

The straps are probably not necessary 99% of the time - but I NEVER worry about losing my glasses so I can just enjoy the ride. This is good since I became an enthusiast on that visit, and now ride as much as possible.

A girl in front of me on Myrtle Beach Pavilion's Hurricane earlier this year was feeling all over her head on the brake run looking for her glasses - she started freaking out. They had bounced off somewhere. She was on a band field trip from what I could tell, so that had to suck to lose the glasses far from home. That could put a real damper on a vacation. That kinda reaffirmed my religious wearing of the straps even on the tame woodies (not that Hurricane was - it was rough) - just because you never know. It's the old ounce of prevention vs. a pound of cure.

The other advantage to having a strap - even if you don't wear it all the time - it lets you wear your glasses on almost everything. Only on SFOG's Superman:Ultimate Flight have I had to take them off even with a strap. Did get a few rides where the op didn't care / notice and they were just as secure on my head as on every other ride, but that's some policy thing they have there. I've been able to keep my glasses on some other rides due to the strap, where those without had to take theirs off. Depending on the park, it can be a real good thing to have the strap just in case - I'd much rather have them on my head than in my hands, or left at a station.

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Ken

You're locked and ready to fly!

I know this has nothing to do with coasters, but since your talking bout contacts, does it hurt when they slide in the back of your head like people are saying?

About the slide -- doesn't hurt (me) so much as feel weird, kinda disconcerting. You can feel them in, but you can't dee for diddly.

As to what to wear on coasters -- I have worn both. I have never had problems with the ride ops. Nor have I had problems with my contacts due to wind. If I ever make it to CP (please god please god please god next year) the insect issue does concern me. I wear nice ($140+) Oakleys and I trust a strap to keep them on my head more than I trust a (correct me if I'm wrong) minimum-wage theme park employee to keep them in the station. For what it's worth, my prescription is along the lines of -11.00. If I didn't wear correction, I wouldn't enjoy the ride at all, because I'd be blind.

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I am the TickTockMan

Boy prabe, you're even blinder than I am. You beat my -7 handily. If you think that your glasses cost a lot now, just wait untill you're older and need bifocals. My lenses cost over $250 without the frames. Yours may be even more.

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nasai said:
I have yet to lose a contact or glasses on a ride.

......oh yeah. I don't wear contacts, or glasses. In fact, my vision is perfect. ;) (147-dmv)
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Holy crapola! Sony might be the ultimate destination!

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To me, you are officially the most hated member. ;) Damn glasses, rechid eyes! I'm so blind, I can't see something without my glasses clearly until it is 6" in front of my face.

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http://www.comehomegreg.com/ --- loads of crap for no price!
*** This post was edited by WCS4488 5/18/2003 1:15:24 AM ***

I want to be clear.

The price I listed was for non-prescription sunglasses. My prescription glasses are priced about like yours, Jim Fisher, and they're not bifocals or anything outrageous like that. My point was that I trust any and all eyewear that I might wear to en eyeglass strap. If the parks are not responsible for items, I'll use the strap and take my chances.

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I am the TickTockMan

I've had bad experiences with eyeglass straps.

Fortunately, when I chose my glasses, I made certain that the earpieces extend well downward from the temples, and I had my optician adjust them properly. This accomplishes a couple of things. First of all, with the glasses properly adjusted, the optical center of the lens lines up with your eyeball, meaning you get optimal vision correction. Furthermore, the glasses sit properly (even if, like me, you have hardly any nose for them to sit on so that you're not adjusting them all the time. Second, this makes them fit in such a way that they will not come off unless you want them off, provided that nothing interferes with the way they fit. In my case, the frame is essentially spring-loaded between the back of my ear and the bridge piece, and if I could do cartwheels (which I can't) they wouldn't come off unless something grabbed them.

Unfortunately there are parks out there (including, for the moment at least, Cedar Point's Dragster crew) that don't understand how this setup works and insist on additional mechanical securement. I use a neck-cord, which works best draped loosely around the back of my neck. Even better if it's passed through a loop in the back of my shirt as that way, if the glasses come off (which they won't) they are restrained from going anywhere by the cord, which would have to go over my head to get away from me.

There are a couple of problems with some of the more common securement devices commonly available. Some people swear by the ones which have tubes that fit over the temples. I find that these mess up the fit of the earpiece, and I worry that there isn't anything to keep them from sliding off. I prefer the type that have a little silicone loop with a spring-steel ring around it. Slide the loop over the temple and slide it up to a non-anoying position, and snug it in place with the steel ring, it is physically impossible for it to come off the frame.

I'm a little annoyed with Cedar Point right now because they don't like my neck cord; for Dragster I have to tie a knot in it so that it fits snug against the back of my head. This has a couple of problems. First of all, it's damned uncomfortable. Second, and more seriously, if it's too tight, it tends to pull the ear pieces back away from my ears, which destroys the spring balance that normally holds the glasses in place, actually making them MORE LIKELY to come loose. And since the strap extends around the top of the head, there is literally nothing to keep it from springing up and over the top of the head, taking the glasses with it. Decades ago I actually had that happen when I made the mistake of using one of those elastic band things.

On a high-speed ride, if you value your eyesight, wear some kind of eye protection...glasses, goggles, face mask, whatever. Eyes are far too easy to destroy not to protect them from some pretty obvious dangers. And when it comes to securing your eyewear, getting it properly adjusted is the absolute best way to keep it in place.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I wear gas perm lenses which are the lenses from Hell. Due to horrific vision and astigmatism I have been forced to wear these, and hard lenses many years before them. I've ridden tons of coasters with no loss but will admit to wearing my sunglasses any chance I can. For the 1st 2 years on MF I even wore my sunglasses at night for fear of losing a lens. Now I don't. As for TTD, I personally would only worry if I had the front car again, so when I get the front car again (even at night) I WILL be wearing my sunglasses...at least for the 1st 2 years anyway! ;)
I WISH my vision in my glasses was as good as with my contacts because to beable to make the long a** drive home without having to stop and rewet my lenses, would be awesome! After the long drive there, all the rides, my lenses are a waste by the time I'm on my way home-they drive me nuts! :(
As for the corrective surgery...
when we stop investing so much $ in horses, shows, and showing then MAYBE I can think about spending it else where. For now, I am legally blind, but an awesome rider and trainer!!! ;)

Jo
2000/2002 Raptor Crew
Lifetime Raptor flights: 717 :) (goin for 1k in '03!)
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It's all about getting around the barrels or over the fences, right leads, no faults, fastest time and still looking pretty when done. What's so hard about that? :)

With my normal glasses the wind whips around the lenses and I tear-up so bad I can't see anyway. I found a solution, although an expensive one; you can get prescription lenses for Ray Ban's, that wrap around and deflect the wind. I was told they could put lenses in any sun glasses frame that clamps the lenses, and for some reason the Predator J's ala "Men in Black", which snap in, but not in Oakleys.

It did take a couple of weeks to get over the nausia...It's totally different experience, kinda like getting used to a good 3-D video game.

Oakley has a special frame that holds a separate prescription lens behind the sunglass lens. I found these very handy when I raced bicycles. They gave me wrap around bug protection while retaining my vision.

I wear contacts on coasters rather than glasses. The only problem I ever had with them was on TTD. It felt like they dried out so I had to put some drops in my eyes.

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Wicked Twists-53
"Keep arms down and head back and hold on."
Top Thrill Drags- 6
Visits to CP 2003-4

I almost feel like I got ripped off. My bifocals (the ones that transition without any lines) cost me $400 for the lenses alone. Fortunately my frames were half price and included magnetic sunglasses as well.

I've never worn a strap on my glasses before considering the only rides I've been asked to take them off are Power Tower and Wicked Twister. The MF ops have asked me to remove them, but when I show how sturdy my glasses fit on my head (ala Rideman), I've been allowed to wear them.

This year I purchased a strap and got my first clear view from the top of the Power Tower. I got my strap at my optomitrist. Same deal as Rideman describes (loop with a little sliding spring), but it's an adjustable band rather than a cord, and sits lower on the back of my head. In fact, I had to lift my hair up to prove to the Dragster ops that I had a band on. The strap is dark brown, which matches my hair color.

I'm hoping the new disposable bifocal contacts work just because I'm tired of dealing with glasses, and think I look better without them.

Unfortunately, lasik is out for me because I'd still need glasses for reading.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

See, I *like* wearing glasses....gives the proper "yeah, I'm a geek, what of it" look that I'm always striving for....;)

bill, wears the grey croakies so they blend in with my hair....
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Contents sold by humor, not volume. Some settling of contents may occur during translation...

Glasses rock! I've been wearing them, literaly, since before I can remember. And they have saved me from some trouble... After my second ride on Millennium force, I discovered the remains of a fairly large bug directly in front of my pupil. Since I never noticed the impact, I highly doubt I woul have had time to blink. I shudder just thinking about what would have happened without my glasses.

I haven't ridden that many rides, but some of them are fairly wild. The only one I've riden exclusively with a strap is Millie, and that's only 'cause they made me. It's like Ride Man said: A well-adjusted pair of glasses just isn't coming off your face. Of course, the problem arises when you consider that a lot of people don't have well ajusted glasses. So, fellow coaster enthusiasts, if you find you constantly need to adjust your glasses, stop in for a quick adjustment at where ever you got them sometime before riding coasters. After that, try to always take them off with BOTH HANDS. If you're used to taking them off with one (as most people tend to do), you will be amazed at how much longer they stay well-adjusted. And, of course, bring a strap an a spare. You need a strap (in my experience, any old thing will do) to appease ride ops at some places. You need a spare (usually your old glasses) because glasses can be broken at any time. I've broken considerably more pairs walking down sidewalks and the like than by doing anything exciting.

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I hear America screaming...

Excellent point, particularly the two-handed bit. I usually take my glasses off with only one hand, but by rotating them forward rather than yanking them off sideways. Which is the main point...you have to disengage the ear pieces before removing them. Also, if you have a choice, the spring-loaded hinges are really nice and go a long way towards preserving proper alignment.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Spring-loaded hinges are indeed nice for keeping alignment, but well-fitted non-spring earpieces actually hug a tad tighter in my experience. I've had situations where a light blow to just the right spot on the side of the glasses caused the hinge to swing when it wouldn't have if it weren't spring-loaded. A heavier blow in the same spot would have just broken non-spring hinges, though.

I can't wear contacts. My eyes are VERY sensitive, both to bright light and to foreign matter. Used to be, get a speck of dust in my eyes and I'd need antibiotic eyedrops for the next week. That problem has toned down over the years, but I still don't want to introduce contacts to the equation.

So, given that I "need" glasses, I've found that I agree with Dave. For many circumstances, a strap is more of a liability than an aid. I have the same kind of thin chord, with the little silicone loops with metal slider to secure it. I can drape this behind my head, where another slider can tighten it. Works alright, except one time a fellow rider sitting next to me threw his hands up, somehow got his hands behind my head, caught the loop back there, and proceeded to nearly yank my glasses right off. If I hadn't had the strap, that would NOT have happened.

I actually have three sets of glasses at this point. One is an older, larger pair that I keep in my car as an emergency backup. They're much heavier than I like nowadays, and the perscription is now a bit too strong, but if I DID lose my glasses at a park I need something to drive home with.

My main, everyday glasses are the thin, half-rim wire type. Amazingly enough, as thin as they are, they're spring-loaded. They're incredibly lightweight, and comfortable. I even used to have a polarized sunglasses clip for them (the clip itself ended up costing me over $100!) but I've lost that. I even wear these to parks sometimes, like on Sunday at SFGAm if anyone saw me. Never had a problem with them, but the sheer expense made me decide to get another pair.

That other pair is my "park glasses". These are the thin, full-frame dark-wire glasses I had on Saturday. They're not spring-loaded, and are intentionally adjusted a little tight. They're not quite as light as my main glasses, but were much cheaper, so I'd be less upset if I did somehow lose them on a ride. I have a (nonpolarized) sunglasses clip for them as well, although it's gotten beaten up a few times (like when I forgot the clip in a jeans pocket and it went through the laundry!)

So, typically what I do is wear the full-frame "park glasses" to the park, taking a case and the strap with me in case I run into real strict rules. (Oh yes, the case -- my sister had a bad experience once where she took off her glasses and put them in her bag, thinking they'd be ok. When we got off the ride she discovered that a lens had popped out.) Another pair remains in the car if I'm driving (the pair that's always in the car if it's my car, the half-rim glasses if it's a rental, like this past weekend).

Um, I guess that was a long way of saying, "I wear glasses, always wear them on the ride unless I'm told I CAN'T, and don't use a strap unless I'm told I HAVE to..." :)

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"I can't believe I just left a nuclear weapon in an elevator." -- Farscape

I was just thinking about this prior to Dragster's opening. I wear contacts (I wore glasses from age 5 to age 13), and while they usually have given me no problems on coasters, my first ride on the Batman side of Chiller was kind of disappointing. Since my contacts had dried out during the long wait, and I didn't have any rewetting drops, they slipped back into my eyesockets during launch. Consequently, I closed my eyes to keep them in, and I wasn't able to see my first experience going through a top hat. Fortunately I could see on the return trip since the wind was at my back, but it was still pretty disappointing.

Anyway, since I'll be riding Dragster this summer, I've purchased a strap for my sunglasses so I don't have to go through that again. Pretty ironic that I need to buy a strap for glasses that don't enhance my vision, but still require me to see.

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-Vater
Have you ridden a Toboggan?