Damaging Eyes?
 

Ihad a routine eye exam today, just because I"m 31 and it is the right thing to do. They saw a 'freckle' but didn't seem too concerned.

Igot a call back an hour later, telling me it was bigger then they realized, and that maybe 'the little airplane thing' Iwas telling them about was not such a good idea. It's a bit disconcerting. Ido wear sunglasses.

So why not tell 300,000 perfect strangers and see what they have to say about it?

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

I'm considerably older than you and also diabetic so I also get VERY frequent eye exams. I also have a freckle in one eye although I wear sunglasses. You need to wear the best glasses you can to protect your eyes. NOTHING will give complete protection short of living in the shadows indoors. I believe in the Zurich glasses though.

Did they have you stare into that box that fely like staring into the sunhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...evil_smile.gif? And then take a picture of the freckle? I saw the picture of mine. Cute but bad!http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...ngry_smile.gif

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Wow, You can get freckles in your eyes. I have never heard of such a thing.I always try to avoid looking directly into the sun although sometimes it is hard to avoid.

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Yeah, they're on the back surface where the light strikes.</p>

http://vision.about.com/od/sportsvis...ye_Freckle.htm </p>

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

I did a review of the Zurich sunglasses. http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=855</p>

Trust me, best money you can spend!! or you could just quit flying ;)</p>

You can find the sunglasses here
http://www.zurichsunglasses.com/</p>

Ken</p>

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

if only they would come up with some less tacky designs.</p>

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

I'm not really worrying about style when I'm flying. Iwant to protect my eyes and stay in control of my planes at the same time. That's the most important thing.

However, Italked to Bruce (the owner) in Toledo and at Top Gun. He can now put the Zurich technology in your prescription lenses, so you don't have to go with the big clunky glasses that go over your prescription glasses.

Ken

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Joe,</p>

I don't know if you saw, but as soon as I said I'd call for you, I changed over to my polarized glasses because I had to look into the sky. Like it has been said before, buy the best glasses you can afford (for me it's oakleys,but everyone has different taste). Or you could just not watch the plane and listen to your caller and use the force.:D</p>

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Hey GaRCfield,next question or two, are they going to do a follow up appt in the next few months or what are their plans ? And, did you have your appt with an Optometrist ( an O.D) or an Opthalmologist ( an M.D.)? Im surely not saying on is better than the other here- I dont want to start a war, sotra like which is better, castor or synthetic ....LOL), I just know sometimes some Opthalmologists do a little more in-depth checking when they check your eyes, compaired to some OD's.
"How do I know this", you ask? Im an board cert. Optician/Manager at an Eye Hospital ... Ive seen things :)
All good advise above about wearing your protective glasses ( UV protection) when you are outside, whether flying or not.
Good luck with your freckle ,...Please keep us informed of what goes on with ya :)
John

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

The "original" zurichs are called BC glasses, aka Birth Control glasses cause your not going to get.... with those on! LOL

You can buy nice UV protectant polarized sunglasses at a sunglass shop or even walgreens. They work just as well and cost much less. The technology is not expensive, only the name.

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Brett,
Having worn both I can tell you that polarized lenses aren't the same as Zurich's. The Zurich's will do a much better job of protecting your eyes, and give you better vision on your plane. Yes, the Zurich's are expensive. But what is your plane, or your eyes, worth??</p>

Ken</p>

</p>

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

I know, the UV protection is the part that saves your eyes, the polarization makes things crisper and clearer. I was merely pointing out that you can get good UV protection without spending the big dollars. They won't protect from all angles like the BC glasses do, but the lenses work just as well.

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

And that is what I am trying to say, there is a difference in the lenses. As I have said, I have have used both (side by side when I did my review) and there is a difference in the lenses. It's not just paying for a name. Trust me, I'm all for not spending money whenever possible (ask Minnflyer, he'll tell you I'm downright cheap) but in this instance you do get what you pay for here.</p>

Ken</p>

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

I should have kept my UV lab glasses, they were 100%UV protectant and covered all sides, but they were completely clear like normal glasses. They would have blocked all the UV, but not kept the brightness of visible light out.

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

lol the standard army issue ones, i have heard/seen/poked fun at peopleforthat before (when nerds bring up girls just menton the BC glasses lol)
i prefer something like the origional wileyx glasses that go to your tempel so they dont block your view (hate it when my view gets blocked, even a little bit). wileyx are also saftey glassesso ifpiecesstart flying your eyes are safe
http://www.wileyx.com/EcommSuite/Pro...temCode=CHTAL1
includes 2 lenses one sunglasses, other clear.

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Hi gaRCield,
Im with you on this one. I have sensitive eyes and blocked tear ducts which cause me problems. Since I took up this hobby a year and a half ago I noticed after a weekend flying my eyes got sore even if they were fine before.
I had anappointment with my eye specialist and told him about the hobby and asked his advice on the best protection for my eyes, he advised me to buy polarized sunglasses.

I then bought a pair of Wiley X Blink Polarized copper sunglasses with the eye gaskets to enclose the eye from the out side elements {wind/sun}.They have helped alot but not totally solved the problem.
I am interested in this topic as I would be concerned about my eyes and have enough problems without causing more.

P.S I would not mind trying the Zurich.

Thanks Damien

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

RCKen, the Zurich glasses come in a variety of darkness: which one did you review? I would go for the darkest, what do you think?

Thanks

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

I reviewed the Rose tinted glasses. But I agree, I would go for the darker glasses. </p>

Ken</p>

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Years ago the old RCM magazine published an article by an opthomologist that pointed out that there was evidence that the RC community did have a higher incidence of cataracts and other eye problems due to staring into the big UV source, both direct and reflected, all day.  </p>

Point of the article was to always wear good UV protective sunglasses when you fly.</p>

I used to fly a bit of pattern and I found that any form of wraparound works best.  It was a bugger to be flying with the sun at your back to lose the plane when the sun glinted off the inside of the lens.</p>

</p>

MTC YMMV</p>

Tom</p>

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Just go to Academy and get those fishing sunglasses.  Most are 100% UV blocking.  I have been wade fising here in Texas for 30 years and will not go out without them.  And their cheap!

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

I'm over 50 and used to spend a lot of time on the open water sailing. While not required to look at the sun, staring intently at a bright white dacron mainsail set on a sunny day was brutal. I used to do a lot of downhill skiing as well.

I'm religious about my annual eye exams since my family (mother) has macular degeneration. Hers is the hereditary type, not age related. She is classified as legally blind now and has recently had complications with cataracts. She requires assisted living but I am 1,700 miles away. So far, I'm free of any signs of MD but I still get checked every year.

My eyes are very senstive to irritants such as pollen and cigarette smoke (I've never smoked but my parents always did). I don't have Zurichs but do have polarizing sunglasses with UV coating. They work OK but it is very difficult to see an LCD screen while wearning them if the angles are wrong. Inoted that while driving my wife's hybrid car the other day. The temperature controls/radio displays totally black out if I tilt my head 30&ordm;. My cell phone and JR X9303 LCD screens do as well while wearing polarizing sunglasses.

Remember that addage - "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?"

'Tis true, very, very true.

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Thanks guys. I will look into the sunglasses I already have and see if they are ok, or I will buy a new set.

The way my doctor called me back after the visit made me a little nervous, but after doing some research I found it is nothing to be worried about, yet, but something to keep an ... on[8D]

I have polarized glasses and generally wear them when flying, but they are the $20 kind...

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Polarized are nice for making things crisp an clear but the UV is the protection you want. I'm sure they have it, they all do now. You won't notice a difference between UV and non-UV because UV light is invisible to the naked eye, but the long term effects will show up.

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

I have had both eyes with implants.  The lens that they put in is UV.  However, I do wear polarized sunglasses.  I think I will get the kind that Ken suggested.  I'm 70 and I don't have to wear regular glasses.  Was almost blind before the implants.

RE: Damaging Eyes?
 

Good advice from everyone. But also, give up that little airplane thing.

Tom