Contact lens removal/cleaning conditions in backcountry conditions

I've been thinking of going on a camping/backpacking trip of maybe
three days. I typically do dayhikes, where I can find a place at the
end of the day with a safe drinking water supply that I can use to
wash my hands. I would prefer not to sleep in my lenses (Acuvue 2 or
Acuvue Oasys in -6.50 right, -5.25 left).

I'm curious as to the opinions on cleaning and disinfecting lenses in
backcountry conditions. I suppose untreated stream water wouldn't be
suitable for rinsing my hands because of possible parasites. I'll be
carrying chlorine dioxide tablets to treat my water for drinking, as
well as unscented antibacterial (benzethonium chloride) moist
towlettes and alcohol gel hand sanitizer. I'll probably have soap on
me. Would either the towlettes/alcohol gel followed by a rinse (with
treated water) and air dry be adequate?

I think the trickiest part would be using a small mirror in those
conditions. Or maybe just wear glasses. ;-)

y_p_w wrote:

>I've been thinking of going on a camping/backpacking trip of maybe
>three days. I typically do dayhikes, where I can find a place at the
>end of the day with a safe drinking water supply that I can use to
>wash my hands. I would prefer not to sleep in my lenses (Acuvue 2 or
>Acuvue Oasys in -6.50 right, -5.25 left).
>
>I'm curious as to the opinions on cleaning and disinfecting lenses in
>backcountry conditions. I suppose untreated stream water wouldn't be
>suitable for rinsing my hands because of possible parasites. I'll be
>carrying chlorine dioxide tablets to treat my water for drinking, as
>well as unscented antibacterial (benzethonium chloride) moist
>towlettes and alcohol gel hand sanitizer. I'll probably have soap on
>me. Would either the towlettes/alcohol gel followed by a rinse (with
>treated water) and air dry be adequate?
>
>I think the trickiest part would be using a small mirror in those
>conditions. Or maybe just wear glasses. ;-)
>
>
>
I'd ask for a pair of Night and Day trial lenses and leave them in for
the duration. You might have a different attitude about sleeping in
them, as they are approved for 30 days non stop wear. If you can't do
that, put a fresh pair of Oasys lenses in the day you leave and wear
them the whole trip. Take them out only if you suspect there is a
problem (any irritation, blur, redness or discharge). I think handling
the lenses may be riskier than leaving them in. That is most certainly
true microbiologically.

On Mar 19, 2:47 pm, William Stacy <wst...@obase.net> wrote:
> y_p_w wrote:
> >I've been thinking of going on a camping/backpacking trip of maybe
> >three days. I typically do dayhikes, where I can find a place at the
> >end of the day with a safe drinking water supply that I can use to
> >wash my hands. I would prefer not to sleep in my lenses (Acuvue 2 or
> >Acuvue Oasys in -6.50 right, -5.25 left).
>
> >I'm curious as to the opinions on cleaning and disinfecting lenses in
> >backcountry conditions. I suppose untreated stream water wouldn't be
> >suitable for rinsing my hands because of possible parasites. I'll be
> >carrying chlorine dioxide tablets to treat my water for drinking, as
> >well as unscented antibacterial (benzethonium chloride) moist
> >towlettes and alcohol gel hand sanitizer. I'll probably have soap on
> >me. Would either the towlettes/alcohol gel followed by a rinse (with
> >treated water) and air dry be adequate?
>
> >I think the trickiest part would be using a small mirror in those
> >conditions. Or maybe just wear glasses. ;-)
>
> I'd ask for a pair of Night and Day trial lenses and leave them in for
> the duration. You might have a different attitude about sleeping in
> them, as they are approved for 30 days non stop wear. If you can't do
> that, put a fresh pair of Oasys lenses in the day you leave and wear
> them the whole trip. Take them out only if you suspect there is a
> problem (any irritation, blur, redness or discharge). I think handling
> the lenses may be riskier than leaving them in. That is most certainly
> true microbiologically.

I've worn the Night & Day before. My eye doc recommended that I use
them for daily wear up to 30 days use, but two months after opening
them. After a while, they eventually got itchy for me. Even when
they were working well for me, they got a bit itchy at the end of the
day, although when I took them out, I didn't feel the mild soreness
that I got with other lenses.

My right eye is really dry. I find that at the end of the day, the
edges of my right lens often won't wet properly again until it gets
disinfected/soaked overnight.

On Mar 19, 12:30 pm, "y_p_w" <y...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I'll probably have soap on
> me. Would either the towlettes/alcohol gel followed by a rinse (with
> treated water) and air dry be adequate?

I think that's fine. You will be carrying your regular solutions/
disinfectants, right?

On Mar 19, 11:27 pm, "Bucky" <uw_badg...@email.com> wrote:
> On Mar 19, 12:30 pm, "y_p_w" <y...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I'll probably have soap on
> > me. Would either the towlettes/alcohol gel followed by a rinse (with
> > treated water) and air dry be adequate?
>
> I think that's fine. You will be carrying your regular solutions/
> disinfectants, right?

I used to carry the travel size bottle of the Purell (or equivalent)
alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

On Mar 20, 8:14 am, "Neil Brooks" <neil0...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Mar 19, 11:27 pm, "Bucky" <uw_badg...@email.com> wrote:
>
> > On Mar 19, 12:30 pm, "y_p_w" <y...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > I'll probably have soap on
> > > me. Would either the towlettes/alcohol gel followed by a rinse (with
> > > treated water) and air dry be adequate?
>
> > I think that's fine. You will be carrying your regular solutions/
> > disinfectants, right?
>
> I used to carry the travel size bottle of the Purell (or equivalent)
> alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

I've got that. I suppose the only problem is that the inert
ingredients may present a problem if I can't completely wash them
off. Some of the ingredients are ones I've seen in CL products, like
propylene glycol, glycerin, or isopropyl alcohol (CibaVision MiraFlow
Daily Cleaner).

In some situations I took out my lenses because of a foreign object or
extreme discomfort. I would use ordinary moist towlettes to clean my
hands, take them out, and place them in saline or MPS. I'd then do a
proper cleaning/disinfecting regimen (including washing/drying of
hands) when I got home.

On Mar 20, 11:21 am, "y_p_w" <y...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 20, 8:14 am, "Neil Brooks" <neil0...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > On Mar 19, 11:27 pm, "Bucky" <uw_badg...@email.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Mar 19, 12:30 pm, "y_p_w" <y...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > I'll probably have soap on
> > > > me. Would either the towlettes/alcohol gel followed by a rinse (with
> > > > treated water) and air dry be adequate?
>
> > > I think that's fine. You will be carrying your regular solutions/
> > > disinfectants, right?
>
> > I used to carry the travel size bottle of the Purell (or equivalent)
> > alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
>
> I've got that. I suppose the only problem is that the inert
> ingredients may present a problem if I can't completely wash them
> off. Some of the ingredients are ones I've seen in CL products, like
> propylene glycol, glycerin, or isopropyl alcohol (CibaVision MiraFlow
> Daily Cleaner).
>
> In some situations I took out my lenses because of a foreign object or
> extreme discomfort. I would use ordinary moist towlettes to clean my
> hands, take them out, and place them in saline or MPS. I'd then do a
> proper cleaning/disinfecting regimen (including washing/drying of
> hands) when I got home.

One more thought: what about some unit-dose, preservative free, 0.9%
saline vials in 5 or 10ml tubes? Small, cheap, light, sterile, etc.

They're not quite perfect for eyes, lacking a few electrolytes,
buffers, or whatever, but ... check me if I'm wrong, Doctors ... I
think you could use them to rinse off your fingers _after_ using
Purell and _before_ sticking your fingers in your eyes. Cheap
insurance, I'd think.

I bought some to fill up my scleral lenses in emergency situations.
You simply Google "unit dose saline" and you'll find a few. "Reliable
Medical" stopped carrying it, by the way.

Good luck!

On Mar 19, 3:30 pm, "y_p_w" <y...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I've been thinking of going on a camping/backpacking trip of maybe
> three days. I typically do dayhikes, where I can find a place at the
> end of the day with a safe drinking water supply that I can use to
> wash my hands. I would prefer not to sleep in my lenses (Acuvue 2 or
> Acuvue Oasys in -6.50 right, -5.25 left).
>
> I'm curious as to the opinions on cleaning and disinfecting lenses in
> backcountry conditions. I suppose untreated stream water wouldn't be
> suitable for rinsing my hands because of possible parasites. I'll be
> carrying chlorine dioxide tablets to treat my water for drinking, as
> well as unscented antibacterial (benzethonium chloride) moist
> towlettes and alcohol gel hand sanitizer. I'll probably have soap on
> me. Would either the towlettes/alcohol gel followed by a rinse (with
> treated water) and air dry be adequate?
>
> I think the trickiest part would be using a small mirror in those
> conditions. Or maybe just wear glasses. ;-)

bring glasses.

In article <(E-Mail Removed). com>,
"michael toulch" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On Mar 19, 3:30 pm, "y_p_w" <y...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I've been thinking of going on a camping/backpacking trip of maybe
> > three days. I typically do dayhikes, where I can find a place at the
> > end of the day with a safe drinking water supply that I can use to
> > wash my hands. I would prefer not to sleep in my lenses (Acuvue 2 or
> > Acuvue Oasys in -6.50 right, -5.25 left).
> >
> > I'm curious as to the opinions on cleaning and disinfecting lenses in
> > backcountry conditions. I suppose untreated stream water wouldn't be
> > suitable for rinsing my hands because of possible parasites. I'll be
> > carrying chlorine dioxide tablets to treat my water for drinking, as
> > well as unscented antibacterial (benzethonium chloride) moist
> > towlettes and alcohol gel hand sanitizer. I'll probably have soap on
> > me. Would either the towlettes/alcohol gel followed by a rinse (with
> > treated water) and air dry be adequate?
> >
> > I think the trickiest part would be using a small mirror in those
> > conditions. Or maybe just wear glasses. ;-)
>
> bring glasses.

Glasses didn't work for me. I wore contacts when camping.

On Mar 21, 6:03 pm, Dan Abel <d...@sonic.net> wrote:

>
> Glasses didn't work for me. I wore contacts when camping.- Hide quoted text -
>

Glasses and contacts both suck for outdoor activities, that's one
reason I opted for lasik.