The eyes have it

I was looking back over my posts and was surprised to see I have not updated my vision situation. The last time I wrote, back in February, I was trying a new set of contacts. A lot has happened since then.

For a week or so I was really excited. I loved the expansive field of vision. I was so pleased with the first rides and runs that I went right out and purchased new readers for working at the computer and plain, uncorrected swim goggles. Then on a longish ride the double vision returned, and as the days went by and my wear time increased, my vision got worse. I tried two different kinds of eye drops. No good. Finally I went back to my optometrist to get checked and he noticed that the lenses were not aligning correctly. No wonder my vision was so bad.

Fortunately some friends suggested I see an ophthalmologist. I got a referral from my GP and just got in for an exam before the COVID-19 lock-down went into effect. His diagnosis: double vision, probably correctable with prism lenses. Contacts were not an option. But he wanted me to see the expert over at Straub, and they were not taking new cases due to the lock-down. 

After what felt like an eternity I got in to see the guy at Straub, and he confirmed the prism thing. The really cool part was he has an optician downstairs who will add a stick-on prism to normal glasses. Look closely at the pic below and you can just make out a series of horizontal lines that cover the full lens.

After getting this stick-on I was amazed at how much better I could see on the bike. Not only was the old double vision daemon expunged, everything looked clearer. Simply amazing. Last Sunday Pattie and I rode Haleiwa and I never had to close one eye to see the road on the decent. I was flying down Pineapple Hill (Hwy 99) at 35 m.p.h. on the TT bike with total confidence.

The stick-on is only a temporary test. This week I went back to the optician to order real glasses. I decided to get what I have now and see how that works, because the real glasses use a different kind of prism. Apparently the correction will be optimal in the center of the lens and diminishing towards the edges. Since I look out through the top edge while in the aero position this may not work. If it does, the next step is to try the same thing with my Rudy Project glasses.

I cannot say enough how great it is to see two cars up ahead and know there really are two cars, and not have to choose which white line to follow.