Garfield Cat

The Optometrist confirmed it: I have dry eyes. Tear ducts are getting compromised. It comes with age. Bike riding without eye protection like eyedrops will quicken the deterioration.

Even when riding at 15 mph, coupled with a wind speed of say 5mph, the cumulative effect may be at most 20 mph.

Add the bike position on a road bike, and the "lean forward" puts the eyes in the exposed position. The sunglasses? It just protects the sun's rays from hitting the eyes. Wind effect will still get there.

Tear ducts need to be preserved using various methods. Once the ducts get clogged and the tears cannot dissolve the natural body oil, comes the inflammation which hastens the aging process.

Cornea begins to get "cloudy" and that cannot be reversed. So far there is not replacement for cornea.

rsbob 

Have had dry eye for years. My strategy before a ride is to thoroughly wash my lids to free from oils. Use good quality drops before the ride. Carry the drops with me if my eyes start feeling irritated and wear the largest cycling eyewear to shield as much wind and UV as possible. It has worked so far….so good.

Best of luck

spdntrxi

I use those heated eyelid covers at night.. supposed to help unclog the ducts at night.

Speedskater

Also some medications can increase the dry eye problem.

Calsun

I learned as a teenager bicycling the coast that a bug hitting my eye at 25 mph was going to hurt and when one eye was impacted I found it difficult to keep the other eye open so I was riding blind. Standard sunglasses allow too much air to hit my cheeks and then go up and into my eyes.

My criteria for riding eyeglasses is first UV A/B protection, second a closs enough fit to keep the wind and dirt and bugs out of my eyes as much as possible, and third to have a magnifying section so my old eyes can read the bike computer display.

I buy reader safety glasses in clear, gray, and yellow tint and pay less than $20 per pair. The safety glasses also have narrow side temples so my peripheral vision is minimally obstructed.

Anyone's eyes will dry out in wind and then the cornea is not protected and more readily scratched. Riding a motorcycle at speeds over 30 mph required goggles to protect my eyes from the wind created. Same problem with dogs whose owners allow them to stick their heads out of the vehicle.

rsbob 

And did they?

spdntrxi

I used to wakeup at night so often and be too frustrated to go back to sleep.. I did the whole drops and actually used Px cream (pretty sure it was Erythromycin. I used to use the heated gels pads daily... maybe once or twice a week now and I'm not waking up anymore. I still have some discomfort when I get up in the morning, but I rarely resort to the cream now.

Bob Ross

Sounds like you're using the wrong sunglasses.

^^^This. Cycling glasses need to protect your eyes...from all manner of danger.

TTron

I love the Wiley WX sunglasses. They have a removable foam insert that cups the eye minimizing the amount of wind / air running across the eye. I also put a drop of Blink or night time gel drops before a ride. Usually have zero problems on rides no matter the length. These glasses have really saved me / eyes as I live to ride. Good luck.

easyupbug 

I bet I have tried 25 sets of glasses to find what I currently ride to get a tight fit in clear and UV protection. I have light readers in my jersey for tire repair, etc.

roccobike

I used to have the problem of excessive tears forming due to dry eyes. Then last December I had both cataracts removed with replacement lenses. Now, no more excessive tears and no more dry eyes. Never thought about it but the rough edges of a cataract must be contributing to the problem. I put off getting the surgery done, for about a year. I shouldn't have. I still use artificial tears in the morning.

John E

My ophthalmologist told me pretty much the same thing about tear ducts clogging, and the importance of natural oils in maintain ocular surface health. To get me past a flareup, he prescribed Alcon Flarex and Zerviate, then had me continue with Zerviate every few days. Seemed to help. He also did mention gentle heating, although he was pushing a $1900 one-time treatment. spdntrxi's heated eyepads sound like a better bet.

Following his retirement, I found a new ophthalmologist who had never heard of Zerviate, but saw no reason not to continue intermittent use for dry eye, and she is willing to renew my prescription when I run out.

bruce19

I can't relate. I'm 77 and my distance vision has gotten better. I ride with my Maui Jim's and have no problems.I have Oakleys but the MJ's are lighter and better. I'm good. FWIW this is in the race bike position on an aerobike.

John E

Some of those of us with seasonal allergies and those who live in arid climates find that dry eye syndrome flares up intermittently.

I haven't had decent distant vision since third grade, when I started asking other kids to read the chalkboard for me. I faked it for almost a school year, until I miserably failed a vision screening by the school nurse. For the past 35 years, I have had a pretty stable -7.25 diopter correction. No complaints -- my brother is about a -13, as was my late father. (They could wear each other's contact lens if they swapped left and right -- one was -12.75/-13.25, and the other was -13.0/-12.5. )