We have contact...

Like many people I've worn glasses most of my life. I have astigmatisms in both eyes and they're about +2 on the left and -2 on the right. What a combination!

Also like many people, I've been using my camera with my glasses. Until yesterday.

I haven't got any test pictures to show you, 'cause 1) I don't want to waste your time with pictures of walls, trees, bushes, gravel floors and the arse end of my car but 2) I'm on the netbook away from home and the hard drive is near death's door. Yes, Toshiba replaced the failed motherboard on my NB200, but it seems that the trip to Germany has damaged the hard disk. But despite suffering IT issues and being on the road, I'm still bringing you this post. Isn't technology wonderful!?

Anyway, returning to our scheduled programming, the net result was that I ended up with contact lenses. They've taken a few weeks to get used to. I've been sat in front of a mirror, poking my finger in to my eyes in an effort to get the things in and out; and it took until yesterday to get comfortable to the degree of lifting the camera to my newly cloaked right eye.

The experience wasn't too bad. One of my more usual failings that have to be fixed in post, is composition. Now that the lens of the glasses are out of the way, however, I feel more confident about my framing. I have better contact with the camera.

The one problem with a contact is that if you blink then the world can go fuzzy for a second or two, and if I was capturing fast action or looking for the moment, I find myself questioning whether contacts are the right thing. Time will tell on that front.

Also, whereas my glasses protect against UV and have a reaction system in them, the contact lenses don't; which is a bummer. Also, in the sun I've got to take standard sunglasses on and off; and I don't have the cash to splash on a non-corrected version of my reaction glasses, either. The sunglasses I've got are a bit on the heavy side which means that when out in the country I'm less likely to see the animals move in the bushes.

Using contact lenses aren't all benefit, there are a few drawbacks. Instructed by an optician who had specialised in contacts her whole life made getting over the squeamish side of things very easy. She taught me the right techniques to use to get the lenses in and out. Finding a good optician is important to me. Fortunately, my luck was in and the local independent optician really saved my bacon. I dread to think what will happen if Specsavers buys him out.

Net result; once confident in using them, they don't always sit easily on your eyes and can give you that blink of unfocussed vision. Contacts have given me the feeling of being at home with the camera again and I don't have the compositional trouble like I used to; but at some point I'm going to have to get reactionary standard sun glasses.

Stay tuned for a more detailed review as I get used to them in time and see whether it really was putting the effort in to being able to poke my own eye out and not flinch.

In terms of which type of contacts I'm going for, as most of my photography is on an occasional intense basis, I'm going to use dailies. That eliminates the need for all the cleaning faff; use them and throw them away. If one drops out of my eye I haven't got to waste time scrabbling on the floor to find it, I can just open myself a new lens packet. Also, as I won't be using them that often I can save the wear and tear on my eyes.

The monthly pair that I've been getting used to have been quite a neat thing once the technique of getting them in and out was achieved; but I wonder about the cleaning issue when away from home, camping, or at an event at someone else's property; which is where most of my photography happens. I don't like the thought of having to find extra cleaning solution or carry around the lens case. Anything which helps the shoot go more smoothly ticks my boxes.

There is also the question over whether having a contact lens on will help my eyeball revert to standard eye sight; flatten or control the astigmatism. I don't know on that one. I do know people who wear monthlies that stay in their eyes for the entire month, even when sleeping, and they don't seem to have a problem; but neither has their prescription changed as a result, so it looks like I'm not going to gain any health benefits here; it is all risk of using against convenience of life. That's what its going to boil down to over the next few months.

Right now, however, it is 8:30 and I'll be going out for breakfast soon, so if you'll excuse me I've got to go upstairs and stick my finger in my eye. If you hear any screams, don't worry; it is all part of the learning process.