RE: [Philmont]: Contact Lenses

Depends on how well he handles the contacts. Is he able to deal with them
without a mirror? Can he clean his hands properly with only a small amount
of soap and water?

I went once wearing my glasses and regretted it because my vision is so much
better with contact lenses. I've worn contacts each time since then (3
trips) and never had any difficulties.

The first trip with contacts was with those of the "rigid gas permeable"
variety and I took them out every night before the bear bags went up. Put
the solutions in the bear bag, kept the lenses (and a pair of glasses) in
their case in my tent with me at night. I would put them in first thing in
the morning (outside the tent, after changing out of my sleep clothing).

Next two trips were with the extended wear disposables. I put in a fresh
pair the day we left home and took three pair with me. Left one pair in base
camp in the crew locker, took two on the trail with me. Replaced the lenses
with a fresh pair at the halfway point, carried the third pair as backup
(they are light and don't require meuch room).

On the trial, I took the contacts out every third night and again put the
solutions in the bear bag but kept the lenses (and glasses) in the tent with
me and would put the contacts in first thing each morning (outside the tent,
after changing out of my sleep clothing). Most mornings I'd left the lenses
in overnight, when we stopped for our first "pack off" break (which was also
usually breakfast) I found that I needed to remove the lenses, clean them
and put them back in. Kind of like cleaning a pair of eye glasses.

Of course, clean hands are important too. A little water and a very, very
small amount of camp suds on a bandana does the job. With a little practice,
it does not take much water.

One of my two sons also wears extended wear disposables and did the same as
I.

FYI: In my case, my vision is poor enough without them that I'd be a danger
to myself and others on the trail without corrective lenses, so I would take
along a pair of glasses with an up to date prescription, just in case.
Besides, you don't want to be in a place a beautiful as Philmont and not be
able to see it!

Mike Heitmann
Troop 975
St. Charles, Missouri

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On
Behalf Of Bob SCHAETTLE
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 4:47 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: [Philmont]: Contact Lenses

I have a 17-year-old scout who's looking for guidance as to whether he
should bring his contact lenses on our trek, or just his glasses. Anybody
have any words of wisdom for him?
--Bob Schaettle
Rochester, MN 805-D

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Received on Thu Apr 14 04:41:26 2005