Finally successful & a Contact Lens Q

[michael74]

Good evening, a quick question but in particular to Guards/Conductor/TMs who wear contacts

After finally being successful in gaining a conductor post with GWR, (thanks to this forum and members for the information on here and reading the stories of others that your dream can be achieved. I had my OH medical and during the eyesight test the nurse said that a lot of staff choose to wear their glasses as they find going from a warm train to windy cold platform can affect their contacts, more so for the guard grade as they are on and off the train so frequently. I have noticed this in especially in winter when leaving the house into a cold wind.... the contacts do get a little uncomfortable (dry out) for a minute or so and my vision is a little blurred but it soon settles, (she did tell me that if I do wear my contacts I must have my glasses with me, which is fine and understand why perfectly).

My question is, does anyone else not bother with their contacts in winter or soldier on?

 

[guard1]

I've worked on the railway for 15 years (both guard, driver etc) and worn contact lenses the whole time. Only a couple of times have I had issues with dry eyes- mainly as a guard sticking my head out the window to cool down on old units and due to hay-fever or stupidly touching my eyes with dirty (unavoidable as train crew) hands. I wouldn't worry as long as you spot the signs of eye dryness and plan to rinse your contacts before you end up fiddling with them and lose a contact on the train (I've nearly done this a few times). I always carry a spare pack of contact lenses, saline solution, lense cleaning pots (and spare glasses) in case I need to clean or lubricate my monthlies.

 

[michael74]

I've worked on the railway for 15 years (both guard, driver etc) and worn contact lenses the whole time. Only a couple of times have I had issues with dry eyes- mainly as a guard sticking my head out the window to cool down on old units and due to hay-fever or stupidly touching my eyes with dirty (unavoidable as train crew) hands. I wouldn't worry as long as you spot the signs of eye dryness and plan to rinse your contacts before you end up fiddling with them and lose a contact on the train (I've nearly done this a few times). I always carry a spare pack of contact lenses, saline solution, lense cleaning pots (and spare glasses) in case I need to clean or lubricate my monthlies.

Thanks. You know while I thought about carrying glasses it didn't occur to me to carry solution and spare lens's, its not as if I haven't had a lens randomly pop out (especially towards the end of the month when they are not as soft).

 

[Horizon22]

If you have been assessed as safety critical with your contacts / glasses on, then you will need this when you carry out safety critical work - as a conductor this will be particularly important for dispatch. So you will need either contact lenses or glasses for your work, so depends which you prefer given the weather conditions.

Congrats on the role anyway!

 

[Melancholia]

I started off my safety critical duties with glasses only years ago, but after a while I found them really annoying (due to me fiddling with them a lot, and accidentally smudging them bothered me). I then got myself contacts, which are so much better. In my last medical, of course I mentioned I wear contact lenses (daily use ones), and occupational health ok'd it, as long as I had a spare pair of glasses in my locker/bag etc.

I've never had an issue with lens wearing through my shift; they have always been comfortable, even when I did 12 hour shifts back in the day.

 

[Twotwo]

When I wear make up, I wear contacts. When I'm feeling lazy to put make up o then I wear my glasses. Don't really prefer one over the other. It's just what's convenient for you.

 

[TheVicLine]

I'm a driver and wear contacts everyday without any problems, granted I don't get out of the train as much as the guards and so the weather conditions are not so much of an issue.
I carry a spare pair of lenses and a pair of glasses as well. Maybe once every 3 or 4 years I take them out on a late shift and have put the glasses on due to tiredness and irritation, I wear the glasses so little that they annoy me more and I end up putting the spare pair of contacts back in instead.

 

[michael74]

Thanks all for your help, appreciated, I am greatly looking forward to starting my training. The hardest part now is staying motivated in this job

 

[dk1]

When I first transferred into the driving grade in 1998 contact lenses where not permitted. This changed around 2002 & ive worn them ever since.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Feb 2022 ==

Just have a spare pair & of course glasses as back up with me at all times in the cab.

 

[cwjohnstone]

I wear lenses, can't stand glasses. But as guard1 said, just carry an extra pair with you as sometimes they can split for no apparent reason. Also I find my eyes can get quite dry towards end of shift as I've always got the air con on in the cab. A bottle of that moisturising spray you spray onto your eyes is handy to carry too.

I've also found that dailies are far better suited for me over monthly ones, if you find they're drying out easily try switching to the higher moisture content ones, I use Acuvue Oasys and they're brilliant.

 

[michael74]

Thank you al for your replies and advice, greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to starting

 

[Red Devil]

We're supposed to carry a spare of glasses or contacts with us and some managers on a ride out ask to see them. I'm a driver.

 

[Skoodle]

I currently use Oasys two-week disposable contact lenses. You can wear them and sleep with them up to 7 days/6 nights. You can also keep them up to two weeks if you remove them nightly. They're very breathable and hardly notice when I wake up that they're still in. Never had an issue using them whilst driving.

 

[michael74]

Thanks: re the lens, I have an astigmatism so I have to have monthly torics, I think I can get less than monthly but they are uber expensive