Rift + contact lenses = dangerous ?

[fransoos]

Hi there,
I always use contact lenses in my rift. My glasses don't fit without the danger of damaging the
lenses in the rift.

Lately I noticed more moisture in my eyes and a little irritating .
In all day live I use glasses.
I wash hands before and after using the lenses to avoid dirt or infection.

Is it possible the heat of the rift and the lenses is cause for (faster) bacterial infection ?

In most sessions I use the rift for more than 2 hours.

 

[Cliché]

I don't know about bacterial infections, but I use a small fan to blow on my face and over the Oculus to help keep it cool - especially when pushing the performance to reduce jaggies. I haven't experienced a problem with lenses fogging. I think a little air seeps in around the nose bridge, which helps with that, but not enough to cause dry eyes.

I'm still thinking I may like to add some vent holes to the top, but I'll wait for the warrant to expire first.

 

[[HJ]-RedRaven]

Try to blink more often No, don't laugh, dry eye is a major cause of eye soreness from using contact lenses.

I used contacts for a long time (15+ years) - I found the artificial tears/lubricating drops (that are approved for use with your specific contacts) are great - they really help your eyes clear and reduce soreness.

Ask your chemist for advice on which to use.

 

[AnotherVoice]

As someone who wears contact lenses, be aware that not all brand are of the same quality. Same goes for what you use to clean them.

 

[JerryLove]

Lately I noticed more moisture in my eyes and a little irritating .
In all day live I use glasses.
I wash hands before and after using the lenses to avoid dirt or infection.

Is it possible the heat of the rift and the lenses is cause for (faster) bacterial infection ?

Your eyes should be wet in general. The area *around* your eye is a different issue.

I suspect the moisture is coming from sweat or breath that's getting up into the space for your eye.

I wouldn't worry about it health wise... ever wear a scuba mask? Much worse.

That said: I point my floor fan at my head when using the rift just to force a little ventilation through it.

 

[dogbite]

I wear disposable lenses that breathe well. Occasionally, I like to wear my glasses, though, so I took a second pair and removed the arms. I then attached stiff foam rubber pieces 1/4x1/4x1 inch to the nubs where the arms were and slip them under the sides of the Rift faceplate. I also removed the nose guard. The glasses sit just above the Fresnel lenses. Works great for really long sessions.

 

[Ren Garris]

No issues here.

Rift + Contacts with 2-4 hour sessions.

 

[TorTorden_VR]

Yeah definitely sounds as if you should go back to the optician and get different lenses.
Or try a different fluid solution.

 

[Conch]

you can replace the lenses in the Vive and rift for prescription ones.

i saw a site pass by not to long ago.

https://vr-lens-lab.com/

 

[Kellan Fell]

I wear monthly lenses, ones that you can wear for 30 days non-stop (including sleeping in them) and have no problems with these in a Rift headset. Fortunately I also have frameless glasses (you need to rest your eyes for a week between lense uses) that fit inside the Rift and work just fine.

I've not heard of anyone having issues with a Rift, so maybe check back with your optician.

 

[Chaz]

As someone who wears contact lenses, be aware that not all brand are of the same quality. Same goes for what you use to clean them.

This basically. The ones I'm wearing now are much more comfortable than the first type I tried. My first ones were standard cheap disposables, these are a more expensive branded ones that are supposed to be less affected by drying out, and they're torics. Getting a good contact cleaner helps to. I've got a bottle of supermarket brand stuff right now that makes my eyes feel a little bit burny for the first few seconds after I put my lenses back in if I use it. However I have dry eye and I also use their eye drops which are fine. So you've just got to try this stuff out and find what works for you and what doesn't. Also if you have an astigmatism then you will probably find wearing toric lenses much better. Your optician might not give you those by default even if you have an astigmatism, so it might be something to mention the next time you see them.

With my current ones I get dry eye but I can wear my daily disposable lenses with the Rift for quite long sessions and put them on at 7.00am and not take them out until midnight or later. Mine only get a bit uncomfortable until I had them in for quite some time. The cheaper ones I got that I keep as backups though get a bit "bitty" and itchy after only about 6 hours.

 

[dogbite]

you can replace the lenses in the Vive and rift for prescription ones.

i saw a site pass by not to long ago.

https://vr-lens-lab.com/

You can't buy Rift lenses from them right now. Too many complaints so they are redesigning.

 

[Wrongway]

You can't buy Rift lenses from them right now. Too many complaints so they are redesigning.

I didn't know VR Labs had took the Rift lenses off the market. I got a set about a month ago and must admit, I find them superb. I suppose the method of 'wedging' them in place isn't ideal. But with the design of the CV1 I don't know what else they can do.

I had a DK2 and managed ok with that apart from the lack of IPD adjustment and I have a very wide IPD. I was happy when the CV1 came out as it has IPD adjustment. But the lack of focus for me was bad. I tried glasses under the headset and marked the lenses. They polished out ok but that was that, no more glasses. I ordered the VR Labs lenses but they would be up to 6 weeks coming. So as I had worn contact lenses in the past I opted to try some again just to see if they work ok. I am like the OP who appears to wear glasses 99% of the time and wearing contacts occasionally and for the rift. With wearing them occasionally I opted for daily disposables which seemed the most economical for me. I tried a couple of different makes and there was a very big difference. The second type I tried were a lot more comfortable and apparently hold a lot more moisture in them. If the original poster is wearing disposables I very much doubt it's an infection problem. I like the idea of using a fan though as weather I wear contacts or use the VR Labs lenses it gets very hot in there and within 30 mins or so I need a break.

 

[jonne]

I use lenses too, although my glasses do fit inside the Rift. If I get the dry-eye plague, I just use eye drops. The litre price is about $1700 US, but luckily they sell it in 10ml bottles.

 

[Wrongway]

My glasses seemed to fit in the Rift too. But I hadn't realised that they occasionally rubbed the lenses on the rift. This caused slight scuff marks on the lens. Luckily I noticed straight away and managed to polish them out.

 

[Paranimal]

Hi there,
I always use contact lenses in my rift. My glasses don't fit without the danger of damaging the
lenses in the rift.

Lately I noticed more moisture in my eyes and a little irritating .
In all day live I use glasses.
I wash hands before and after using the lenses to avoid dirt or infection.

Is it possible the heat of the rift and the lenses is cause for (faster) bacterial infection ?

In most sessions I use the rift for more than 2 hours.

my contacts started doing this before VR became a thing, turned out it was scar tissue forming on my eyes, and they just could not handle the contacts anymore... Do what I did get either LASIK or PRK eye surgery, not only does it eliminate such scar tissue I have 20/15 vision in both eyes... If you can afford the PC set up to play this in VR invest in your eyes, best 3 grand I've ever spent, going on 5 years now, no regrets what so ever.

 

[lovycrop]

Hi there,
I always use contact lenses in my rift. My glasses don't fit without the danger of damaging the
lenses in the rift.

Lately I noticed more moisture in my eyes and a little irritating .
In all day live I use glasses.
I wash hands before and after using the lenses to avoid dirt or infection.

Is it possible the heat of the rift and the lenses is cause for (faster) bacterial infection ?

In most sessions I use the rift for more than 2 hours.

I started wearing contact lenses about two years ago. I wore it almost the whole day, for about eight hours. The doctor told that I should use them for one year, and should get it replaced afterwards. I forgot about what the doctor said, and continued using it even after the expiry date. I felt irritation in my eyes and my eyes became reddish in color after using it for about five hours. I consulted an optician at the eye clinic in Edmonton, and he asked me to get the contact lens replaced. After changing the lenses, it was perfect, and I had better vision. I think you should try changing your contact lens to avoid these problems.

 

[Chaz]

I started wearing contact lenses about two years ago. I wore it almost the whole day, for about eight hours. The doctor told that I should use them for one year, and should get it replaced afterwards. I forgot about what the doctor said, and continued using it even after the expiry date. I felt irritation in my eyes and my eyes became reddish in color after using it for about five hours. I consulted an optician at the eye clinic in Edmonton, and he asked me to get the contact lens replaced. After changing the lenses, it was perfect, and I had better vision. I think you should try changing your contact lens to avoid these problems.

The OP could be wearing dailies, or weekly or monthly disposables. In which case this won't be a problem. More likely it's just dry eye and the contacts drying out, which given that your face gets quite warm under the HMD, is more likely to be the cause. Myself I use disposable dalies, I just take them out and bin them at the end of the day and the next time just pop a fresh set in. Means you don't have to worry about cleaning them and getting rid of protein build up.