Anyone who wears contact lenses appreciates their benefits over glasses. They are often cheaper, more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing than glasses. However, they also require a lot of care and attention, both of which may not be possible during a survival situation. Let’s take a look at some of the risks associated with wearing contacts for too long, not replacing them on schedule or losing them altogether.
Sudden Blindness
The first and most obvious concern is that if you lose your lenses, you won’t be able to see. Imagine being in the middle of a bug out or facing a wilderness survival situation. Consider how difficult it will be to conduct surveillance, identify people, hunt, fish or do one of a million random tasks that we take for granted when we can see clearly. You are at an automatic disadvantage, and this can easily jeopardize your safety and possibly put your life in danger. Always have glasses on hand to minimize the chances of something going wrong with your contacts.
Hygiene
It is very important that contact lenses are properly cleaned, stored and discarded as necessary in order to prevent the development of a host of serious vision problems. These can range from bacterial infections to corneal abrasions that can cause permanent damage. For example, unless you are wearing contact lenses specifically designed for sleeping, you can be starving your eyes of oxygen. Furthermore, bacteria can grow between the cornea and your lenses as your eyes lose their ability to cleanse and heal themselves.
Chances are that you will not be able to care for your lenses as regularly as you would under normal circumstances. Whether this stems from wearing a pair long after their expiration date, running out of saline solution or getting a nick or tear that scratches your cornea, the point is that you are putting yourself at risk by not having and wearing glasses.
Infections
There are a number of bacterial and fungal infections that plague contact lens wearers. One of the most serious, and common, is a condition called keratitis. Symptoms of keratitis include blurred vision, extreme sensitivity to light, a persistent scratching or burning sensation in the eye and excessive tearing. While keratitis is easy to treat under normal circumstances, you may not have access to a doctor or medication during a crisis. Not only is it very difficult to cope with a survival situation with these symptoms, they can lead to permanent damage, including blindness if left untreated. Is this a risk that you really want to take?
Get Some Cheap Glasses
You don’t need to spend a fortune on high-tech lenses and designer frames to protect your vision during a survival situation. In fact, chances are that fashion will be the last thing on your mind at the time anyway. Make a small investment in a pair or two of decent glasses that will help you to see clearly at a time when you need good eyesight the most.
There’s nothing wrong with having contact lenses and associated supplies with you during a crisis. The risk is that if you rely on them, and something goes wrong, then you’re out of luck. You will already have enough on your plate, and the last thing that you need is to be worrying about your vision. Cover your bases, get glasses, and give your eyes the protection that they need.
Worst Case Scenario
