Contact Lenses in MMA?

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: ATCGuard
Date: April 03, 2008 at 01:15 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

Hey guys, I've never seen it mentioned before, so I just wanted to ask. If a fighter has poor vision he obviously can't wear glasses, but do you think that contacts would stay in during a fight? Does the fighter just have to suck it up and squint his way through the fight?

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: haggis
Date: April 03, 2008 at 07:27 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

I remember seeing Rampage in his first UFC fight against Marvin Eastman removing his lenses just before entering the cage. It might depend on the fighters preference, but I would never recommend going into the ring with lenses unless your vision is severely impaired, because if you lose a lens during a fight you'll for certain be distracted and have difficulties focusing correctly.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Nick_Havok
Date: April 03, 2008 at 07:44 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

s--- man, the fighters got to see.
I'm sure if they can fight without they will, but you obvioulsy can't go in there looking like Clark Kent, so other than getting surgery to repair your vision, contacts are the only other alternative I see.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Brick
Date: April 03, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

These days LASIK (or whatever the modern equivalent is, I got mine like 8 years ago) is so prevalent and cheap, I'd be surprised if many fighters still go with contacts. I can't imagine those not getting knocked out almost instantly. I suppose if you are blind as a bat and didn't get the surgery, maybe you gamble and wear them in the cage. If they get knocked out, well at least you tried and you are no worse off than if you hadn't worn them in.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: haggis
Date: April 03, 2008 at 09:22 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

If you're blind as a bat, and laser operation is not an option, I guess you wouldn't start doing MMA in the first place...
I wear lenses myself, and mine fall off all the time just by sparring. I would say it's a near 100% chance they would fall off in an actual fight. So if your vision is really bad, I would think the options are laser or find a new profession.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Nick_Havok
Date: April 03, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

I think there are special rules in place concerning contacts.
I think if there is a problem with them they will stop the fight and give the fighter unlimited time to get the problem fixed.
It's the rare exception.
I might be wrong. Maybe someone not as lazy as me could check on it.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Halvy51
Date: April 03, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

Personal experience. I wore them in my last few fights, many years ago. In the last fight, I lost one in the 2nd round of a 5 rounder. I am near sighted, so all it did was change the depth perception and cause double vision. My corner could pull the other one out, it was really dry and stuck to my eyeball.
Next time, I will either not wear them or opt for lazer if and when I can afford it.
If a fighter is near sighted, a fighter should be able to get away without them.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Mystikhands
Date: April 03, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

I would think they should just get the laser surgery. Contacts fly out, get scratched, blood gets in/under them quickly. If you cant see, wtf u fighting for? If u cant see and are a true fighter, u will get the surgery and NO WORRIES. Contact lenses in a fight sounds ridiculous to me. Why chance getting down to the nitty gritty, your about to submit/ko someone then ref stops to look for a damn contact lense. Would instantly piss me off!

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: fightingewok
Date: April 03, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

I am near sighted and when I train I just take my contacts out because they always get knocked out when practicing stand up and almost always get knocked out when grappling. I don't have that much of a problem I can still see my opponent well enough to fight.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: EnderWiggin
Date: April 03, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

Laser eye surgery isn't all that cheap. What about guys just getting started? Guy's who can't afford laser surgery? My vision is so aweful (I can't see the big E) that I absolutely could not fight without contacts or laser. If a guy can't afford surgery yet, and has eyes like mine, well, he'd pretty much be screwed, because from what yall are saying, fighting with contacts in wouldn't last very long.
But don't go all "If he was a real fighter he'd get surgery" on us. It still costs thousands of dollars and is not covered by insurance last time I checked, and not everyone can afford that. Especially young guys just starting out.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Brick
Date: April 03, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

EnderWiggin said:
But don't go all "If he was a real fighter he'd get surgery" on us. It still costs thousands of dollars and is not covered by insurance last time I checked, and not everyone can afford that. Especially young guys just starting out.
Click to expand...
You can get it these days for about $400/eye. Correct, still not cheap for those on a low budget, but far less than the thousands of dollars it used to be (like when I got it years ago).

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: EnderWiggin
Date: April 03, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

Brick said:
EnderWiggin said:
But don't go all "If he was a real fighter he'd get surgery" on us. It still costs thousands of dollars and is not covered by insurance last time I checked, and not everyone can afford that. Especially young guys just starting out.
Click to expand...
You can get it these days for about $400/eye. Correct, still not cheap for those on a low budget, but far less than the thousands of dollars it used to be (like when I got it years ago).
Click to expand...
I wish!
A leading industry analyst in 2007 said only 6.9 percent of conventional LASIK procedures cost less than $1,000 per eye. These procedures are performed with the less expensive options of bladed microkeratomes and conventional excimer lasers, not guided by wavefront analysis. Most customized wavefront procedures that also use laser-created flaps (IntraLase) cost from $1,000 to $2,500 per eye (see charts below).
http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/cost.htm

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Mystikhands
Date: April 03, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

EnderWiggin said:
Laser eye surgery isn't all that cheap. What about guys just getting started? Guy's who can't afford laser surgery? My vision is so aweful (I can't see the big E) that I absolutely could not fight without contacts or laser. If a guy can't afford surgery yet, and has eyes like mine, well, he'd pretty much be screwed, because from what yall are saying, fighting with contacts in wouldn't last very long.
But don't go all "If he was a real fighter he'd get surgery" on us. It still costs thousands of dollars and is not covered by insurance last time I checked, and not everyone can afford that. Especially young guys just starting out.
Click to expand...
True, not everyone can afford these surgeries. Id just hate to see a fight get stopped bc of some bs contact lense needing re-adjusted or located for that matter. I know its not cheap. But there are some options on pymt plans with a financer. If Dentist's have them, so do eye surgeons. That's all im saying.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Brick
Date: April 03, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

EnderWiggin said:
I wish!
A leading industry analyst in 2007 said only 6.9 percent of conventional LASIK procedures cost less than $1,000 per eye. These procedures are performed with the less expensive options of bladed microkeratomes and conventional excimer lasers, not guided by wavefront analysis. Most customized wavefront procedures that also use laser-created flaps (IntraLase) cost from $1,000 to $2,500 per eye (see charts below).
http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/cost.htm
Click to expand...
Good research, my statement was based on anecdotal evidence at best, which I usually avoid doing. It just seems that during the LASIK craze a couple of years back, everywhere you look were ads pushing the service at the prices I quoted. They must have been the cheaper version of the surgery, or maybe had hidden costs built in or something. And the only painkiller was a shot of Jack and a punch in the face.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: squib
Date: April 03, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

after surgery there's going to be the usual recovery & healing period, but is your eye more fragile as a result?
I don't wear contacts, but is there a chance that an impact on the eye can cause damage because the lens is there? An old-school hard lens might, but with these new ones I guess it's somewhat safer. Anyone?

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Brick
Date: April 03, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

squib said:
after surgery there's going to be the usual recovery & healing period, but is your eye more fragile as a result?
I don't wear contacts, but is there a chance that an impact on the eye can cause damage because the lens is there? An old-school hard lens might, but with these new ones I guess it's somewhat safer. Anyone?
Click to expand...
First question, I believe, the answer is no the eye is not more fragile. They eye heals unbelievable quickly. I kept my eyes closed for 4-6 hours after the surgery, and was good to go. No warnings about them being fragile, and I've taken a bunch of puches to the eyes during training and a few real hard ones in the cage, no problems.
Second question regarding damage from lenses I'll take a shot at too, because I wore them for 10 years or so. The old school hard lenses (or gas permeable) have no business being near the cage, because they would jack up your eye if you got hit, plus a hard sneeze would make those damn things pop out (I exaggerate, but not by much). Soft lenses cling much better and won't damage your eye if you get hit.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: squib
Date: April 03, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

that's what I figgered - thanks Brick

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Todd
Date: April 03, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

The earlier comment about Rampage is correct. He was on the Opie and Anthony radio show last week and he mentioned his vision. He said that without corrective lenses, he can see his opponent, but can't see the people in the first row. So that gives you an idea of where his vision is at.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: ATCGuard
Date: April 04, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

Thanks for all of the responses to this, I think that I can probably afford the surgery. I've been looking into LASIK for awhile now, but avoided it because I didn't want to rule out the possibility of becoming a pilot. I haven't even begun my training in a gym yet. I'm mostly trying to lose some excess weight, increase my flexibility, and get some cardio in first. I'll probably hold off on the surgery for awhile, to make sure that this is really something I want to pursue. I know I love watching the fights, mostly the technical aspects, and I think I'm fairly tough. I guess I'll see what comes of it. Even if I don't compete at the very least I'll gain some practical experience and the confidence of knowing that I can defend myself.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: ddog323
Date: April 04, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/contact-lenses-in-mma.521/

Good thread.
FYI, getting the Lasik surgery is not something you want to go bargain hunting for. From what I've read (and common sense says) you're better off paying a little more for a doctor who's not going to blind you. The margin of error is less than the thickness of a piece of paper I'm told.
And quite a few people who've had the Lasik suffer from decreased night vision and a halo/ghosting effect with lights. So I've never fought in a cage before, but you might want to consider what the effects might be fighting at night with spotlights on you??