Lenses vs glasses, which one should you go for when trekking Kilimanjaro? For those who rely on vision correction, choosing between glasses and contact lenses is a critical decision that can impact comfort, safety, and overall experience. This survey note explores the pros, cons, and practical considerations for each option, drawing from expert advice, climber experiences, and environmental factors specific to Kilimanjaro. The goal is to provide a comprehensive guide for climbers to make an informed choice, ensuring a clear vision throughout the trek.
Research suggests contact lenses offer better vision and comfort for active climbing, while glasses are simpler and protect eyes from elements.
It seems likely that both options work well with proper precautions, but personal preference and hygiene needs play a big role.
The evidence leans toward using daily disposable contact lenses for hygiene, with glasses as a backup for rest periods.
Kilimanjaro’s climb, typically lasting 5–9 days, takes you through diverse climates from rainforest to arctic summit, with basic camps offering long-drop latrines and limited water. High altitudes, fluctuating temperatures, dust, and wind all play a role in determining which eyewear option is best suited for your needs. According to the Vision Council, over 75% of adults use some form of vision correction, with glasses being the most common, but in adventurous settings like mountaineering, preferences shift. A survey by the American Alpine Club found a roughly even split between glasses and contact lens users among climbers, highlighting the debate. Clear vision is crucial for navigating rocky trails, preventing falls, and enjoying the stunning vistas from the Shira Plateau to Uhuru Peak. Therefore, ensuring your vision correction method doesn’t hinder your experience is paramount.
Understanding Your Options
Climbing Kilimanjaro, at 19,341 feet, demands clear vision for safety and enjoyment, especially with its varied terrain and weather. If you wear glasses daily, sticking with them is easy—they need little care and shield your eyes from wind and dust. But they can fog up or slip, which might be tricky on the mountain. Contact lenses, on the other hand, give a wider, fog-free view and pair well with protective eyewear like glacier glasses, but they require clean hands and can cause dry eyes in dusty conditions.
Making the Choice
Think about what you’re used to. If glasses work for you and you’re okay managing fogging, they’re a solid choice. For contact lens wearers, daily disposables are recommended to keep hygiene high, and bringing lubricating eye drops helps with dryness. Many climbers use both: contacts during the day, glasses at camp. Ultimately, it’s about comfort and how well you can adapt to Kilimanjaro’s challenges.
Glasses on Kilimanjaro: Pros, Cons, and Tips
Wearing glasses on Kilimanjaro is a straightforward choice for many climbers, especially if you’re accustomed to them in daily life. They’re easy to put on and take off, require minimal maintenance beyond occasional cleaning, and provide a physical barrier against wind, dust, and debris—common elements on the mountain.
Pros of Wearing Glasses
Ease of Use: Glasses are simple to handle; you don’t need to worry about inserting or removing lenses, which can be tricky in cold or dirty conditions.
Protection: They offer natural protection for your eyes from environmental factors like wind and dust, reducing irritation.
Low Maintenance: Apart from cleaning the lenses, glasses don’t require much care, making them convenient for multi-day treks.
Cons of Wearing Glasses
Fogging: One of the most common issues is fogging, especially when moving between different temperature zones, such as from the cold outdoors to a warm tent. Fogged lenses can obscure your vision, which is not only annoying but potentially dangerous on uneven terrain.
Slipping: Sweat and rain can cause glasses to slip down your nose, requiring frequent adjustments. This can be particularly cumbersome when wearing gloves or during physically demanding sections of the climb.
Breakage and Loss: Glasses can break or get lost, leaving you without vision correction. It’s crucial to have a backup plan, such as carrying a spare pair or contact lenses.
Sun Protection Needs: You’ll need to manage sun protection for your eyes. This might involve wearing prescription sunglasses, clip-on shades, or over-the-glasses sunglasses, which can be bulky and less comfortable.
Tips for Wearing Glasses on Kilimanjaro
Choose Comfortable Frames: Ensure your glasses fit well and are comfortable for long periods. Consider frames with adjustable nose pads or those designed for sports to prevent slipping.
Anti-Fog Solutions: Use anti-fog sprays or wipes to minimize fogging. Some climbers recommend applying a thin layer of shaving cream or soap and then wiping it off to create a fog-resistant barrier.
Durable Case: Bring a hard-sided case to protect your glasses when not in use, especially during transport or when stored in your pack.
Sun Protection Options: Invest in prescription sunglasses if possible, or find high-quality over-the-glasses sunglasses that provide adequate UV protection without being too heavy or uncomfortable. For example, Cocoons offers OTG sunglasses designed to sit over glasses, protecting eyes from harsh sunlight in snowy or high-altitude environments.
Backup Plan: Consider bringing a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses in case your primary pair is damaged or lost.
By addressing these considerations, you can mitigate the downsides of wearing glasses and enjoy a successful climb.
Contact Lenses on Kilimanjaro: Pros, Cons, and Tips
Contact lenses offer several advantages for climbers, particularly in terms of vision quality and compatibility with protective eyewear. They provide a wider field of view without the obstructions that glasses can present, and they don’t fog up—a significant benefit in varying temperatures. However, using contact lenses on Kilimanjaro requires careful management due to the environmental conditions and hygiene challenges.
Pros of Wearing Contact Lenses
Natural Vision: Contact lenses offer a more natural field of vision, which can be crucial for navigating tricky terrain.
No Fogging: Unlike glasses, contact lenses don’t fog up, ensuring clear vision at all times, especially during temperature shifts.
Compatibility with Protective Eyewear: You can wear standard glacier glasses or goggles over contact lenses without the bulk or discomfort of over-the-glasses options. For instance, glacier glasses with dark lenses (3-8% VLT) provide excellent coverage, ideal for summit day.
Less Prone to Breakage: Since they’re worn directly on the eyes, contact lenses are less likely to break or get damaged compared to glasses.
Cons of Wearing Contact Lenses
Hygiene Requirements: Handling contact lenses requires clean hands, which can be challenging on the mountain where water and soap might be limited.
Dry Eyes: The dry, dusty conditions can lead to discomfort and dry eyes, necessitating the use of lubricating eye drops.
Risk of Loss or Damage: Contact lenses can be lost or damaged, especially in windy conditions or if not handled properly.
Daily Management: If using daily disposables, you’ll need to carry enough pairs for the entire trip and manage their disposal responsibly. For multi-day lenses, ensure the solution doesn’t freeze, though research suggests daily disposables are preferable to avoid this issue.
Tips for Wearing Contact Lenses on Kilimanjaro
Use Daily Disposables: Opt for daily disposable lenses to minimize hygiene issues. They eliminate the need for cleaning solutions and cases, reducing the risk of contamination. For example, Acuvue’s daily wear contacts are recommended for their breathability Daily Contacts.
Bring Extras: Pack more contact lenses than you think you’ll need in case some get damaged or lost. Climbers on TripAdvisor forums suggest bringing “a lot of extras” for peace of mind TripAdvisor.
Lubricating Eye Drops: Carry artificial tears to keep your eyes moist and comfortable, especially in dry conditions. Use them regularly, particularly on summit day.
Hand Hygiene: Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling lenses. If water is scarce, use hand sanitizer, but ensure it’s completely dry before touching your lenses to avoid irritation.
Glasses as Backup: Bring a pair of glasses to wear in the evenings or as a backup in case you experience issues with your contacts. Many climbers wear glasses around camp to give their eyes a break
Protective Eyewear: Don’t forget to wear sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes from UV rays and wind, which is easier with contacts as you can use standard options.
Many climbers have successfully used contact lenses on Kilimanjaro by following these precautions. For example, in a TripAdvisor forum, one climber shared, “I wore contact lenses for my 9-day climb with no problems. I brought a spare pair and wore glasses around camp to give my eyes a break.” Another noted, “I am taking daily disposable contact lenses with a lot of extras and hand sanitizer. I did the same on my Everest Base Camp trek with no issues due to cold and altitude.”
Expert Opinions and Climber Experiences
Both glasses and contact lenses have their advocates among experienced climbers. Some prefer the simplicity and protection of glasses, while others value the unobstructed vision and flexibility of contact lenses. For instance, in a blog post by Alpine Ascents International, they discuss options for prescription eyewear, including prescription glacier glasses and over-the-glasses systems. While these can be effective, they often come at a higher cost (around $300) and may not be as comfortable as standard options paired with contact lenses
On the other hand, International Mountain Guides (IMG) recommends daily disposable contact lenses for their convenience and hygiene benefits, emphasizing bringing extras and having a mirror or using mirrored sunglasses to aid in insertion
In a Reddit thread on r/Mountaineering, climbers shared their preferences, with many opting for contact lenses to wear with glacier glasses, citing better comfort and vision. One user mentioned, “On Shasta, I wore contact lenses so I could comfortably wear glacier glasses,” highlighting the compatibility
TripAdvisor forums also reveal a trend, with climbers recommending dailies and glasses as backups, noting no freezing issues with contacts due to the saline solution’s lower freezing point TripAdvisor.
Ultimately, the choice boils down to personal comfort and how well you can manage the specific challenges of each option in the mountain environment. Research suggests contact lenses are safe at high altitudes and in cold conditions; they don’t freeze on the eyes, and the saline solution has a lower freezing point due to salt content. However, for daily disposables, keeping them close to the body prevents freezing, while multi-day lenses require careful solution management, though dailies are recommended to avoid this issue.
Recommendations
Deciding between contact lenses and glasses for climbing Kilimanjaro depends on your individual needs and preferences. Both options are viable, but each comes with its own set of advantages and challenges. If you choose glasses, ensure they are comfortable, manage fogging effectively, and have adequate sun protection. Bringing a backup pair or contact lenses can provide peace of mind. For contact lenses, prioritize hygiene by using daily disposables and carrying lubricating eye drops. Having glasses as a backup is also advisable, especially for rest periods at camp.
Regardless of your choice, don’t forget to protect your eyes from the intense UV radiation on Kilimanjaro. Invest in high-quality sunglasses or goggles with appropriate UV protection and coverage, such as glacier glasses with dark lenses (3-8% VLT) for summit day. By preparing adequately, you’ll ensure clear vision and safety, allowing you to fully experience the majestic beauty of Kilimanjaro.
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