Euan Speirits – Surgeon
Night lenses changed my life | Euan Speirits
Meet Dr. Euan Speirits, a Scottish surgeon who’s a pro in Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine, and Biomechanical Research. He’s not just a specialist; he’s also a talented mountain biker, tennis player, and basketball enthusiast. Oh, and did we mention he’s an Elite 4X and Downhill Mountain Bike Racer, earning the title of Scottish Mountain Biking ‘Hero of the Year’ in 2017? Plus, he’s the brains behind the #4XWEDNESDAYS charity. In his downtime, he races under the name “Rossi.” Currently, he’s on a secondment in New Zealand, soaking up his true passion for mountain biking and the great outdoors. And on top of all that, he’s a big advocate for night lenses. Let’s dive into our Zoom call with this multitasking marvel to learn more…
Q: Dr. Euan, we did our homework, and you’re quite the remarkable doctor—specializing in Orthopaedics, sports medicine, and Biomechanical Research, and excelling in mountain biking, tennis, and basketball. Is there anything you can’t do? Is it all about living life to the fullest for you?
A: I believe that anyone can excel in whatever they’re passionate about. I’m passionate about many things, particularly sports and academics. I’ve had a love for both sports and learning from a young age. Balancing my work and my passion for sports has always been a significant part of my life. I think people often pigeonhole themselves into specific roles, thinking they can’t do more. There’s a saying that goes, “The world was invented by someone no smarter than you.” So why not be both a surgeon and a top-tier athlete? I aim to excel in both fields.
Q: How long have you been using night lenses, and how did you discover them?
A: I’ve been wearing night lenses for about 3-4 years now. It was actually Scott Brown, a fellow mountain biker who happens to be an optician, who introduced me to them. At the time, I was wearing monthly lenses, and the problem with those during mountain biking is that they tend to dry out quickly. When mud splatters on them, it’s a real problem. Even daily lenses dried out too fast, so they weren’t a better option. When I was performing surgeries, I noticed that my eyes would get very dry in the operating room. That’s when Scott told me about night lenses, which was surprising since I’d never heard of them before, given my profession and sports activities. I had considered the idea of laser eye surgery, but the cost and permanence concerned me, so I never seriously considered it. Night lenses seemed like a great solution without the permanent commitment.
Q: How have night lenses transformed your athletic pursuits?
A: They have genuinely revolutionized my sporting life. Now, I can compete all day without any distractions from dry eyes, and I can lead a normal life without worrying about contact lenses or whether they’ll dry out. Personally, I enjoy paddleboarding, and I don’t have to think about my vision or losing my contact lenses if I fall into the water. Night lenses have made life completely normal for me.
Q: Are they beneficial for your professional life as well?
A: Absolutely. They’ve allowed me to approach tasks without worrying about dry eyes or potential drying out. Especially in surgery, where I spend 3-4 hours in a sterile environment under bright operating lights with room pressure—having one less thing to think about is a significant relief. Even during busy overnight shifts, if I wear them for a couple of hours, it maintains my vision at a good enough level that I don’t need to wear anything during the day. It’s not a hassle to pop them in and out as needed.
A: They’ve given me freedom, freeing me from the constant concern about contact lenses and my vision. I no longer have to carry a pair of glasses everywhere I go. My lifestyle is very outdoorsy, and I’m often invited to the beach, lakes, ocean – now, I don’t have to think about seeing clearly or going into the water; I don’t have to make that choice. The only time I need to think about my eyesight is just before bed and when I wake up.
Q: Would you ever consider going back to daytime lenses?
A: Absolutely not. There was one week when I forgot them, and it was terrible! It instantly reminded me why I disliked them—constantly drying out, trying to figure out how long I could wear them, when to give my eyes a break, and worrying about protecting my eyes while biking. I was immensely relieved when I got my night lenses back.
Q: Lastly, the obvious question: Would you recommend night lenses to other professional and amateur athletes, and why?
A: I can’t recommend them enough. Anyone who’s worn daytime lenses has likely experienced the discomfort of lenses shifting in their eyes. The feeling of the “grate” when that happens is familiar to many. Knowing that you don’t have to deal with that in high-performance sports is a game-changer. With night lenses, there’s no difference between what you see and how you interpret it. No compromises. Your vision is crystal clear. I’m surprised more people aren’t using them, mainly because so few are aware of them yet.
Q: Could night lenses truly revolutionize sports for those who wear glasses and daytime lenses?
A: No doubt about it. They will absolutely revolutionize sports and life for those who wear glasses and daytime lenses and can use them. When people ask me about them and understand how they’ve transformed my sports life, they instantly see how it could benefit them to not have to worry about contact lenses or glasses while competing. The biggest challenge is that they almost sound “too good to be true” and are often misunderstood. It’s all based on orthokeratology, which is a natural process. Your cornea naturally sheds its outer cells every night. All night lenses do is gently reshape them into the lens’s form while you sleep, so you wake up with perfect vision. It’s just one cell thick. It’s simple! And over the course of 24 hours, it naturally reverts to its original shape, so you repeat the process. People need to look into it. Bottom line: my life wouldn’t be where it is now if I had continued wearing contact lenses. The freedom night lenses provide me has allowed me to achieve so much in mountain biking. Period. Seriously, give them a try!
[Editor’s note – you know when you meet someone really inspiring and they make you feel completely inadequate!?! Man, Euan has lived life to the full… really enjoyed this interview, he’s as cool in real life as he comes across. His thoughts on how the freedom of night lenses have enabled him to achieve more in his sports career are echoed by Catriona Morrison MBE, World Duathlon Champion – CLICK HERE to read what she had to say about how night lenses revolutionized her sports career]