Sergeant R, a dedicated officer in Birmingham’s City Centre police team, has been a committed night lens wearer for about 12 years. Let’s delve into his experiences in a slightly extended 60-second interview that turned out to be incredibly valuable for fellow police officers.
Q: How long have you been wearing night lenses?
A: About 12 years.
Q: What did you use before night lenses?
A: Originally, I denied needing glasses, but eventually accepted it at university. In my twenties, I started using monthly contact lenses.
Q: How have night lenses impacted your job?
A: Front-line in a challenging area, glasses were prone to falling off at awkward times. Once, after a knock, my glasses’ arms deformed from melting due to heat! Contacts were better but had issues, especially dry eyes. Losing one, slipping out of place, or accidentally wiping one out in unclean environments? That’s asking for trouble.
Q: Any examples of situations where not having contact lenses was beneficial?
A: Usually with the use of PAVA/CS.
Q: Deploying PAVA/CS – have you done it while wearing contact lenses?
A: It’s a miserable experience. PAVA seems to prolong and increase CS effects. Thankfully, when we switched to PAVA, I used night lenses. PAVA still leaves me feeling sorry for myself, much worse with contact lenses.
Q: Any situation you remember where lenses would’ve been invaluable?
A: On a week-long exercise with the Territorial Army, muddy ditches, no hygienic facilities – contacts were tough. Glasses were inconvenient. It adds an admin layer that gets old fast.
Q: How has having no glasses or contacts helped in your home life?
A: It’s great. I don’t even own glasses anymore. No barriers – swimming, working out, driving – it’s like having no sight issues. The only inconvenience is when traveling with hand luggage, finding lens solution at the destination.
Q: What’s easier and better now because of night lenses?
A: Like not wearing glasses or contacts at all. Before bed, I pop them in; first thing, I take them out, wash, and that’s it. About 60 seconds of my day. Occasionally, not wearing them for a day or two doesn’t significantly affect my vision.
Q: Have you considered laser eye surgery?
A: I discovered night lenses while exploring laser surgery options.
Q: Now using night lenses, does that save you from having laser surgery?
A: Never say never, but it doesn’t seem worth it. My partner had laser surgery and suffered from dry eyes and inconveniences for months.
Q: As a night lens wearer, is the concept of day lenses odd to you?
A: I can’t see why people wouldn’t opt for night lenses.
Q: Are you amazed people still don’t know about night lenses?
A: I get looks of disbelief, especially when explaining it in my layman way.
Q: In your opinion, is it safer for officers to use night lenses than day lenses or glasses?
A: Absolutely safer. I have six-monthly eye appointments to ensure the lenses are correcting appropriately. Regular checks are reassuring.
Q: Why would you recommend night lenses to other officers?
A: I’d ask, “Why wouldn’t I?”
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