Euan Speirits – Surgeon
Night lenses changed my life | Euan Speirits
Dr. Euan Speirits, a Scottish surgeon with a knack for Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine, and Biomechanical Research, is making waves down under in New Zealand. Besides his medical gigs, he’s a top-notch mountain biker known as “Rossi,” dabbles in tennis and basketball, and even coordinates the #4XWEDNESDAYS charity. We caught up with this busy bloke on Zoom to chat about his love for night lenses.
Q: G’day, Dr. Euan! We looked you up, and mate, you’re a legend. Orthopaedics, sports medicine, and biomechanical research specialist, plus a mountain biking pro, tennis ace, and basketball champ – is there anything you can’t do? Are you all about living life to the max?
A: Cheers, mate! I reckon if you’re passionate about something, you can excel at it. Sport and academics have been my jam from day one. I’ve never bought into the idea of sticking to just one thing. You know that saying, “The world was invented by someone no smarter than you”? Well, why can’t you rock both surgery and sports at a high level? So, I give it my all in both arenas.
Q: How long have you been wearing night lenses, and how did you stumble upon them?
A: I’ve been wearing ’em for about 3-4 years now. A mate of mine, Scott Brown, who’s into mountain biking like me and also an optician, put me onto them. At the time, I was using monthly lenses, but they’d dry out and get muddy on the trails, making things a real hassle. Daily lenses weren’t any better. When I was in the operating room, my eyes would dry up during surgery. Scott introduced me to night lenses, which was a game-changer. I’d never even heard of them, despite my profession and sports background. I’d considered laser eye surgery before, but the cost and permanence were concerns. Night lenses seemed like a great alternative without the long-term commitment.
Q: How have night lenses impacted your sports life?
A: They’ve been an absolute game-changer. I can hit the competition trail all day without worrying about dry eyes or uncomfortable contacts. Even when I’m paddleboarding, I don’t stress about losing a contact lens in the water. Night lenses have made my life utterly normal, no distractions.
Q: Do they help with your work too?
A: You bet! They’ve made work a breeze, especially during surgeries. I don’t have to fret about dry eyes in the sterile environment with bright lights and pressure. Even during overnight shifts, popping them in for a couple of hours keeps my vision sharp enough to go lens-free during the day.
A: Absolutely. They’ve given me the freedom to forget about contact lenses and glasses constantly. With my active outdoor lifestyle, I’m always up for beach, lake, or ocean invites. No more dilemmas about clear vision or taking a dip – I don’t have to choose. The only time I think about my eyesight is just before bed and when I wake up.
Q: Would you ever switch back to day lenses?
A: No way, mate! I had one week without them, and it was a nightmare. Instantly remembered why I disliked them – the drying out, figuring out when to take breaks, and protecting my eyes while biking. I was stoked when I got my night lenses back.
Q: To wrap it up, would you recommend night lenses to fellow athletes, pros, or amateurs? Why?
A: I can’t sing their praises enough. Anyone who’s worn daytime lenses has felt the irritation of lenses shifting in their eyes, right? Knowing you won’t have that drama during high-performance sports makes a massive difference. No compromises, no blurry vision – it’s all crystal clear. I’m surprised more people aren’t onto them, but I guess it’s because not many folks have heard of them yet.
Q: Could night lenses be a game-changer for glasses and daytime lens wearers in sports?
A: No doubt about it. They’re an absolute game-changer for glasses and daytime lens wearers who can use them. When people hear how they’ve transformed my sports life, they instantly get why it’d benefit them, too. The only issue is they sound too good to be true and are misunderstood. It’s all about orthokeratology, a natural process. Your cornea naturally sheds its outer cells every night. Night lenses gently reshape those cells into lens-like form while you sleep, so you wake up with perfect vision. It’s a piece of cake! People need to look into it. The bottom line is that my life wouldn’t be the same if I stuck with regular contact lenses. I wouldn’t have achieved so much in mountain biking without the freedom night lenses give me. End of story. Seriously, give ’em a whirl!
[Editor’s note – you know when you meet someone really inspriring 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 revolutionised her sports career]