Photographer – Paul Walker
Night lenses changed my life | Paul Walker | Photographer
In this conversation on nightlenses.com, we engage with Paul Walker, a photographer from Ayrshire, who shares his experience of how night lenses have transformed his life. He also expresses his belief that night lenses could be a revolutionary solution for other short-sighted photographers who are hindered by the use of glasses or daytime contact lenses.
I used spectacles for about 30 years, but they became quite inconvenient. When I was photographing events, my glasses would frequently fog up. Activities like playing golf and swimming were also bothersome due to water getting on the lenses. I attempted day contact lenses, but my dry eyes posed a problem, leading me to use eye drops which was also an inconvenience. My experience with day lenses wasn’t positive, as my eyes often felt gritty and dried out quickly. So, I reverted to wearing my glasses. During a conversation with my optician, she suggested night lenses might suit my work and lifestyle. Initially, I was doubtful about how they functioned, but I decided to give them a chance. In the initial weeks, I had reservations as my eyes adjusted. Being in the photography industry, I was concerned about whether I could see clearly through the viewfinder or if it would affect my editing work. However, I persisted and around 6-8 weeks in, I reached a point where I thought, “there’s no turning back now, this has been truly fantastic for me.” So, I’ve continued with them and have been genuinely satisfied.
How long have you been wearing night lenses for?
I’ve been using them for 3 years now.
As a photographer, how much of a difference have night lenses made?
It’s the freedom from needing to grab a lens cloth to clean my glasses and the liberty to navigate various environments without the constraint of wearing spectacles. Even with lightweight glasses, which I wasn’t fond of, I did somewhat tolerate them. However, the liberation of having nothing on my face is incredible. As a photographer, it means not encountering the annoyance of having a plastic rim obstructing the camera’s view when raising it to your face. It’s a significant improvement. Additionally, when transitioning from a cold outdoor setting to a warm indoor space, like a church in winter, the camera lens would fog up along with my glasses, creating a double fog scenario!
What difference have night lenses made to your personal life?
I’ve been thoroughly content. Again, it’s the freedom from glasses. Close-up work, such as reading, has been unaffected because of the adjustments my optician made to my left and right eye. I’ve managed to read relatively small print without issues. I haven’t really experienced any downsides with night lenses; it’s simply part of my nightly routine. Similar to day lenses, once they’re in, you forget about them. Except now, you’re actually sleeping with them!
Would you ever go back to glasses or day lenses after using night lenses?
Unless there’s a significant change in my eyes or advised by my optician, I don’t envision returning. I usually insert them every night, but occasionally, I might skip a night.
Why would you recommend night lenses to others?
I’d advocate for them due to the freedom they provide, especially in outdoor environments and for those leading active lives. Also, returning to that clear vision reminiscent of childhood is amazing – no more dealing with the struggles of finding and handling glasses. No more wondering, “where did I put them?” or searching frantically only to discover they’re under the sofa or squashed. Also, no more impaired vision due to fogging. In essence, there are countless reasons to recommend them!
Paul’s work can be seen at https://www.paulwalkerimages.co.uk