Catriona Morrison MBE

Night lenses changed my life | Catriona Morrison MBE

Catriona Morrison holds the title of Multisport Duathlon World Champion (run, bike, run), earned a Triathlon World Championships bronze medal (3.8k swim, 180km bike, 42km run), and has clinched victory in various Ironman events worldwide. After retiring in 2015, Catriona channeled her remarkable energy into youth projects in her homeland of Scotland. She mentors young individuals and is the co-founder of Everactiv, an outstanding sportswear brand for young women. Everactiv engages in projects and community programs to inspire and empower young women. Given the water-based, cycling, and running nature of her sport, night lenses proved to be a game-changer for Catriona. We conducted a Zoom interview to hear her transformative story.

Q: Catriona – you’re a multi-world champion in duathlon, long-distance triathlon, and Ironman events – what’s your life mantra?

A: My motto is “How much further can I go?” After retiring in 2015, I’ve been adjusting to life beyond being an athlete. I’ve redirected my focus to youth projects. On the sports front, I’m currently enjoying longer distance cycling and have registered for a 500km multi-day biking event in September.

Q: How did you discover night lenses?

A: I visited my Optician and expressed my frustration with wearing contact lenses during competitions. In events like Triathlons and Duathlons, there are frequent transitions – from biking to water and then onto the road for running. I needed different goggles, glasses, and sunglasses throughout the races. I had to keep them hidden to ensure they didn’t vanish, making sure I had the right eyewear for each part of the race. Otherwise, my contact lenses would be affected by wind or compromise my vision. I was fed up. When my optician mentioned night lenses as a potential solution, I didn’t initially understand or believe it. I could have considered laser surgery, but I was apprehensive, as I only have one set of eyes and I didn’t want to take any risks. Night lenses offered the best of both worlds, with the flexibility to revert back if needed.

Q: How have night lenses impacted your sports life?

A: It’s been revolutionary. I no longer worry about my contact lenses falling out or need a backup plan. I’ve eliminated the need for prescription goggles while swimming or prescription eyewear during cycling and running. All the hassle vanished. You don’t truly appreciate the value of normal vision until you experience it! I wake up in the morning with no concerns. I don’t even consider myself as having any visual challenges anymore. It’s a remarkable transformation.

A: Overall, yes. Any sport where you sweat, touch your face, or rub your eyes, becomes a potential issue for contact lens wearers. There’s always a risk of dislodging a lens. Sports glasses tend to get sweaty and can fog up or get smudged, which can also be distracting. To achieve peak performance, you need to eliminate all possible distractions. Having to worry about goggles falling off during a swim or a lens coming loose during a race adds unnecessary stress. With night lenses, I just put one in before sleep and take it out in the morning. It’s that simple. I don’t have anything in my eyes throughout the day or during a race. Why not control what you can in a race filled with uncontrollable variables?

Q. Could night lenses revolutionise sports for glasses and day lens wearers?

A: Sport is an integral part of life, and for me, night lenses have revolutionised not just my sports experience, but my overall life as well.

Q: Would you ever go back to day lenses?

A: The only scenario where I’d consider going back to day lenses is if I weren’t leading a physically active life. However, I’m committed to staying active. I initially got night lenses due to my high level of physical activity and to eliminate the hassles of glasses and contact lenses. I briefly stopped using them twice. Interestingly, I became conscious of the environmental impact of daily disposable lenses. Night lenses generate only one set of waste per year compared to throwing away a pair every single day. If someone considering night lenses is environmentally conscious, this could be an additional positive aspect to consider. Less waste, more sustainability.

Q: To ask the obvious question at the end – would you recommend them to other professional and amateur sports people?

A: Absolutely

[Editor’s note: A recurring theme emerges as we hear from night lens wearers who excel in high-level sports. Euan Speirits, the Downhill Mountain Bike Champion, mentioned in his interview [CLICK HERE to read the full interview], that he wouldn’t have achieved as much without night lenses. He shares Catriona’s perspective on controlling the uncontrollable and the significance of not having to think about eye-related issues during performance. One consistent aspect is how inspiring these individuals are, even though their accomplishments can make the rest of us feel somewhat inadequate. Nonetheless, their stories are incredibly motivating. It was a pleasure talking to Catriona.]