Sergeant R is a Sergeant in Birmingham’s City Centre police team. He’s a long term night lens wearer and we thought we’d catch up to chat about how his career with the force has been different since he switched to night lenses – it’s a tale of mud, CS, IMAX and melted glasses frames! It’s meant to be a 60 second interview, but it was so good and useful to police officers, that we kept going ????
Let’s dive into Sergeant R’s experience with night lenses in a bit more detail:
Q. How long have you been wearing night lenses?
I’ve been using night lenses for about 12 years.
Q. What did you use before?
I initially lived in denial but eventually had to accept glasses during university. In my twenties, I switched to monthly contact lenses.
Q. What difference do night lenses make to your job?
As a front-line officer in one of the most challenging areas, glasses were prone to falling off at inconvenient times. After a knock, my glasses arms deformed due to heat. Contact lenses were better but came with their issues, especially dry eyes. Losing one, slipping out of place, or accidentally wiping one out in less-than-sanitary places was a concern. Reinserting one on the go in our line of work? Asking for trouble.
Q. Any examples of situations where not having contact lenses was beneficial?
Especially with the use of PAVA/CS.
Q. Deploying PAVA/CS – have you done it while wearing contact lenses? Concerns about what it might do to your lenses?
It’s a miserable experience. PAVA seems to prolong and increase the effects of CS. Thankfully, by the time we transitioned to PAVA, I only used night lenses. Even now, PAVA leaves me feeling sorry for myself – much worse with contact lenses.
Q. A situation you remember (before lenses) where they would have been invaluable?
A week-long exercise with the Territorial Army, sleeping in muddy ditches with limited hygiene facilities. Managing contact lenses was tough, and glasses were inconvenient.
Q. Home life: how has it helped to have no glasses or contact lenses?
It’s great. I don’t even own glasses anymore. No barriers in swimming, working out, driving – anything. It’s as if I have no sight issues at all. The only inconvenience is on holidays when sourcing the right solution is needed.
Q. What is easier and better now because of night lenses?
It’s as if I don’t wear glasses or contacts. I pop them in before bed and take them out when I wake – about 60 seconds of my day. Occasionally, not wearing them for a day or two doesn’t noticeably affect my vision.
Q. Have you ever thought of laser eye surgery? Would you go through with it?
I discovered night lenses while exploring laser eye surgery options. While I’ve thought about it, I don’t think it’s worth it. My partner had surgery and suffered from dry eyes and inconveniences.
Q. Now you use night lenses, does that save you having to have laser surgery?
Never say never, but I don’t think it’s worth it.
Q. As a night lens wearer, do you find it odd that people put a lens in their eye during the day when they don’t need to? Is the concept of wearing a day lens now a bit weird to you?
I can’t see why people wouldn’t opt for night lenses.
Q. Are you amazed that people still don’t know about night lenses or think they are some kind of voodoo magic?
I get looks of disbelief when I tell them about it.
Q. In your opinion, is it safer for officers to use night lenses than to wear day lenses or glasses?
Absolutely safer. I have six-monthly eye appointments for reassurance, ensuring my eyes are checked regularly for any abnormalities.
Q. Why would you recommend night lenses to other officers?
I’d turn that around and say, ‘why wouldn’t I’?
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