A: I’ve been using them for about 3 years now. I used to wear glasses for around 30 years, but they became a real hassle. When I was photographing events, my glasses would often fog up. Activities like golf and swimming were also a headache because of water getting on the lenses. I tried daily contact lenses, but my eyes got dry, and I had to use eye drops, which was inconvenient. I didn’t have a great experience with them, as my eyes felt gritty and dried out quickly. So, I went back to wearing glasses. But then, during a chat with my optometrist, she suggested night lenses might be a good fit for my work and lifestyle. At first, I was skeptical about how they’d work, but I decided to give them a shot. In the first few weeks, I had some doubts as my eyes adjusted. Being in the photography field, I worried about whether I could see clearly through the camera viewfinder or if it would affect my editing work. But I stuck with it, and around 6-8 weeks in, I reached a point where I thought, “there’s no going back now, this has been truly fantastic for me.” So, I’ve kept using them and have been really happy.

Q: How have night lenses made a difference for you as a photographer?

A: It’s the freedom from having to constantly clean my glasses with a lens cloth and the ability to move around different environments without the constraint of wearing glasses. Even with lightweight glasses, which I didn’t like much, I tolerated them to some extent. But the freedom of having nothing on my face is amazing. As a photographer, it means not dealing with a plastic frame getting in the way when I raise the camera to my eye. It’s a big improvement. Also, when transitioning from a cold outdoor setting to a warm indoor space, like a church in winter, both my camera lens and glasses would fog up, creating a double foggy situation!

Q: How have night lenses impacted your personal life?

A: I’ve been really happy with them. Again, it’s the freedom from glasses. Close-up work, like reading, hasn’t been affected because my optometrist made adjustments to my left and right eye. I’ve been able to read small print without issues. I haven’t really experienced any downsides with night lenses; they’re just part of my nightly routine. Like daily lenses, once they’re in, you forget about them. Except now, you’re actually sleeping with them!

Q: Would you ever consider going back to glasses or daytime lenses after using night lenses?

A: Unless there’s a major change in my eyes or my optometrist recommends it, I don’t see myself going back. I usually put them in every night, but sometimes I might skip a night.

Q: Why would you recommend night lenses to others?

A: I’d recommend them because of the freedom they offer, especially for people who are often outdoors and lead active lives. Also, experiencing that clear vision reminiscent of childhood is incredible – no more dealing with the hassles of finding and handling glasses. No more wondering, “where did I put them?” or searching frantically only to find them under the sofa or squished. Plus, no more impaired vision from fogging up. In short, there are countless reasons to recommend them!

Paul’s work can be seen at https://www.paulwalkerimages.co.uk