Whether it’s looking far off into the distance for on-coming threats like Zombie hordes, trying to read the fine print on a map or the expiration date on the bottom of a can of green beans, strained vision is something that we all struggle with at one time or another… especially for those of us that rely on vision enhancements like glasses and contact lenses.
No one wants to be at the mercy of blurred and uncertain vision in a disaster or survival situation, no matter who they are and what they’re dealing with. We looked into the reality of surviving with a visual impairment and what options survivors will really have when the SHTF and the undead are at the door.
Contact Lenses: Though this is a light-weight and compact alternative to framed glasses, contact lenses require a high level of maintenance, are easy to lose, and can cause serious infections and damage to the eye when not properly cleaned and maintained. These little lenses require frequent changing and rest periods for the eye, something that can be difficult and dangerous to do with dirt and Zombie blood on your hands. The danger and inconvenience of contact lenses don’t stop there though. These flexible little lenses present the added danger of grit and/or debris working its way under the lens and seriously damaging the eye.
Keep in mind that both contact lenses and cleaning solutions have a shelf life of about 1-year (or less). That means you’ll need to actively rotate both lenses and cleaning solution as time ticks by waiting for the next big disaster.
Cleaning solution alternatives: While the only truly safe option is actual contact lens solution, sometimes that just isn’t an option. The solutions presented below are meant for emergency use only and should not be used on a regular basis.
Distilled Water – Water is a viable alternative to contact cleansing solution, but only when it is properly filtered and treated. Untreated water, even from your tap, can contain a virus known as acanthamoeba keratitis. This water-borne bug can cause extremely painful and damaging eye infections that often result in total blindness or the need for a corneal transplant.
Properly filtered and de-contaminated water sources should not contain any viruses or damaging particulates… but it’s better to play it safe that sorry.
Salt Water – Adding a minor amount of salt to clean, potable water can further decrease the risk of an acanthamoeba keratitis infection, though not remove it completely.
As stated before, these methods are for EMERGENCY USE ONLY and should not be considered long-term alternatives to proper cleaning solution. These alternatives are not suitable for multiple washing and each application should only be done once per measure of fluid.
Contact lenses are better than nothing at all, but we only recommend them when you have no other option and the dead are at your door. If you can’t bring yourself to part with contacts as a primary aid, then your best option is to store 3 extra pairs per emergency supply cache. That means 3 in the medicine cabinet, 3 in the Bug Out Bag, 3 in the Home E-kit and 3 in any other caches you may have around… and don’t forget the cleaning solution!
Prescription/Reading Glasses: Available just about everywhere from super-stores like Costco to the counter at a local mini-mart, optometrists offices, even some bookstores and more, eye-glasses can be found just about anywhere you look… for now.
Though it’s more expensive in the immediate, purchasing frames with scratch and shatter resistant lenses can mean a world of difference during a disaster situation like a Zombie apocalypse or city-wide downfall. These hardy lenses are likely to last you much longer than their cheaper counterparts, making them well worth the upfront cost. In addition to a set of durable lenses, if you can afford it make an invest in titanium or “unbreakable” frames.
These relatively easy-to-find and extremely important pieces of eye wear can be difficult to hold on to without a bit of help when you’re running about and trying to maneuver through disaster areas like a city overrun with Zombies. The use of things like lanyards, no matter what they’re made of, is of the utmost importance when you’re planning on carrying a pair glasses in your Bug Out Bag and/or E-Kit. Just like contact lenses, packing a few backups is a must. Store an extra pair in your Bug Out Bag and E-Kit, and even one or two around the house and with your everyday carry kit.
Many optometrists offer a “buy 1 get 1 half off” deal that allows you to get not just a pair for everyday wear, but to get one tinted for use in extreme brightness such as high summer and snowy winter conditions. Rather than discarding old prescriptions when you update frames or lenses, we recommend you hold on to them as a backup to your primary pair.
In addition to keeping your vision clear and true, a good set of glasses can help protected your eyes from debris and flying Zombie goo… as well as a number of other wind-blown and drifting contaminates. But the benefits of glasses go even beyond that. Lenses, whether plastic or glass, can be applied in a multitude of ways during a survival or disaster situation. Both clear glass and/or plastic lenses can be used to focus the rays of the sun for fire-starting or as a signal mirror to alert rescue parties or other survivors of your location. Whether clear or not, both plastic and glass lenses can be removed from their frames and sharpened into points, arrowheads, blades, and more.
When not being worn, we recommend storing your glasses in a durable hard-shell case and keeping them packed away in an easy-to-access location or within a MOLLE compatible glasses case attached to the top rear of your Bug Out Bag. It’s a good idea to keep an ultra-soft cloth on hand for cleaning your lenses and removing any Zombie splatter or other debris that might build up.
Occluder (or) Eye Glass Substitutes: Sometimes the only option is another one all together… and that’s where things like squinting and homemade occluders (pinhole glasses) come in handy.
A occulder is simple an object with one or more small pinholes it in. This helps correct vision by limiting an overage of light to the eye and focusing the beam more directly. The same can be said for squinting. While neither of these methods is a fool-proof fix-all, they can help individuals with blurred vision get by for a short time… and hell, when it’s all you have, why not give it a try.
In Conclusion: In addition to being a visual aid, both glasses and contact lenses are likely to become high-value items for barter should things ever really go to hell. That alone is reason enough to grab a few extra pairs, but really it comes down to personal survival and having the backups you need to continue fighting the fight and outliving the undead.
0 comments:
Post a Comment