Short sightedness on the POC

[chris7011]

For the POC is it best to wear contact lenses or glasses? The idea of wearing glasses on the assault course isn't particularly appealing but neither is wearing contacts and swimming under a muddy tunnel.

There is no mention in the RM instruction and it would be helpful to know in advance prior to going down.

[WannabBootneck]

Hi Chris, I use both glasses and lenses.

For POC I chose lenses I could wear 24/7, but i chose to take them out at night, clean them and leave them until the morning.

It's important to let your eyes breath.

The only point I found them to be a bit of a problem was after the sheep dip, as my left lense became dislodged, after a few mins it settled down, and I was off with no probs!

Nb. there are no "muddy tunnels" on the course. Peter's pool is grim, but not a tunnel, sheep dip is clean and a tunnel, and there are (open) parts you crawl round which are muddy.

J/WbB

[chris7011]

Ok thanks.

[fubar84]

Cheers for the advice, I'm in the same situation as you two so that cleared things up nicely!

[wannabmarine]

Hi im planning to join the royal marines next september and i have really been training hard for it, but the one thing that im worried about is getting through training wearing contact lenses and possibly the fact of them either falling out or causing problems thats going to limit my vision. i really hate wearing my glasses and i really think they are not very practical for being in the royal marines. what do people think

[fubar84]

I think you've answered you're own question there. Glasses would be impractical during training so contacts are the answer.

Contacts might fall out, Glasses might get broken. It's swings and roundabouts but if I pass through POC/AIB I'll be wearing contacts during training.

[Sarastro]

I'm relatively sure that you are required to wear glasses during training - I know you are for US military basic - as contacts can be easily lost or even dangerous while being knocked around and doing rough exercise.

A current or recent nod / YO might be able to enlighten you, any still around?

[fubar84]

I know it's not the same but guys on their All Arms Commando Course can wear contacts, but they may not need to have a medical just for the course so, the fact that they wear them may never come to light.

I see your point but as a contacts and glasses wearer, I'd take a lodged contact over a shard of glass from glasses any day!