Well, maybe not really blind.

I drove from Houston to Austin (3 hours) on Sunday and then back again on Monday afternoon. Weather was georgeous (around 83) so drove with top down both ways. Wore my wrap around sunglasses on way up and 1/2 on the way back. It got too dark to wear as I got closer to Houston.

Anyway, since the following morning, my eyes have been excessively dry, itchy, and just generally irritated. Don't usually have eye issues like that.

Is this something I should just chalk up to wind irritating my eyes from the trip? Has anyone else experienced something like this after that much driving? It's not Thursday and they are still irritated, but getting better.

 

Sell it. Your convertible is defective!

Pollen and crap in the air caused your irritation most likely

 

Must be the convertible's fault... actually most of us get some dry eye issues when there is a constant wind/buffeting. As we get older we tend to have dry eyes, and when we concentrate we blink less. If you smoke you add to the eye irritation.
Try find some better wrap around shades, and a pair of light tinted or clear wrap arounds for dark conditions. In the meantime get some artificial tears from the drug store (Refresh tears, or Genteal tears are good products).
Alfred....yes, I am an optometrist

 

You are probably staring straight ahead to much. I solve that problem by having a hot chick in the passenger seat to help fight tunnel vision. Lunch at Hooters is probably your best bet.

 

I've noticed the same thing but not quite so pronounced. It could be you've experienced the symptoms of "Dry Eyes" or "Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome" aggravated or brought on by the top down highway driving.

Texas is dusty anytime and the pollen count is high this time of year not to mention the small particulate generated by all the cars and trucks then kicked up in your face at high velocities.

You might want to go to the doctor and have him take a look and maybe prescribe some eye drops. It's probably time to get your eyes checked anyway.

 

I only get the dust and eye irritation when driving at highway speeds...so I don't go topless if there is an extended stretch to traverse. Instead, I leave an extra 15 minutes early and take backroads to enjoy the fresher, lower C02-leveled air.

I think at low speeds (say to 40-45), this convertible is one of the best at buffeting the air from entering the cabin (at least of the ones that I have driven)

 

That's funny!

I'm with Matt there, find a country road - the longest top-down highway driving I did was from Round Rock to Temple - which is only about 45 miles or so.

Speaking of buffeting - anybody has a wind deflector in their convertible? How much does it help really?

Hill - have eye drops ready in your car all the time. I second the wrap around - there are lots of shades manufacturers that have models that are not really flashy (Oakley-like) but still give you good cover (Smith, Bolle, Julbo).

Of course - you can go the other extreme, and wear a helmet like The Stig!

 

Anyone going as the Stig to a halloween party? dang...tangent. Just ignore me. New thread instead.