Contact Lenses + Sports = Happy Player!
Our daughter is an avid sports player and fan. She started playing field hockey at age 12 and was the goalie. If you know anything about goalies you know they wear lots of equipment. A very important part of that equipment is a helmet, but helmets and glasses don’t play well together. Playing her position without being able to see really wasn’t an option, so contact lenses were the answer. She has been wearing them for 9 years, with no problems and all of us our much happier since the switch.
Lenses & Sports: The Lowdown
Let’s be honest, playing sports while wearing glasses isn’t ever going to end well, is it? Contact lenses are the perfect solution, not only are they comfortable and much more stable than spectacles, they also offer a wider view and they aren’t affected by weather conditions. Soft contact lenses aren’t likely to be lost from the eye and toric soft lenses are ideal for sports that require exceptional vision. You can get lenses, specifically prescribed, from your optician.
Contact Sports
Using hard lenses during sport isn’t recommended as the lack of rigidity can cause damage to the eye during a fall or tackle. Contact lenses will give players a wider field of vision than glasses as well as increased stability. Using lenses during sport also protects your eyes from dirt.
Boxing & Martial Arts
Some opticians recommend orthkeratology for boxing and similar sports. This is when special rigid gas-permeable lenses are worn during sleep and removed during the day.
Climbing
When climbing at high altitude there is a reduced level of oxygen – for this type of sport it is best to use high oxygen transmissibility soft lenses. Extended wear is recommended to avoid handling difficulties made worse by weather conditions.
Skiing
When skiing most types of lenses are fine to use as long as they are protected from cold and wind using sunglasses or goggles.
Swimming
Contact lenses aren’t generally recommended for use during swimming, unless used with tight-fitting goggles are worn over the eyes, with soft lenses. Lenses soak up the chlorine from pool water and this can cause irritation in some people, even if contact lenses are removed before swimming and replaced before chlorine as left the eyes.
Diving
Soft lenses are safe to use when scuba diving, although air bubbles can form underneath your lenses at depths lower than 150 ft.
Coloured Lenses
Many opticians recommend coloured or tinted lenses are worn to enhance performance during sport. Red lenses will allow sportsmen to see a white ball more clearly by blocking out blue light and reducing glare from the sun.
Endurance
For sports where it is impossible to handle lenses extended wear lenses are recommended. This type of lens can be worn for a longer period of time, making them perfect for motor sports – they should be highly oxygen-permeable silicone hydrogel lenses.
Leave a Reply