By Dr. Sandy Carman
When playing sports or exercising, everyone wants to be on their A-game. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be made difficult due to difficulties from glasses. Glasses can fog up, fall off, lead to decreased peripheral vision, or even cause injuries when used in certain sports. Due to this, contact lenses can be a very appealing option for athletes, with some contact lenses being designed specifically for sports performance. Let’s take a look into the top reasons to use contact lenses for sports.
Have you ever been out running only to have your sweat cause glasses to fall of your face? Or how about those instances where humidity causes your glasses to fog up, impairing your vision at a crucial moment in a game? While this may only be seen as a minor inconvenience in daily life, in the heat of a game when every point or second counts, this can be very distracting and could be the difference between winning and losing.
With contact lenses, there is a much lower risk of them falling out and no risk of them fogging due to humidity. In addition, contact lenses allow for a greater range of vision, which gives athletes improved peripheral vision. Glasses on the other hand do not provide vision correction at the periphery and can cause slight distortions.
Some sports and leagues also allow for specialty lenses developed specifically for sports, such as the Altius® Amber. These amber tinted contact lenses help filter out UV light which enables athletes to see clearer and perform at higher levels.
Many sports call for protective headgear or eyewear, such as in football, rugby, or snow sports. For athletes who wear glasses, this may pose an issue as the helmets or goggles may not fit properly over their prescription glasses.
Additionally, if struck in the face by a ball or other player, glasses can cause more injury if they break – not to mention can be costly to replace!
By choosing contact lenses over glasses for athletic activities, not only will you be able to play harder, but you will being playing safer.
While in everyday life, glasses can be very comfortable when fitted properly, they can become a nuisance during physical activity. Excessive sweating can cause them to move or fall down the nose and as mentioned previously, humidity, which is very common in Georgia, can cause them to fog up. These distractions can throw an athlete off their game.
One somewhat common complaint regarding contact lenses is that they can sometimes cause dry eye, however with disposables or gas permeable lenses, this is far less common. Additionally, patients with astigmatism can still wear contacts comfortably thanks to toric lenses which can fit astigmatic eyes comfortably and provide vision clearer vision.
Whether you’re going for a PR on your 5K time or on benchpress, you don’t have time to deal with glasses falling off your face or getting fogged up. Contacts provide relief from these frustrations and can also make you safer thanks to an improved field of vision.
When it comes to full-contact and combat sports, safety is incredibly important. Due to this, helmets and other protective gear is frequently worn. Glasses can be uncomfortable to wear with a helmet or cause the helmet to not fit properly.
If struck in the face during a game or match, glasses can easily break and cause more injury than would otherwise occur. This can be costly, both in replacing the glasses as well as in potential medical expenses. Contacts are much lower risk in these instances.
Glasses can become very dirty when cycling due to weather and humidity, which can be very distracting. When you are flying down the trail, it’s critical that you have clear visibility to avoid obstacles and others. Contact lenses enable this as they do not get steamed or dirty like glasses and allow for more comfort in wearing your helmet.
A racquetball’s speed can range between 100mph and 175mph in play. If a racquetball were to strike you in the face with glasses on, it would not only likely break your glasses, but could cause serious injury. Contact lenses free you up from potential distractions and provide a greater range of vision, so you can better keep an eye on the ball and allow you to wear proper protective eyewear when necessary.
When you’re tied in on a rope in the middle of a 5.12 graded climb, the last thing you need is your glasses slipping or falling off. Since contact lenses do not run the risk of slipping or falling off your face, they can be the difference between completing the route or having to return back down early.
Whether you’re heading to the bunny slopes or double black diamonds, clear vision and UV protection are incredibly important. The reflections off the snow can make it hard to see at times, however contact lenses with UV protection can provide a solution. Contact lenses can also free you up to be able to wear sunglasses or goggles more comfortably.
Water sports such as swimming or water skiing are the one exception where contacts are not recommended. This is due to the potential for eye infections when swimming in contact lenses. Bacteria and other debris in the water can become trapped on the contact lens causing irritation and potential eye infections. Even in salt water or chlorinated water, contact lenses can become irritated by the salt and chemicals.
At Thomas Eye Group, we provide comfortable vision solutions that fit your lifestyle. Our contact lens specialists have access to a wide range of contact lens brands and types designed to meet your needs. If you’re looking for a more comfortable vision solution during exercise, contacts or vision correction surgery could be an excellent option for you. Schedule an appointment with the button below or call 678.892.2020 to get started today.
E. Edward “Sandy” Carman, OD, is a board-licensed Comprehensive Optometrist. He offers a range of services including comprehensive eye exams with prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses, and treatment of various ocular conditions such as dry eye disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease, among others.
