If you play a lot of sport then your regular glasses may be driving you a bit mad. Maybe they mist up when you get sweaty, shift= when you swing the golf club or get knocked off in a tackle. You may end up taking them off if playing a racquet or more intense contact sport like rugby where an impact could mean serious eye injury. In fact, if you’re a sportsman or woman then wearing glasses may well be affecting your performance. So, what can be done?
Get special glasses or goggles…
Lenses in sports eyewear are usually made of polycarbonate as it’s an impact-resistant lens material that works well to protect eyes from fast-moving objects. Polycarbonate also has built-in ultraviolet protection. This is especially important for golfers, cyclists, cricketers and runners who may spend many hours in the sunshine. Untreated polycarbonate lenses can scratch easily though, so most will include a scratch-resistant coating on both the front and back surface.
Sport frames are usually constructed of highly impact-resistant plastic. Most come with rubber padding to cushion the frame around the temples and on the nose, but sports glasses and goggles are made in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are different designs for different sports. Some are even designed to fit inside the helmets necessary for cycling or American football, for example.
Sports frames are often contoured, wrapping slightly around the face. They also sometimes come with an elastic restraining strap that hugs the back of the head to keep them firmly in place. They often come in rimless styles or with vents to avoid misting.
If you’re a shooter or sailor, the choice of lens tint may be your ultimate priority. Styles popular with those who practice these sports even boast interchangeable lenses to ensure 20/20 visibility in all conditions.
Swimming and ski goggles can be made with lenses that correct your spherical powers (sphere only) or your full prescription, just like a regular pair of glasses. Ski hybrids can come with foam surrounds or side shields to protect from the cold.
Come and discuss your specific requirements with us – the possibilities are endless.
…Or switch to contact lenses?
Often the most appropriate way of correcting vision for sport is with contact lenses – we have lenses for every sporting lifestyle. Maybe you spend a lot of time in the sun and want lenses with UV protection to make sure your eyes are protected. Or maybe you’re just tired of glasses which fall off, mist up or impede your peripheral vision at crucial moments. We will find the contact lenses to suit. And that includes those who have varifocal prescriptions or astigmatism.
Chances are we can help even if you’ve been told you’re not able to wear lenses in the past. Come and have a chat to find out more.