Sports Eyewear - Give your vision a sporting chance

Play safe - protect your eyes

Visual safety should be a major consideration for anyone participating in sports. Your eyes are among the most vulnerable organs of the body. Yet, think of the many sports where they can be exposed to risk. Even relatively minor damage sustained during certain sporting activities can have a disabling or prolonged effect. It, therefore, makes sense to avoid injury by making sure you can see clearly at all times and, if necessary, by protecting your eyes against the potential dangers.

Are your eyes fit for sport?

The first safety measure to consider before taking part in any sporting activity is to check up on your visual ability (i.e. if you require corrective vision). It is also the perfect opportunity to find out more about protective eyewear. Before having your eyes examined, explain to the practitioner the reason for your visit. Maybe you already wear spectacles or contact lenses and want to find out if they are suitable for your sporting activity. Many people don't wear their glasses when playing sport.

Alternatively, you may have been experiencing poor vision or headaches while taking part in sport. By telling your practitioner your needs you will receive the best practical solution for your visual requirements, thus ensuring your comfort and safety when playing sport. Alternatively, please email Vision3k for some advice.

The best choice for you

Choosing the right visual aid for sport is just as essential as choosing the right equipment or accessories. Just two examples of the benefits that can be gained from making the right choice are the specially designed spectacles developed to help top ranking snooker players and the prescription glazed goggles used by swimmers (see our prescription swimming goggles range).

Of course, spectacles aren't always the right option for playing sports. It would be impractical to use them in activities where physical contact is involved, or if the lenses are likely to get wet or steamed up. Contact lenses are the practical solution to these problems.

Soft contact lenses are the best for the most vigorous sports. Most people wear them for the duration of sporting activities even if they don't wear contact lenses for normal daily use. But remember, contact lenses provide very little eye protection. They should be worn, when necessary and appropriate, in conjunction with protective goggles.

The way to clearer, safer vision

Certain sports are best performed with the protection of special frames or goggles. Squash for instance, requires goggles that protect the temples and bridge of the nose as well as the eyes. For skiing and snowboarding, ski goggles provide protection from the weather with tinted lenses helping to reduce glare and eye fatigue.

Guidelines for frames

• Lightweight, yet strong enough to resist strong impact.
• Could be fitted with sidepieces that curl securely behind the ears.
• Should be fitted with elasticated sports band.
• Metal frames should be fitted with padded bridge.
• Specially designed goggles are preferable.

Guidelines for lenses

• Should be made from impact resistant plastic or, preferably polycarbonate.
• Glass lenses should be avoided but, if used should be toughened or laminated.
• For indoor use, lenses should not be tinted and should be coated to reduce reflection from lights.
• Polycarbonate, tougher that other materials. Must be used for squash.

Seek professional advice

Do you play a sport that presents even the slightest danger to your eyes?

Are you in any doubt about the best visual aid to help you do better in your chosen sport?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, make sure you play safe with your vision. Consult your practitioner for professional advice.

Sport	Sunglasses	Contact Lenses
Badminton	Yes, goggles better	All, soft best
Darts	Yes	All
Fencing	Yes, or goggles	All
Scuba diving	Diving mask	Soft with mask
Snooker	Special frames	Some specialised work well
Squash	Squash goggles only	All under goggles
Swimming	Swimming goggles	Soft or scleral with care, best under swimming goggles
Table tennis	Yes	All, soft best
Volleyball	Yes, or goggles	Soft
Wrestling & Judo	No	Soft or scleral

In the following sports, a ultra-violet absorber in the contact lens would be useful or, in some cases, sport sunglasses or tinted spectacle lenses.

Sport	Sunglasses	Contact Lenses
Absailing	Yes, or goggles	Scleral
American football	Goggles	Soft or scleral
Athletics	Yes	All
Basketball	Yes, or goggles	All
Clay shooting	High frame	All
Cricket	Yes, or goggles	All
Fishing	Polarised sunglasses	All, with polarised sunglasses if bright
Hand gliding & parachuting	Yes, under goggles	Soft, under goggles
Hockey	Goggles best	All
Horse riding	Yes	All, soft best
Jogging	Yes	All
Rugby	No	Soft or scleral
Skiing	Yes, OTG ski goggles or prescription compatible ski goggles	All, under ski goggles
Soccer	No	Soft
Target shooting	Special frames	All
Tennis	Yes, or goggles	All, soft best
Water sports	Ventilated goggles	Scleral best
Yachting/sailing	Yes, consider polarised sunglasses	Soft

Related Eye Links:

All About Sunglasses;
Eyecare for Children;
Ozone.

Return to Information & Eye Tests.

Further Links:

Sunglasses;
Sport Sunglasses;
Prescription Sunglasses;
Ski Goggles;
Swimming Goggles.