Thursday, 11 March 2010

Optimizing Sports Performance with Contact Lenses

The key to good performance in sports is the ability to see perfectly, and athletes who require some type of vision correction are at a disadvantage until they resolve this problem. It is fortunate that advances in contact lens technology now provide athletes with effective options to overcome vision limitation and compete at optimum levels.

Use of contact lenses in sports is generally more practical than eyeglasses for the following reasons:

They provide better peripheral vision.
They don’t steam up.
They provide an unobstructed field of view.
Vision stability is better (no slipping glasses).
They are better suited for protective headgear.
They have better depth perception.

That contact lenses remain firmly on the eye, even during vigorous physical activity, is one indispensable advantage of today’s contacts. And better still, with daily disposable contact lenses there is no concern about care and storage - once your game is over, just throw them away!

Astigmatism sufferers will be pleased to know that some daily disposable lenses are now available to correct that condition.

Gas Permeable Contacts for Sports

Most athletes needing corrective vision wear soft contact lenses, but RGPs, or rigid gas permeable lenses, are also an option. These are designed for full-time wear and have several advantages over soft lenses:

Grit doesn’t accumulate as easily on these lenses because of their hard surface, so they tend to remain clean for longer periods.
The rigidity of RGP lenses allows them to keep their shape on the eye and provides better correction of astigmatism and other corneal abnormalities, thus improving and sharpening vision.
Oxygen reaches the eye more easily through an RGP lens than through a soft lens, thereby contributing to eye health and comfort over longer periods.
The problem of dry eyes may improve because RGPs don’t absorb moisture or tears from the eyes in the same way that soft lenses do.

It takes longer to get used to wearing RGPs because of their rigidity, and for best results in sports it will be necessary to wear them full-time and not only on a part-time basis when needed.

Because they are noticeably smaller than soft lenses, there is a risk they could dislodge from the eye during vigorous sports activity. The problem is overcome by custom-making an RGP with a larger diameter, and your optometrist can advise you about this.

The Preferred Choice for Sports

Aside from offering better depth perception and peripheral vision, wearing contact lenses in sports helps to avoid potential and possible serious injury through broken frames and shattered eyeglass lenses. They also offer a more natural vision with no uncomfortable changes in image sizes that eyeglasses sometimes cause.

Cleaning regimens are generally frustrating for some sports enthusiasts and outdoor activities like surfing, sailing, camping or fishing make lens cleaning inconvenient. These types of sports persons would benefit greatly from daily disposable soft contact lenses that do away with a cleaning regimen.

When Glasses are the Best

Cold-weather athletes, such as skiers, and players who keep their eyes open without blinking (hockey goalies and racquetball players), usually suffer from dry eyes. Although RGP contact lenses may improve the condition, the best eyewear for this problem is eyeglasses. The reason is simply that they don’t rest directly on the eye and they reduce tear evaporation by shielding the eyes from direct exposure to the wind.

Sometimes eye protection will be the first consideration when choosing between eyeglasses and contacts – particularly in sports like basketball. Prescription polycarbonate goggles with a wraparound strap may then offer a better solution.

The Value of Orthokeratology in Sports Vision Correction

If you find it difficult wearing contact lenses, orthokeratology may be a good option to consider. The process involves wearing specially designed gas permeable contact lenses at night while sleeping. These will reshape the eyes for good vision without glasses or contact lenses during the day.

How to Choose

Finding the right sports eyewear solution could be critical to your health and the difference between winning and losing. Increasing competition in sports has created the demand for sports vision expertise and, if you’re uncertain about making the right choice, a visit to a sports vision specialist could help you find the right eyewear for your sporting needs.

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Optimizing Sports Performance with Contact Lenses