Contact lenses and sports: How contact lenses give you the freedom to play sports
Post on 23rd June 2022
With the summer season upon us, it’s the perfect time for enjoying the outdoors and brushing up your skills on the tennis court, golf course or cricket field. While this sparks joy in many, it can also strike fear in glasses wearers, making summer a popular time to choose contact lenses to get ahead of the game.
At Scrivens, we have over 80 years of experience as one of the leading Opticians in the UK, so if you’re looking to find out more about the benefits of contact lenses in sport, keep on reading.
Why contact lenses are a good choice for active lifestyles
First designed by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1508, contact lenses are a great solution whether you’re an active person all year round, or you take up sport and fitness activities in the longer, warmer days of summer. Making the switch from glasses will give you more flexibility as contact lenses provide a practical, safe and comfortable alternative.
You don’t have to be super-sporty to see the difference. Glasses can get in the way of an active life, which is why more people are seeing the benefits of contact lenses. You don’t have to worry about losing your specs as you go for the winning shot or have your glasses sliding down your nose as you aim for a personal best. And thanks to the advances in contact lens technology and improved gas permeability, your eyes always stay hydrated and comfortable.
Contact lenses are the safe option when playing sports
In the physical demands of sports, contact lenses won’t fall off, mist up in summer showers, break or hurt your face should you collide with another player. The benefits of switching to contact lenses don’t stop there. Contact lenses provide all-around vision to give a wider field of view, allowing more stable vision and better depth perception. Compared to wearing glasses, there is also less risk of damage to the lens during the rough and tumble of sport.
When choosing the best type of contact lenses for sport, there are many factors you need to consider including the environment and physical demands. Soft lenses are generally considered the best option, especially for more dynamic sports such as tennis. When playing in dirty environments you should consider daily disposables.
Can you wear contact lenses for watersports?
Contact lenses might be comfortable when playing sports, however, they are not a good mix with watersports. Your eyes are more vulnerable when in water because of the microbes. Microbes can become attached to your contact lenses and become the source of irritation and infections. If you must wear contacts, daily disposable lenses are the safest type for water sports and you can also get a pair of goggles for extra protection.
The British Contact Lens Association says you should not use contact lenses for swimming or water sports unless you wear tight-fitting goggles over the top. Ultimately, the lenses should be immediately discarded after the activity.
How to choose the right contact lenses for you
Contact lenses remain a great option for all sports. They are designed to be more comfortable than ever before, as well as provide an exceptional vision for those who require correction, even people with a multifocal perspective.
If you would like to make the switch, you’ll find the help and advice you need at your local Scrivens branch, where you can have a free contact lenses trial to experience contact lenses first-hand. As an added incentive, our Lensplan scheme is currently offering half-price contact lenses for three months when you sign up.
If you found this helpful, you may also like to read our blog about reasons to give contact lenses a try.