9 Reasons To Wear Protective Eyewear Rather Than Contact Lenses During Sporting Activity

Let’s say you are playing a soccer game. You can feel an adrenaline rush as you make your way past your opponent’s defense. The goalkeeper wavers and you’ve almost scored the winning goal. 

 

All sounds good until someone elbows your eye and your contact lens falls out. Not only do you have to deal with that throbbing pain around your eye but also make your way with blurry vision. Sounds pretty sucky, right?

 

Almost every sport poses a risk of eye injuries, which can worsen if contact lenses are involved. Undoubtedly, sports-related eye injury is a big problem. 

 

The good news is that one in ten serious eye injuries can be prevented. The answer is simple yet effective - protective sports eyewear. You might be wondering: are sports eyewear better than contacts? Well, we are to finish that debate! Let’s get started! 

 

What Sports Can Cause Eye Injuries?

As an athlete, you must understand that the fear of getting hurt should not get in the way of your favorite game. There is always danger involved with any sport, especially eye injuries. These can be a range of sports, from contact activities like basketball, rugby, etc, to high-speed ones like biking or skiing. 

 

However, with the right protective eyewear, you don’t need to worry about serious eye injuries while you play. They ensure that your sight is not compromised and that you continue to triumph on the field, confidently. 

 

The best part is that even if you don’t need vision correction, these glasses protect your eyes from potential external injury. Let us understand why these are the best ways to protect your eyes during sports, and why contact lenses are better suited for other occasions. 

 

Why Is Prescription Protective Eyewear Safer Than Contact Lenses?

If you have prescribed vision or have had some experience with contact lenses, you might be tempted to use them during your sporting activities as well. After all, glasses slipping off is an annoyance. It doesn’t just hinder your eyesight but also messes up your focus while you play. However, there are better solutions to this problem, that solve it once and for all. 

 

You might still be wondering: why are safety glasses important?  There are many reasons, including their easy and customizable functionality, sturdy design, and durable nature. 

 

To understand the purposes of safety glasses, let us first understand the reasons contact lenses may cause problems during sports activities. 

 

1. Uncompromised Vision in All Situations:

 

While participating in sports, you need uncompromised eyesight. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity are the main factors affecting your performance outcomes.

 

Today, we have contact lenses that may enhance vision in sports but they cannot adapt to outer conditions like weather, including wind, sunlight, and humidity. When you participate in sports like cycling, long-distance running, cross-country, or skiing, your surroundings tend to change frequently and your vision needs to adapt accordingly. 

 

Can contact lenses do that? Well, no. Protective eyewear is specially designed for such sports to help you enhance your vision in every condition.

 

2. Shielding Your Eyes:

 

Prescription sports glasses provide better protection than contact lenses in many sports. For example, you should not wear contact lenses in the swimming pool. Bacteria from water can easily contaminate your lenses and lead to infections. Whether you surf, jet ski, or swim, prescription goggles are your best option to avoid harmful conditions.

 

Prescription eyewear may be a better solution than contact lenses because they are your eyes' first line of defense against being struck by external forces. Sports goggles operate as a barrier to protect your eyes from impact, UV radiation, and airborne particles.

 

3. Low Maintenance: 

 

If a contact lens accidentally falls out, it needs to be cleaned with a contact lens solution, and only then can it be put back in the eye. Sports goggles are easy to maintain, unlike contact lenses, which need to be taken care of carefully.

 

To ensure enduring efficiency, give them a periodic cleaning and store them in a case, as simple as that. 

 

4. Contact Lenses Can Fall Out:

 

The worst nightmare for anyone who wears contact lenses is the loss of a lens. You may lose one contact lens during a game. That will cause a huge issue because you will have to stop playing due to blurry vision. 

 

Besides, you cannot put them back on without cleaning them as it may bring harmful pathogens into your eyes. To avoid this, you must carry a cleaning solution and extra lenses in your sports bag. Nevertheless, it will take away crucial time and energy from your game.

 

The impressive durability of impact-resistant sports glasses means that once you find them, you can just dust them off and carry on playing. Plus, sport goggles come with adjustable straps that keep them tightly fit, and help avoid any misplacement. 

 

5. Allergic Reactions: 

 

Several people are sensitive to contact lenses and cannot wear them. They feel a number of unpleasant conditions, including burning, itching, stinging, or pain in the eyes. These usually do not go away even if you change the lens solution or maintain optimal hygiene while dealing with lenses. 

 

Red eye is an associated symptom. It is a condition when the sclera or the white of your eye has become reddened. It can occur in one or both eyes and is associated with symptoms like eye allergy, sensitivity to light or dust in the air, watery eyes, conjunctivitis, etc

 

This condition is quite common and is faced by almost 20 % of contact lens wearers. If you have such symptoms, it is better to remove your contact lenses and switch to glasses. 

 

By contrast, sports eyewear can protect your eyes from airborne allergens, dry air, dust, airborne fumes, chemical exposures, and overexposure to sunlight. 

 

6. Avoiding Dry Eye Syndrome: 

 

According to some recent studies, the sensation of dry eye is the most common problem for contact lens wearers. It is estimated that almost 40% of people who wear contact lenses report this, and 25% suffer from moderate to severe symptoms.

 

 Dry eye is a huge problem for cold-weather athletes such as skiers or players who need to keep their eyes open without blinking, such as racket sports players or soccer goalkeepers.

 

 In this case, the best solution is protective eyewear as it is not applied directly onto the eyes and does not wipe their natural moisture. Contact lenses work as a barrier that prevents moisture, making the conditions worse.

 

7. Avoiding Hypoxia: 

 

The cornea gets its oxygen from the air. But the contact lenses sit on the top of the cornea and prevent the air supply. If your cornea does not get enough oxygen, hypoxia may occur. It is quite a serious condition when the cornea swells. 

 

This can lead to redness and mild eye pain while moving the eyeballs. Also, it can lead to cloudy vision. Hypoxia is more common in athletes who use extended-wear contact lenses, but some studies show that short-term lenses may cause hypoxia as well.

 

Wearing protective eyewear makes sure that your eyes are well protected from injuries while keeping them moisturized as well as preventing such occurrences. 

 

8. UV Protection: 

 

If you play outdoors, there is one thing you must never overlook- UV rays. When you are out playing in the bright sun, UV rays can slowly damage your eyes without you knowing. Since contact lenses don’t cover your entire eye surface, depending on them for UV protection is futile. 

 

Sports goggles, on the other hand, cover your eyes properly and therefore, they stop harmful UV rays from entering your eye and affecting your vision. So, just opt for a pair of sports goggles with UV-resistant lens options and ditch those contact lenses.

 

9. Do Your Bit For The Environment:

 

Have you ever wondered how your eyewear choice can impact the environment? Most contact lenses take 500 years to decompose. Moreover, they come with individual plastic blister packs and solution bottles. Just think of the sheer volume of waste generated by this eyewear option in a month. 

 

On the other hand, sports goggles are a one-time purchase which means less packaging and waste piling up in landfills. You can also indulge in eco-friendly eyewear options to help you stick to a sustainable lifestyle.

 

Make Your Choice and Play Safer

 

As you can understand, prescription sports goggles provide unparalleled safety and performance. On the field, it is never an option to compromise on your vision. Contact lenses have their benefits, but they are not the best suited for sporting adventures. 

It is a good idea to invest in high-quality eyewear to protect your eyes while engaging in your favorite sports activity. 

 

Prescription sports goggles can help you safeguard your vision the right way. Get your tailored pair now!