Back-to-school eye exams are a great time to chat about options your child has for correcting vision for sports.
1. Sports goggles or glasses
Not only do sports goggles/glasses provide a comfortable form of eye protection, but they can also be made with your prescription to help you see clearly. They fit more tightly and can take more of a beating than traditional glasses, which means parents don’t have to replace glasses every time there’s a basketball-to-the-face situation! There are different types and sizes that are suitable for all ages and activities/sports. There are also various lens options (color tints, sunglasses) that can be used to enhance vision for certain sports/activities. You might hear these sports goggles referred to as RecSpecs (one brand of sports goggles- kind of like how we say Kleenex to mean tissue).
2. Daily disposable soft contact lenses
Not only do these lenses correct vision, but many brands offer UV protection built into the lenses, which is nice for those involved in outdoor sports. While there is a risk of infection/complication with all contact lens wear, daily disposable lenses are the best option for kids/teens (everyone, really) because they involve less exposure to bacteria and less maintenance.
3. Ortho-K retainer lenses (aka orthokeratology aka corneal reshaping aka CRT)
Orthokeratology retainer lenses are rigid contact lenses that are worn during the night to gently and safely reshape the front part of the eye. When the lenses are removed in the morning, vision is corrected without the use of glasses or contacts! This option is particularly convenient for those with very active lifestyles.
| CLIFFSNOTES: Correcting vision for sports allows for better clarity, performance, and comfort. There any many options for vision correction during sporting activities, for both children and adults. If you are interested in learning more about options for vision correction during specific activities for you or your child, see your optometrist and ask about which options are best for you/your child given the prescription, age, type of activity/sport, etc. |