More than 177 million people require a type of eyesight correction in the USA. Research shows that over 64% of these choose prescription eyeglasses over other vision correction options. And it makes sense.
Conventional eyeglasses are cheaper than contacts and relatively easier to use- at least for patients who don’t prefer sticking things in their eyes.
However, active eyeglass wearers understand that there are scenarios when specs don’t cut it. For instance, eyeglasses have various ways of limiting your performance when exercising. They can bounce up and down, fall, fog up and even get lost during intense activities, such as running and hiking.
Active people appreciate that contact lenses are a blessing during exercises. That’s why they are a part of their gear, even if they don’t intend to wear them as their primary type of vision correction.
This post examines what you need to know when wearing contact lenses, from tips to benefits and risks.
Benefits of Contact Lenses for Exercising
A common question among first-timers is whether exercising while wearing contact lenses is okay. Yes- contact lenses are safe to wear when exercising. Actually, they provide a plethora of benefits that make the exercise session more fun and convenient than wearing eyeglasses.
Crisp vision
So long as you get the correct prescription, contact lenses will correct your refractive error condition like astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness to provide crystal clear vision. Unlike eyeglasses, contacts aren’t affected by rain, nor will they fog up when you wear a mask.
Wider field of view
Because contact lenses conform to the cornea’s curvature, they give you a wider field of view than eyeglasses. Also, because they don’t have a frame, they don’t obstruct or distort your peripheral vision.
No bouncing up and down
Another likely outcome of vigorous exercise activities is that your eyeglasses will be jostling around. Even if they are correctly fitted, your perspiration will cause them to slip down your face necessitating regular adjustment. These inconveniences are not a concern for contacts, meaning you can put all your focus on your workouts.
Best Contact Lenses for Active People
During your contact lens assessment, your ophthalmologist will help you narrow down to the best contact lenses for the exercises you participate in. The ophthalmologist will consider several factors, including environment, body contact, extreme eye movement and duration of workout activities, before recommending the ideal type of contact lens.
Most athletes prefer wearing daily contact lenses because they don’t need to be cleaned at the end of the exercise session. Because dailies are thrown away after use, protein build-up, normally associated with weekly, bi-weekly and monthly contacts, is not an issue. If you exercise regularly, the best daily contacts guarantee a new pair of fresh lenses with clear and crisp vision every time.
Daily disposable lenses are also handy for active people because they are thin and soft. Although this design makes them feel flimsy, it allows them to maintain a high water content when exercising. This means they remain moist, thus remaining comfortable for longer.
Tips for Exercising in Contacts
Refresh your eyes after exercise
While it’s okay to exercise with contact lenses, it’s crucial that you remove and dispose of them as soon as you’re done exercising. When exercising in contacts, sweat, makeup and sunscreen are likely to attach to your contacts, increasing the chances of infections.
That’s why after removing and discarding the contacts, it’s advisable to refresh your eyes with the provided rewetting drops. Rewetting drops help lubricate the eyes and wash away foreign materials lessening the risk of eye irritation.
Stay hydrated
It’s common knowledge that drinking water before, during and after exercises is vital for maintaining a healthy hydration level. Hydration impacts your performance by preventing the muscles from cramping and keeping your body from overheating.
Drinking plenty of water, particularly when you’re active, is also important for your eye health. Staying hydrated enables the body to continue producing enough tears. This is necessary to keep the eyes adequately lubricated and prevent dry eye symptoms, including blurred vision and irritation.
Myths About Exercising in Contacts
Contact lenses are growing as a popular alternative to eyeglasses, especially for people who play sports. But this vision correction method is still shrouded by a couple of myths and urban legends that hold back people who’d potentially benefit from them. Here are some of the most common that you’ve probably come across:
Contacts are uncomfortable
Not true. Like wearing eyeglasses for the first time, contact lenses have an acclimatization period within which your eyes try to adjust. But once they have adapted, your contact lenses will always be comfortable. It’s easy to forget that you have a pair on.
Contact lenses get stuck behind the eye
Another myth. While it’s possible for the lens to get stuck under your eyelids, a thin layer of tissue called conjunctiva prevents any foreign material from getting behind the eye.
Contact lenses fall out when exercising
Not so easily. Although this possibility exists, contact lenses are designed to conform perfectly to the eye’s surface and stay stable. The chances of them falling out are far much lower compared to eyeglasses.
Wearing contact lenses opens up other eye problems
Contacts are more likely to cause infections given they reside directly on the eye surface. However, infections from contact lenses are easy to avoid provided you follow the instructions regarding the duration of wearing, replacement and storage.
Contact lenses are demanding to take care of
Weekly, bi-weekly and monthly contacts require some effort to take care of. After removing lenses, you need to rinse and sterilize them before storing them in the contact lens case. But all of this is not necessary with daily contact lenses because you wear a fresh pair every time.
I’m too young/old for contact lenses
Not true. Contact lens usage has no specified age limit. Children starting from 8 years old can wear contacts provided they are motivated to use and take care of them as instructed. With proper prescription and guidance from a doctor, patients over 60 years can also use them effectively.