KEEPING YOUR EYES ON THE BALL

There are many sportspeople who need to wear glasses or contact lenses just to see, let alone bowl straight or return those fast serves.  Here's some basic guidelines to follow.

Glasses

  • There are some sports which do not allow players to use glasses (eg rugby league) because of the risk of injury.  Parents should check with coaches.
  • Sports optometrists recommend using polycarbonate lenses and frames.  This is a very high impact resistant plastic, 25x stronger than normal plastic.  It may crack (though the optometrists I have spoken with have never actually seen this happen) but not shatter.
  • The price of polycarbonates is comparable to streetwear glasses.
  • There are also rubberised children's frames which again are a comparable cost to streetwear glasses.

Contact Lenses

  • Can be prescribed at any age, though maturity to look after lenses is an issue with younger wearers.
  • Sports optometrists recommend wearing soft contact lenses for sport.  Soft lenses are more easy to adapt to.  Rigid contacts can take a week to become accustomed to.  If the player wants to wear contacts only during competition, then soft lenses are the best option.
  • The player/parent should tell the coach/teacher that they wear contact lenses.

 


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  • If playing water sports, leave the lenses in for about an hour after competition (salt/chlorine will shrink the lenses making them difficult to remove).
  • The greatest injury from wearing contact lenses relates to dirt lodging in the eye.
  • If a foreign body gets into the eye, remove the contact lens immediately, and rinse the contact lens.  Tears should clean the eye, and avoid rubbing.
  • Replacement contact lenses and solution should be kept on hand at all times.
  • Carry comfort or wetting drops for relief.
  • If playing high impact sports wear a non-prescription polycarbonate eye guard (cost $30-$50).

By Ester Guerons
Sports Medicine Australia.

                                                                     Summer  1998

IEA has offices in every state.  National freecall number 1800 SPORT 1 
           (1800  77678  1)
Email:info@ieasport.com.au

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