Outdoor games and sports are an enjoyable and important part of most children’s lives. Whether they play in the backyard or participate in a team sport at school, vision plays an important role. The specific visual skills required for sports consist of:
- Clear distance vision
- Good depth perception
- Large field of vision
- Effective eye coordination
If visual skills are not sufficient, the child may perform poorly. Correcting vision problems with glasses or contact lenses or an eye exercise program by the optometrist, can correct many problems, enhance vision skills, and improve their performance.
Eye protection should also be a key concern, especially in some high-risk sports. Thousands of children suffer from sports-related eye injuries every year and almost all of them can be prevented using the appropriate protective goggles. Therefore, it is necessary for all children to wear appropriate, protective glasses when playing sports.
Eyeglasses or contact lenses are naturally necessary but they do not replace the appropriate protective goggles. Athletes must use sports glasses that are adapted to protect the eyes while playing sports.
It is also important for all children to protect their eyes from damage that can be caused by ultraviolet radiation to sunlight. Sunglasses are essential for protecting the eyes outdoors, and some are also specially designed sports goggles that can help improve athletic performance as well.
Contact lenses and sports
There are many children who do not feel comfortable exercising even with the appropriate glasses for sports. As a parent, you do not need to worry. The solution is contact lenses. Contact lenses offer many advantages over glasses. If a child wears, contact lenses for sports he/she feels less anxious about any clash or any blur during a competition. Contact lenses eliminate these problems and provide other benefits, including peripheral vision (which is limited when using eyeglasses) allowing for a quicker reaction to movements and objects such as a soccer ball or basketball. Contact lenses also remain secure in the child’s eyes when running, for more accurate and stable vision.
Love your eyes and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.