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Sports and Vision: Best Eyewear for Active Lifestyles

If you lead an active and fitness-focused lifestyle, you will enjoy the commitment to well-being for mind, body, and soul. When it comes to your vision, you don’t have to shy away from wearing the correct contact lenses that can enhance performance during sports or fitness activities.

Your contact lenses and how they function improve visual clarity, making them beneficial for sports where clear vision, visual accuracy & focus, and fast reaction times are required. Contact lenses provide a wider field of view without the limitations of eyeglass frames. This is particularly beneficial in sports that require constant awareness of the surroundings, such as basketball, soccer, or hockey.

Prescription sports contact lenses provide a better field of vision as the lens sits directly on the eyes. Also, wearing glasses during sports can sometimes prove difficult in keeping the glasses dust and smudge-free, and the risks always exist of breaking your eyeglasses during sports activity or vigorous play.

Individuals need to consult with their eye care professionals to determine the most suitable contact lenses for their specific sports and vision needs. In this article, we’re breaking down factors to consider and some of your top choices when it comes to the best contact lenses for sports.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Eyewear for Sports: Sports Contact Lenses & Sport Glasses

The advantages of using sports contact lenses include better peripheral vision, stability during movement, and compatibility with safety equipment. For any sport or activity in which you’re constantly in motion (think basketball or soccer), this factor is particularly important.

Contact lenses in sports where helmets are worn are ideal for the sport itself, as wearing eyeglasses under a helmet (such as with football) can be risky. Athletes in sports like cycling, skiing, or motocross can comfortably wear necessary gear without compromising vision with contact lens wear.

Selecting the right eyewear is essential for athletes given that some sports activities may lead to increased eye dryness. Choosing contact lenses with appropriate moisture levels is a great place to start. Daily disposable lenses may also be a good option for sports, as they eliminate the need for cleaning and storage.

Contact lenses sit directly on the cornea, providing a more natural field of vision. This can enhance depth perception, which is crucial in sports like golf, baseball, or archery where judging distances accurately is essential.

Wearing protective eyewear, such as goggles or sports glasses in addition to or instead of contact lenses, is good practice. This helps prevent injuries and provides an additional layer of protection for your eyes. Unlike eyeglasses, contact lenses eliminate the risk of injury associated with broken frames during high-impact sports. This is especially important in activities like martial arts, rugby, or wrestling, where physical contact is common.

Benefits of Contact Lenses for Sports and Physical Activity

What are the Benefits of Contact Lenses for Sports Infographic

There are advantages to wearing prescription contact lenses during sports. The benefits of prescription contact lenses for sports and physical activity are many, including better peripheral vision, stability during movement, and compatibility with safety equipment.

Improved Peripheral Vision:

Contact lenses provide a wider field of view compared to traditional eyeglasses. The lenses sit directly on the eyes, eliminating any peripheral distortions caused by frames. This expanded visual field is particularly advantageous in sports where awareness of surroundings is crucial, such as team sports or activities requiring quick reactions.

Enhanced Stability During Movement:

Contact lenses move with your eyes, ensuring stable and unobstructed vision regardless of head movements. This is especially beneficial during dynamic sports activities like running, jumping, or rapid changes in direction. The stability of contact lenses allows athletes to maintain focus on the game without the distractions that can come with the movement of eyeglasses.

Compatibility with Safety Equipment:

Contact lenses are compatible with various types of safety equipment, including goggles, helmets, and protective eyewear. Unlike eyeglasses, which may not fit comfortably under such gear, contact lenses don't interfere with the proper fit or functionality of safety equipment. This makes them an ideal choice for athletes engaged in sports where protective gear is essential.

Unobstructed Vision:

Contact lenses sit directly on the cornea, providing a clear and unobstructed view without the limitations imposed by frames. This is particularly advantageous in sports where a clear line of sight is essential, such as racquet sports or precision activities where visual acuity is crucial for success.

Reduced Risk of Injury:

Unlike glasses, contact lenses eliminate the risk of injury associated with shattered or broken frames during sports. This is especially important in high-contact sports where the potential for impact is elevated. Contact lenses provide a secure and injury-free vision correction option for athletes.

Freedom of Movement:

Contact lenses offer the freedom to move without the constraints of eyeglasses slipping or bouncing. Athletes can fully concentrate on their performance without the worry of adjusting or securing their eyewear. This freedom of movement is particularly beneficial in sports that involve rapid or vigorous actions.

Choosing the Best Contact Lenses for Sports

For active people, daily contact lenses are a great benefit in terms of comfort of wear for various sports activities. Dailies are typically made of newer materials, such as silicone hydrogel, which provide enhanced breathability and moisture retention. This contributes to increased comfort throughout the sports play and for game day wear. SkyHy by Hubble Contact Lenses features increased oxygen permeability for enhanced comfort and more breathability.

Why Daily Contact Lenses are Ideal for Athletes

When playing sports and wearing contact lenses, there are several key factors to consider like ensuring basic hygiene and care for your contacts. It is a convenient choice to have an extra set of contact lenses in your workout or sports travel bag to change lenses post-activity.

Wear protective eyewear, such as goggles or sports glasses, especially in high-contact sports. This helps prevent injuries and provides an additional layer of protection for your eyes. There are even prescription goggles that athletes can have made for their sport.

If you're playing outdoor sports, choose contact lenses that offer UV protection, or wear prescription sunglasses to shield your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Maintain good hygiene practices when handling your contact lenses. Wash your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing them to reduce the risk of eye infections.

Swimming with Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses in water, whether in freshwater, in the ocean, a swimming pool, or a hot tub should be avoided due to the various risks associated, such as eye pain, blurred vision, eye redness, and itching that can result. Because contact lenses are porous and are made mostly of plastic, bacteria can live on the lens and enter the eye.

However, you can wear your daily disposable contacts before the workout or once the swimming activity has ended. Prescription swim goggles might also be a good option for serious swimmers.

Exploring Sport Glasses: Glasses for Active Lifestyles

For glasses-wearers with an active lifestyle, your frames shouldn’t hold you back. Regardless of your activity level, a robust and durable pair of specs can help ensure great performance and reduce the risk of breakage.

Frames by Hubble feature polycarbonate lenses that are light, built to last, and impact-resistant, giving you the maximum use of each pair. Anti-reflective, anti-glare, anti-scratch, hydrophobic, and oleophobic coatings come standard on all lenses, making them perfect for seeing clearly in any condition.

All Hubble frames can be ordered as sunglasses, with polarized lenses that shut out 100% of UVA and UVB rays and reduce pesky glare.

The Hubble Collection of cellulose acetate frames is derived from natural fibers. Each pair has double-barrel hinges to ensure smooth arm action and pillowed tips to sit comfortably during sports as long as you need them.

Frames by Hubble Eyeglasses Product Image

How to Choose the Right Sports Eyewear

Choosing the right glasses for sports and athletes means considering frames that offer both style and functionality.

Durability, as well as lightweight, impact-resistant materials like polycarbonate or nylon, enhance safety for wearing while playing sports. Frames with rubberized or adjustable nose pads and temple tips can provide a secure fit during physical activities. Additionally, look for frames with polarized lenses to reduce glare and provide optimal vision in bright sunlight.

Start Seeing Your Goals Clearly with Hubble

Finding the right sports eyewear to significantly enhance athletic activity allows individuals to focus on their performance with confidence and clarity. Hubble is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable eyewear solutions for athletes and those with active lifestyles. Choose from a diverse range of daily wear contact lenses online and get them delivered where and when you need them.

Our disposable contact lenses are designed for all-day comfort with a trim, thin edge, making them extra easy to pop in and out, and our extensive collection ensures you'll find the perfect lenses to suit your style and visual requirements.

Your Hubble Contact Lenses subscription arrives on time with recurring orders so you never run low. Try our affordable dailies, starting at just $1 for your first order, and learn about monthly contact subscription services, providing a convenient solution for contact-wearing customers.

To get the most out of your contact lenses today—and save some time on contact lens care—order contacts online with Hubble Contacts.

At Hubble, we aim to be the one-stop destination for all of your vision needs, including contact lenses, eyeglasses, and eye care accessories, like eye drops. We’ve reimagined the contact lens experience from the ground up, with our signature daily contact lenses subscription service.

Hubble Contacts Product Image