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Water sports:
Water sports such as diving or surfing can easily be done by spectacle wearers. You should only swim without visual aids if your visual impairment is unincisive. Otherwise you will not feel safe when you go into the water “topless”. In addition, it makes a difference whether you are in the outdoor pool or in the open sea.
But how can a clear view in the water also be guaranteed for spectacle wearers who are worried about their glasses or contact lenses? In the swimming pool, there is the possibility to go swimming with your normal glasses. But we wouldn’t advise you to do so. Plunging under water and jumping from the diving board are definitely taboo. Wearing your glasses when swimming in the sea is also not advisable – a wave could knock your glasses off and it would be probably impossible to retrieve them from the deep water. Contact lenses, however, can be an alternative. Combined with swimming goggles, sharp vision is guaranteed and the swimming goggles also protect your eyes against water. However, contact lenses should not come into contact with water. Hard contact lenses can be easily washed out of the eyes and a loss would be annoying, especially since these are very expensive. Soft contact lenses, on the other hand, are not so mobile in the eyes. But water contact can lead to a change in the fit and render them unwearable. Furthermore, bacteria from the water can accumulate on the contact lenses, resulting in eye infections. Very thorough cleaning and disinfection is, therefore, necessary after each swim. For this reason, it would be better to use one-day lenses when you go swimming. These can be disposed of immediately after bathing and if they are lost, it doesn’t hit your wallet quite so bad. Wearing goggles in addition to your contact lenses is highly recommended. A sensible alternative for spectacle wearers, who regularly dive into the water are prescription goggles. You can get these in sports shops for a range of eye values. With this possibility, you have both visual aid and water protection in one pair of glasses. The same applies to prescription diving goggles.
Cycling:
Falling branches can be a hindrance to cyclists, false tints can irritate visibility, a draft can cause the eyes to tear, the lenses can steam up or let through nasty glare. UV rays can be a great concern because of incident sunlight from the side or the cycling movement can cause the glasses to pinch or slide. Sometimes the glasses do not even fit under a sports helmet.
You should therefore not wear your everyday glasses when doing sports, as everyday glasses are not meant for such stress and strain. They can slip, steam up or even pose a direct risk of injury, in the event of a fall. But there is also another reason for wearing glasses when doing sports: only those who have good vision can achieve top performances. In general, the sports glasses should be light and comfortable so that they will not be bothersome, even when worn for longer periods. High wearing comfort can be attained by adjustable nose pads and temples. Models with sweat blockers prevent moisture from running into the eyes. Both lenses and frames should be made of break-proof plastic, such as polycarbonate – metal parts and glass lenses are taboo, as they can pose a high risk of injury. Polycarbonate lenses should always have a hard coating, as they can be easily scratched. Sports glasses have a curved shape that acts like a protective shield. They not only keep wind, water and foreign bodies away, but also protect against hazardous UV rays and minimize distracting glare. The glasses should cover the face well without touching the eyelashes. The glasses must be non-slip, even with jerky movements and the temples should fit aROUND the ear. An interchangeable elastic band at the back of the head, a snug frame, as well as nub-like grip systems on the temples provide additional support. As lenses should not steam up, sports glasses must have sufficient ventilation. Special lenses coatings support this effect. The tint of the glass should be adjusted in colour and strength, depending on the kind of sport and the expected light intensity. Flexible exchange systems have been tried and tested.
Today, everyone can find the right sports glasses for his event. There are pure sport sunglasses, which can be fitted with prescription lenses, sports glasses for indoor and outdoor use and special models for water and winter sports. For occasional athletes, simple sports glasses are usually sufficient. However, the more special a sport and the more intense it is, the more carefully the sports glasses should be selected, so that they optimally meet any special requirements. However, the most important attribute is safety, which even goes before appearance. You should take these aspects into consideration when choosing your sports glasses.
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