Page 103 - The Indian Digital Edition September-October 2020

 Performance-based ophthalmic CLINICAL REASONS CL SPECIFICATION
eyewear services that address FOR CL Rx
visual and environmental demands.
Wider field of view Limitation on edge position of spectacle
 Enhancement training of specific lens design, restricted visual field
visual abilities considered to Less magnification/ Object size more constant (real-world)
be essential for competitive minification
consistency for a specific sport Less adaptation may be After initial adaptation, changes in CL Rx
activity. required require very little adaptation

 Prevention and management of Greater stability Lower risk of dislodgement during wear
sports eye injuries. Enhanced depth Allow more stable vision and enhanced

 Consultation with athletes, coaches, perception depth perception due to magnification
trainers, and teams regarding differences b/w both eyes
visual factors and strategies Fewer aberrations Move with the eyes
related to consistent peak athletic Not affected by fogging Lenses in contact with tears, not exposed to
performance. or a rain environmental conditions
VISUAL SKILLS Less susceptible to dirt Spectacle lenses susceptible to smearing
ENHANCEMENT and dirt
Allow protective Bulk of spectacle frame often interferes
The practitioner considers the eyewear or sunglasses with wearing of protective goggles
nature of the athletic activity (contact to be worn
versus non-contact sports), as well Protect against Offer additional protection when used with
as the weather and atmospheric peripheral and oblique sun spectacles
conditions that may be encountered incident UV
by the athlete. In some sports, a Low risk of damage to High risk of damage to spectacle lenses
combination of appliances may lens during wear (soft during wear (excluding polycarbonate
be needed to cover a variety of lenses) lenses) and potential trauma from lenses
environmental conditions and visual and frames.
tasks. There are many approaches to
the selection of training procedures Testimonials were written by elite vision without the use of spectacles
including the following: athletes regarding the marvels of or contact lenses. For an athlete with
contact lenses for sports purposes. significant refractive error, this is a very
1. OPTIMISING VISUAL ACUITY Many of the disadvantages of appealing prospect. A few high-profile
spectacle corrections are eliminated by athletes have reported successful
Glasses - Approximately 80%
of athletes who do not use vision the use of contact lenses. The available outcomes with refractive surgery
correction, may benefit from a sport- options for eye care practitioners and even suggested that sports
increased from the limited applications
specific refractive prescription. To performance is enhanced
determine the possible benefits of of custom-fit scleral (haptic) lenses by the results. Similar to
and polymethylmethacrylate lenses
a glass prescription, the eye care to modern rigid gas-permeable (RGP) orthokeratology, the candidate for
provider should consider the athlete’s and hydrogel (soft) lens choices. refractive surgery has moderate
visual acuities, the visual demands of Indeed, contact lenses have become amounts of myopia or astigmatism;
the sport, and the effort exerted by the the method of choice for refractive however, larger amounts of myopia
athlete to achieve clarity. 19, 20, 21 and astigmatism can be corrected by
compensation in most sports. 22, 23 contemporary procedures, and low
Contact lenses: The advent to moderate hyperopia may also be
Refractive Surgery: Refractive
of contact lenses provided many surgery offers the allure of “perfect” effectively managed. 24-26
young athletes with significant
refractive conditions the potential to TO BE CONTINUED..
compete with the rest of their peers. For references the author can be contacted c/o The Indian Optician e-mail: tiodel@gmail.com

SEPT-OCT 2020 | 99 Sports Vision