Contact Lenses For Sporting Activities

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BENEFITS OF CONTACT LENSES

OVER SPECTACLES

• No reflections, fewer aberrations & less glare


CONTACT LENSES FOR • Do not slip down the nose, fall off, fog up or
SPORTING ACTIVITIES become covered with sweat, rain, dust
• Normal goggles, sunglasses or protective
eyewear can be worn over contact lenses
• Psychologically, less encumbering than
spectacles

BENEFITS OF CONTACT LENSES


CONTACT LENSES AND SPORT
OVER SPECTACLES

• Fastest identifiable improvement in


visual and athletic performance
• Not just for the serious athlete

BENEFITS OF CONTACT LENSES


CONTACT LENSES FOR ATHLETES
OVER SPECTACLES

• Increased peripheral vision and • Fit for optimum performance


peripheral awareness
• Tailor exam and fit to meet special
• Reduced spatial distortion
athletic needs
• More ‘real world’ visual information
• Improved depth perception • Visual acuity and on-eye performance
• Move with the eyes even during are critical
vigorous activities • Visual demands on athlete often greater

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VISUAL SKILLS ENHANCED BY
CONTACT LENSES FOR ATHLETES
CONTACT LENS WEAR

• Understand sport-specific demands


• Become more familiar with the
relevant sport(s)
• Identify sport-specific visual demands
• Anticipate contact lens challenges

VISUAL SKILLS ENHANCED BY FITTING THE ATHLETE WITH


CONTACT LENS WEAR CONTACT LENSES
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
• Dynamic visual acuity
• Thorough case history
• Depth perception: • Detailed biomicroscopy
efficient correction of refractive • Keratometry
anisometropia • Full, balanced distance correction
• Contrast sensitivity
• Peripheral vision:
• Distance binocular test
15% increase over spectacles • Colour vision

VISUAL SKILLS ENHANCED BY FITTING THE ATHLETE WITH


CONTACT LENS WEAR CONTACT LENSES

• Eye-hand/body/foot coordination FITTING THE APROPRIATE LENS TYPE

• Peripheral awareness:
• Customary techniques,
–requires good peripheral vision
procedures and lenses are used
–spatial localization

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SPORTS REQUIRING
SPORTS CHALLENGE CATEGORIES STABILITY ON IMPACT

• Sports which present environmental


• Football • Wrestling
challenges
• Rugby • Boxing
• Sports requiring lens stability upon impact
• Sports requiring lens stability in extreme • Pole vaulting • Karate
eye and body positions • Equestrian • Water skiing

SPORTS REQUIRING EXTREME


SPORTS CHALLENGE CATEGORIES EYE AND BODY POSITIONS

• Tennis • Gymnastics
• Volleyball • Wrestling
• Basketball • Rugby
• Racquetball • Football
• Baseball • Ice skating

SPORTS WHICH PRESENT FITTING CRITERIA


ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES UNIVERSAL LENS FITTING CRITERIA

WATER WIND SUN DUST/DIRT • Vision


swimming sailing surfing motocross • Coverage
scuba track & field sailing mountain biking • Centration
wind surfing/surfing wind surfing football track & field
• Movement
water skiing bicycling baseball baseball
• Comfort
kayaking sky diving tennis rock climbing

water polo skiing soccer rugby


• Physiological performance

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FITTING THE ATHLETE PRESCRIPTION DECISIONS

• Soft lenses are ideal for part-time wearers


• Modify criteria to be sport-specific
• Visual skills must improve or remain • Colour-differentiating lenses for colour
consistent, or the contact lenses deficient athletes may prove useful
should be removed or modified • Tinted lenses optional for adverse lighting
• Be cautious about fitting or refitting an • Assess blink adequacy and suggest use
athlete during the competitive season of re-wetting drops

DISPOSABLE AND FREQUENT LENS


PRESCRIPTION DECISIONS REPLACEMENT PROGRAMMES

• Maximise visual acuity


Frequently replaced lenses
• Correct all myopic & significant
offer convenience, safety and
hyperopic refractive errors
• Correct anisometropia  0.50 D healthy lens wear, to the
• Correct astigmatism > 0.50 D with average patient and the athlete
toric or RGP lenses

DISPOSABLE AND FREQUENT LENS


PRESCRIPTION DECISIONS REPLACEMENT PROGRAMMES

• For lens dryness or dehydration, use a • Eliminate problems of soiled or


thicker high water or a thin low water lens deposited lenses
• Maintain
• Fit lenses to maintain optimum physiology
–contrast sensitivity
• Avoid extended wear –visual acuity
• Fit toric soft lenses for contact or high-risk –comfort
–ocular health
sports

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DISPOSABLE AND FREQUENT LENS CONTACT LENSES
REPLACEMENT PROGRAMMES AND WATER SPORTS

• Ensure optimal safety and performance

• Lens loss is frequent

• Complications are rare

DISPOSABLE AND FREQUENT LENS CONTACT LENSES


REPLACEMENT PROGRAMMES AND WATER SPORTS

• Spare lenses • Patient must be confident


• Reduce risk of loss:
• Free athlete from worry
– eye closure on impact with water
• New lenses before competition – full squint
• Enhance compliance – wipe water from eyes after surfacing
– irrigate eyes
• Benefit practitioner – remove and disinfect lenses after 20-30 min

SPECIAL CONTACT CONTACT LENSES


LENS APPLICATIONS AND WATER SPORTS

• Alternative fitting guidelines


• Assess demands specific to dynamic sports
• Consider fitting different lenses for sports-
only use
• Lenses must be stable in extreme
environments and body positions

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FITTING LENSES FOR WATER SPORTS
FITTING LENSES FOR WATER SPORTS
SALT WATER FITTING

• Avoid rigid lenses


• Not necessary to fit steep
• Fit larger diameter lenses
• Consider thicker lenses • Remove, clean and disinfect lenses
• Consider spherical lenses for toric patients after lens mobility returns
• Recommend disposable lenses
• Consider goggles
• Carry spare lenses

CONTACT LENSES FOR


FITTING LENSES FOR WATER SPORTS
WINTER SPORTS

• Environmental challenges
• Altitude may require high
oxygen transmissibility
• UV absorption
• Disposable and frequent
replacement lenses

FITTING LENSES FOR WATER SPORTS CONTACT LENSES FOR


FRESH WATER FITTING DYNAMIC SPORTS

• Consider looser fit • Centre lens precisely


• Eye rinse upon leaving water • Minimal movement without blur
• Allow lens to equilibriate (20-30 min) upon blinking
• Remove, clean and disinfect lenses • Stability in extreme positions of
promptly gaze and body orientations
• Consider goggles

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CONTACT LENSES FOR CONTACT LENSES FOR
RISK SPORTS INDOOR SPORTS
• Extreme body contact • Dryness may be a problem
• Small, fast moving objects • Reduced contrast sensitivity
• Avoid rigid lenses
• Consider the use of a lens
• No spectacles
• Recommend eye protection lubricant
• Good centration • Recommend disposable or
• Stability frequent replacement lenses
• Minimal movement • Recommend eye protection

CONTACT LENSES FOR


RGP LENSES AND SPORT
RISK SPORTS

• Excellent visual acuity


• Lens loss more likely
• Avoid with:
–dynamic sports
–high-risk sports
–contact sports

CONTACT LENSES FOR


RGP FITTING AND SPORT
SPEED SPORTS

• High speeds involve high risks • Large diameter lenses


• Require intense concentration
• Large optic zone
• Lens stability critical
• Fit slightly steep
• Minimal lens movement
• Soft contact lenses preferred • Dispense spare pair

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SCLERAL LENSES FOR SPORT MANAGEMENT OF THE
SPORTING PATIENT

• Very large lens • Stress necessity of good contact lens care


• Improve regimen compliance by using
• RGP or PMMA material
simple care systems
• Do not get ‘lost’ or decentre • Emphasize personal hygiene and
appropriate lens handling
• Ideal for dynamic water sports
• Do not compromise on follow-up care

SCLERAL LENSES FOR SPORT EDUCATING COACHES & TRAINERS

• Vision correction does not represent a 'defect'


• Athlete may try to hide vision problems
• Signs of visual problems:
– squinting
– headaches
– eye rubbing
– misjudgment of depth
– inconsistent performance

EYE PROTECTION EDUCATING COACHES & TRAINERS

• Lens handling
From:
• Lens insertion and removal
• Ocular injury
• Manage ocular emergencies
• Ultraviolet light exposure
• Incorporate contact lens ‘care
kit’ in medical supplies

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TEAM CONTACT LENS ‘CARE KIT’ SYMBOLS

• Contact lens solutions


• Lens cases
• Spare lenses
• Penlight

CONTACT LENS AFTER-CARE ABBREVIATIONS

• Regular professional vision evaluation

• Reinforce compliance with lens wear


and care

• Book after-care visits in advance

THANK YOU ACRONYMS

Feedback on errors, omissions, or suggestions for


improvement are invited. Please contact us at:
iacle@iacle.org

See the following slides explaining the symbols,


abbreviations, and acronyms used in the IACLE
Contact Lens Course

Table of Contents

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ACRONYMS

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