Olympic Eye Wear

Have you been watching the Olympics? Have you noticed all the sports related eye wear the athletes are wearing? Have you wondered if there is actually a reason for them to be wearing them or is it just a style preference?

Sport specific eye wear is an emerging field for all sports.  There are two main reasons why athletes wear this specialized eye wear.  The first is for safety. Each year, there are approximately 100,000 sports related eye injuries in the US. Almost half of these will involve a trip to the emergency room for treatment.  Also, about 13,000 of these injuries will result in a permanent loss of sight.  Second, these special lenses will enhance visual performance. Depending on the sport, there are different visual demands put on the athletes.  These sport specific tints will enhance certain colors, enhance contrast, and reduce glare and reflections. These changes will improve the athlete’s visual performance and can translate to a better athletic performance. 

Keep cheering on the US team!

photos from nbc.com/olympics