Running
When you are running there are a wide range of factors which will influence your visual needs although the one constant will be the fit of the frame. How it fits will vary from athlete to athlete, even within the same discipline, but all athletes will tell you that the frame has to meet their individual criteria for fit.
It makes no difference what level you are competing at, if a frame is causing distraction by constantly slipping, or moving around, then this could mean the difference between winning and losing, or missing out on a personal best performance.Over exposure to the sun can also be extremely damaging, especially to the eyes; it, therefore, becomes essential to protect the eyes from ultraviolet light if running outdoors. This will also provide protection from harmful particles in air and water from coming into direct contact with the eyes. This should be reason enough for any athlete or runner to seek sports sunglasses—we can provide them with the very best advice and product.
Whatever level you are competing at, competitively, at your local club, or simply to keep fit you probably spend time and effort considering your training, performance, dietary requirements and so forth but quite often forget about your eyes. By giving attention to the right eyewear, with the best lens options, you can prevent rapid eye fatigue, boost concentration and reduce the risk of eye injury.
If you are road running and simply distracted by glare, then wearing eyewear as advised will remove this nuisance and allow you to think about your performance instead.
The sunglasses should obviously offer 100% UV protection. If you do a lot of running on roads or concrete then you would benefit enormously from a polarising lens which would eliminate most of the glare from light reflected off these surfaces. With the removal of the sun’s glare, objects become more distinct and are seen in their true colours.
Since running may take place at different times of the day or in various weather conditions, a photochromic lens should also be considered as it would lighten or darken according to the amount of light around at the time.
The colour of the lens can also increase contrast so you can better see possible hazards in the terrain. A brown based lens will provide the best contrast while a gray lens allows true perception with the least colour distortion. A vermilion or rose lens is often popular with athletes because it heightens visual acuity and enhances colour. It is effective in filtering scattered blue light and improves contrast. This colour provides excellent perception in low light conditions while allowing a tolerable level of light transmission in bright sunlight.
An anti reflection coating can be applied to the outside or inside surface of any lens (clear or sun lens) to minimize the amount of light reflected by the lenses, thus reducing annoying reflections and distracting glare which may cause headaches or interfere with vision clarity. It is best used on the back surface of a tinted lens to minimise reflections off this surface back into the eye.
An anti scratch coating can be applied to the outside of the lens to minimise the likelihood of accidental scratching. This does not make the lenses scratch proof, but helps tremendously in reducing fine hair line scratches. All polycarbonate lenses come with an anti-scratch coating.
Mirrored coatings, also called flash coatings, can be applied to the outside of the lens over any base or colour. Mirror coated lenses absorb anywhere between 10 percent to 60 percent more light than uncoated lenses, depending on the type and degree of coating. The light transmission is further reduced by the base tint of the lens. Due to its reflective property, any mirrored lens will appear darker since it will reflect a certain amount of the light trying to reach the eye. A mirrored lens will also add an extra buffer against glare. Mirrored lenses may be the athletes choice in very bright conditions.
The big advantage with the specialist products is that not only are they a great non prescription option for the serious athlete; but they also have prescription inserts for the athlete who requires glasses, and who cannot wear contact lenses.
For your free full sports eyewear assessment please contact your local branch of Rawlings Opticians and we will help you see the difference that the right eyewear can make to your performance.
