general:training
eye cAre For trIAthletes
By Jeff LaFerla
I
magine training for months for your the wearing of contact lenses as in years sunglasses will be discussed in depth in the
next triathlon only to wake up on the past, in great part due to the improved third article of this series, one particularly
morning of the event and find that your materials from which today’s contact lenses interesting and functional custom contact
shoes didn’t fit anymore… Or that your swim are manufactured. In addition, the ability to lens is a sunglass-like tinted lens designed
goggles leaked profusely… Or your bicycle prescribe custom contact lenses now gives specifically to reduce the brightness and
had a flat tire! What do any of these things eye doctors the ability to address very strong glare often encountered during training and
have to do with contact lenses? They all are prescriptions and to provide niche lenses on race day. In addition, these sport tints,
necessary equipment for triathletes with less such as sports tints. which are not to be confused with commonly
than stellar vision. Contact lenses are categorized as either advertised cosmetic tints, provide enhanced
While many triathletes are blessed “soft” lenses or “gas permeable” lenses. contrast, which translates into improved
with excellent eyesight and do not require Because of their resistance to displacement visual comfort.
prescription lenses, those who have a from the eye, virtually all contact lenses used With the rate at which technology is
significant refractive error (nearsightedness, by athletes are of the soft variety. Soft lenses increasing our competitive edge in all sports,
farsightedness or astigmatism) must also are available in several designs ranging from the ability to utilize this same technology
include corrective lenses as part of their daily use lenses, which are disposed of each to improve our vision and, consequently,
necessary triathlon gear. day, to extended wear lenses, which can our performance on the triathlon course is
Corrective lenses are available as be safely worn on a continuous basis for up nothing short of exciting. Just as we trust our
eyeglasses or contact lenses. This article, to four weeks at a time. Custom lenses, on bikes to a skilled and knowledgeable bicycle
the first in a series of three addressing eye- the other hand, are generally designed for a mechanic, we should trust our eye health
care for triathletes, will focus on contact three to 12 month replacement interval. and vision correction to an experienced
lens options and their advantages for use If you ask three contact lens-wearing and progressive eye-care professional
during sports. Because of the variety of triathletes what they like best about their comfortable with the precision necessary for
contact lenses available and the myriad of contact lenses, you would most likely hear, in successfully fitting today’s high-performance
prescription variations, not all lens options no particular order, the following responses: contact lenses.
will be available to all athletes. Seek the
guidance of an optometrist well versed · AbIlIty to weAr non-prescrIptIon Jeff LaFerla, OD FAAO is a graduate of the
in specialty contact lens fitting in order to sunglAsses Indiana University School of Optometry. He
obtain the best possible results. · better perIpherAl vIsIon completed a residency in contact lenses
While everyone is familiar with the · Freedom From sweAty, dIrty or at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Dr
terms nearsightedness, farsightedness
Foggy eyeglAss lenses
LaFerla resides in Weatherby Lake, Missouri
and astigmatism, a little description of
·
with his wife and two sons. He completed
these conditions will be beneficial to
These advantages can play a significant
the iron distance Redman Triathlon in
understanding the optics of contact lenses:
role in the overall enjoyment and
September, 2009 in Oklahoma City. Email Dr.
Nearsightedness (myopia) is a condition
performance of triathlon participation. While
LaFerla at
laferlafamilyeye@sbcglobal.net.
in which the light entering the eye is focused
in front of the retina, resulting in blurred
vision at a distance. Myopic individuals tend
to have good vision up close.
Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a condition
in which the light entering the eye has not
become focused before it reaches the retina,
resulting in either blurred near vision or
excessive eye strain while performing near
tasks. Hyperopic individuals tend to have
good distance vision.
Contact lens correction for
nearsightedness and farsightedness is
provided with a spherical lens.
Astigmatism is a condition in which each
eye has two different distance powers.
Astigmatic individuals may have vision that
is blurred only at distance, only at near, or
both.
Contact lens correction for astigmatism is
provided with a toric lens.
Technology has provided today’s eye-care
professionals with the ability to fit contact
lenses for patients who had previously
thought that they would never be free from
their eyeglasses. Common problems such
as dry eye syndrome, allergies and corneal
swelling are not nearly as prohibitive to
56 USA TriAThlon winter 10
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