As an optometrist and someone who leads an active lifestyle, I absolutely recommend contact lenses for sports and physical activities. I often wear them myself during hiking, running, and recreational sports. Contact lenses provide a wider field of vision compared to glasses, they don't fog up with sweat or temperature changes, and they stay in place during movement—making them ideal for athletes and active individuals. Here's the advice I give my patients and would share with anyone considering contacts for sports: Choose the Right Lens Type: Daily disposable lenses are a great option for athletes. They offer maximum convenience, reduce the risk of infection, and you don't have to worry about cleaning or storing them after a game or workout. Always Have a Backup Plan: Bring extra lenses and a pair of glasses with you. If your lens dislodges or irritates your eye mid-activity, you'll be glad you planned ahead. Hydration Matters: Both for your body and your eyes. Stay hydrated and consider rewetting drops approved for contact lens wear if you're prone to dryness, especially during outdoor sports or in windy environments. Protective Eyewear Still Matters: Even with contacts, I strongly encourage using sport-specific protective eyewear to shield against impact or UV rays, especially in high-contact sports or outdoor settings. Regular Eye Exams Are Essential: Your vision needs can change over time, and ensuring your prescription is up-to-date is critical—not just for performance, but for your safety and eye health. Ultimately, contact lenses can be a game-changer—both literally and figuratively—for people who want to stay active without compromising their vision. If you're considering them for sports, talk to your eye care provider about what's best for your specific lifestyle and visual needs.
I've been leading fitness classes and personal training sessions for over 14 years, and contacts have been essential for my high-intensity work. During my Les Mills BodyPump and CXWORX classes, the constant movement and sweat would make glasses impossible. My biggest lesson came during our outdoor summer bootcamps here in Alexandria - I learned to switch to a higher water content lens on humid days. The 58% water content lenses stay comfortable even during our hill sprint sessions, while my usual 38% ones would dry out completely. This small change eliminated the mid-workout discomfort that was affecting my ability to demonstrate proper form. For group fitness instructors specifically, I always recommend having solution packets in your gym bag rather than bottles. When you're rushing between back-to-back classes like I do (sometimes teaching SPRINT then CXWORX within an hour), the individual packets are foolproof and won't leak all over your equipment. The timing aspect is crucial when you're leading others - I put mine in during my pre-class setup, about 45 minutes before we start. This gives them time to settle while I'm arranging equipment and greeting members, so my vision is crystal clear when I need to spot form issues across the room.
Yes, I've used contact lenses for a couple of years now, and I also wear them when playing football during leisure time. I've used both the silicon hydrogel and the one without hydrogel. I usually experience a lot of dryness with the hydrogel type, especially when I run a lot during football, but it's been a long time since I switched to the silicon hydrogel, which is very good with almost no dryness or irritation. If you are into sports, I'd recommend you get the silicon hydrogel lenses, or if you can't get that, there are safe hydrating eye drops that your doctor can recommend for use.
I've been running jet ski and pontoon tours on the Gold Coast for years, spending 10+ hours daily on the water in harsh sun and salt spray conditions. Contacts are absolutely essential for my work - glasses would be gone within minutes of hitting the waves at speed. The game-changer for me was switching to daily disposables specifically for water sports days. Salt spray builds up on lenses constantly, and when you're guiding customers through safety briefings or helping them dock, you need perfect vision. I go through 2-3 pairs during busy weekend tours because I'd rather swap them out than deal with cloudy vision when someone's struggling with their jet ski. My practical tip: keep backup pairs in waterproof cases at multiple spots on your equipment. I learned this the hard way when a customer panicked during a pontoon tour and I lost a lens helping them. Now I've got spares stored on the pontoon, in my tackle box, and even taped under the jet ski seats. The timing trick I use is putting fresh dailies in right before we launch, not during morning prep. The boat ride out to our tour spots gives them time to settle while I'm focused on navigation, so my vision is sharp when we hit the fun stuff and customers need my full attention.
Yes, I wear contacts for sports, mainly padel and soccer. They don't fog, they stay put with quick moves, and my field of view is better than with glasses. My advice is simple, always have clean hands every time you put them in or take them out. Never sleep with them, that's the fastest way to get an eye infection, and if you can, use daily disposables for sports. Keep them away from water, like no showering or swimming. When eyes are dry and start to irritate, I recommend using some eye drops. Lastly, if an eye gets red or painful, take the lens out and switch to glasses until it calms down. Julio Baute, MD Clinical Content & Evidence-Based Medicine Consultant invigormedical.com
Hi, Having been into biking and fitness for years, I use contacts while biking outdoors or during other workouts very frequently. Firstly, I highly recommend switching to daily disposable lenses for active people. Wearing a fresh, sterile pair each session exponentially reduces risks of infection and any dirt getting in your eyes. For reusable ones, disinfect after each use using the officially recommended solution. Exercise and sweating often leads to dry eyes, especially when combined with contact usage. Drink plenty of water before and after exercising, and use lubricating or rewetting eye drops to combat any itchiness in your eyes. I also recommend using silicone hydrogel lenses, since these allow more oxygen to reach the cornea and reduce further damage risks. Never use your lenses while showering, swimming or being exposed to any water. Water can contain harmful microbes that can cause lasting infections or damage. If necessary, use tight-fitting swim goggles and dispose of the contacts afterwards. Eye lenses also do not protect your eyes from physical damage, dust or UV rays. Always wear activity-specific protective eyewear or polycarbonate goggles. In general, get lenses tailored to your specific needs as prescribed by a doctor and always carry a backup pair. Cheers! Shailen, BikingBro.com
Contact Lenses and Sports Performance Contact lenses add perfect vision even when engaged in sports, unlike eyeglasses, which can slip or break. To most athletes, this translates into performance and confidence while exercising. But now you must also choose the lenses that you use long-term, and you must treat them with good standards. Not to mention, poor lens care when combined with sweat and the great outdoors can also leave you open to irritation or infection. I would suggest one should see an eye specialist regularly so that the right kind of contact lens can be opted for, adopting strict cleaning habits. You will also want to pack two additional sets of glasses/lenses that you may use, in case you do not have your glasses and do not want to be blind.
Contact lenses can be troublesome for certain sports like surfing, where there is a high likelyhood they could be washed out. With this in mind, I would advise looking into getting laser eye surgery.