Athletes can benefit from transition lenses

August 9, 2010

During the summer months, it is particularly important to protect one's eyes from the sun's dangerous UV rays. Athletes may be at a higher risk of light damage, as they are likely to spend more time in direct sunlight or on reflective surfaces, such as a pool or blacktop.

According to KXORadio.com, transitional lenses may be a useful tool for athletes who want to protect their eyes and enhance their performance. In addition to protecting one's eyes from injury during a sporting event, athletes can also ward off unhealthy exposure to sunlight with transitional lenses.

Adaptive or transitional lenses become darker when they are exposed to direct sunlight. This allows sports players to wear one pair of eyeglasses, even if they are moving in and out of sunlight.

Tom Danielson, a regular cyclist, says he relies on transitional lenses when riding. "Vision is a key to my success as a competitive cyclist and in my every day life," he told the news source. "Transition lenses adjust to the right level of darkness for me, so that I can see my best in all conditions."

The American Optometric Association says that effective sunglasses block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.