CONTACT LENS AND SPORT

In 1998, baseball fans all over the world saw St. Louis Cardinal Mark McGwire break Roger Maris's home-run record. But very few know that without his contact lenses, Mark McGwire can't see the pitcher-- let alone the ball-- when he's standing at home plate, ready to swing!

According to McGwire's optometrist, C. Stephen Johnson, O.D., of San Ramon, CA, McGwire can't see anything at all, unless he's wearing his contact lenses. Dr. Johnson, a 32-year member of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and McGwire's optometrist since 1988, designed special contact lenses to correct McGwire's 20/500 visual acuity, according to the AOA News (9/21/98). Johnson told the AOA News that he wanted the best design and material combination for McGwire, who suffers from both astigmatism and dry eye. "It was important to have a lens that, number one, wouldn't dry out, and number two, would remain stable on the eye."

Corrected, McGwire's visual acuity is now "better than 20/10" according to Johnson. He said McGwire once told him that "when everything is on visually, he cannot miss the ball. He says it's like a beach ball coming in there." Johnson, a member of AOA's Sports Vision Section, also designed McGwire's lenses to have a yellow tint, because yellow makes things stand out crisper and sharper. "This tint is popular with skeet and trap shooters as well as skiers, who are often seen wearing yellow or amber-tinted goggles," Johnson added.

The CLC supports and applauds Dr. Johnson's work with McGwire and other athletes who require vision correction. The CLC is devoted to promoting the safe use of contact lenses and claims advances in contact lenses and lens care technology such as Johnson's are revolutionizing the way athletes are dealing with eye care.

Sports enthusiasts are finding that contact lenses are more practical than glasses because they can offer improved depth perception and enhanced peripheral vision. Additionally, contact lenses won't steam up from perspiration and they don't smudge or get foggy if you go from cold to warm temperatures.

Increased depth perception is a key aspect to almost any sport. In the Augusta Chronicle (4/8/97), PGA golfer Paul Stankowski talks about how contact lenses helped his game: "You can't win on the PGA tour unless you're a good putter. After I switched to contacts right after the 1995 season, I went from 170th in putting on the tour to 73rd. When I went to contacts, immediately everything was flat. It was clear. I could see blades of grass as opposed to just green."

Obviously, McGwire, too, has gained increased depth perception with contact lens wear. Any fan has seen McGwire right before he steps up to the plate. It is well known that he relies on visualization as a means for preparing for each game, hence the intense concentration apparent on his face. According to Dr. Johnson, he is also relying on his contact lenses. "Before he steps in, he blinks real hard and opens his eyes really big. He gets the lens set before he goes, then he won't do anything again before the next pitch. He won't even blink."

EYE SAFETY NOTES FOR ATHLETES

Keep in mind that an athlete may still require protection against injuries during contact sports, no matter which type of vision correction he chooses. If there is any risk of being hit by a fast-moving ball or other object (as in racquetball, squash, hockey, etc.), eye protection is highly-recommended, whether you are wearing contacts or not. A polycarbonate eyeguard will not distort vision.

While some manufacturers have developed contact lenses that offer protection from ultraviolet rays, many lenses do not. In any case, sunglasses or dark goggles should be worn to protect the eyes in sunlight outdoors, particularly in such sports as swimming, skiing or ice-skating where they may be a lot of glare.

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