Should I wear GLASSES?

[mishin900]

I'm a high school senior, and I've been having this huge eye sight discrepancy between my left and right eyes since 4 years ago. Since I had no problem living with my eyes, I didn't care until I started having some problems few months ago. When I look at far objects, they look a little blurry, and I can no longer see tennis balls as clearly as I used to. Therefore, I got an eye exam 2 days ago, and the doctor told me that I would have to wear glasses when needed (like looking at blackboard at school). It really is the first time for me to consider wearing glasses, and honestly, I don't want to wear them.

I will be wearing them when I go to college so that I can see blackboard better, but for now, I just can't make decision (I don't need assistance for studying for now). Is wearing glasses going to improve my tennis? I'm in Varsity team and play competitively, so I'm willing to wear glasses if I need to. However, if there won't be a big difference between wearing and not, I do NOT want to wear them because I don't want to be dependent on them

 

[MAX PLY]

As a long time glasses wearer, I would tell you that the first thing I noticed years ago when I needed glasses was how much better I saw the tennis ball. I actually see better with glasses on the court versus contacts (the same will not be true for everyone). I actually have a very lightweight pair I wear exclusively on the court. Think about it. Good luck.

 

[r2473]

As a long time glasses wearer, I would tell you that the first thing I noticed years ago when I needed glasses was how much better I saw the tennis ball. I actually see better with glasses on the court versus contacts (the same will not be true for everyone). I actually have a very lightweight pair I wear exclusively on the court. Think about it. Good luck.

I need some good on court / sports frames.

What do you have?

I was thinking about getting Nike Flexon frames:

http://www.sunsrus.com/frame.php?id=8427211&src=gp.us

 

[MAX PLY]

I wear Silhouette rimless titanium with lightweight Ziess lenses with an antiglare coating. They are similar to what I think Martina N wears (I think the rimless frames are pretty much unisex--I am a guy by the way). I used to have some "sport" frames but I prefer the Silhouettes by a great margin.

r2473-I did have a prior incarnation of the Nike frames you cited and they were fine. I just prefer the rimless for tennis (otherwise I wear rimmed glasses for every day use). I also have a pair of Oakley prescription sunglasses but don't really like to play in them.

 

[r2473]

Thanks Max.

Probably more of a Nike guy myself, but the silhouettes look nice

I got lasik about 7 or 8 years ago, but my eyes have worsened to the point that I need glasses. I don't think I will go the lasik route again.

I hate contacts.

 

[charliefedererer]

Is wearing glasses going to improve my tennis? I'm in Varsity team and play competitively, so I'm willing to wear glasses if I need to. However, if there won't be a big difference between wearing and not, I do NOT want to wear them because I don't want to be dependent on them

Definitely get the glasses and use them for tennis.

There are a few things to consider however:

1. The brain/eye/muscle refles arc needs some time to adjust to the glasses, so don't be adversely predjudiced if the first few minutes do not go well.

2. Many like contacts for tennis because there is no rim to interfere with seeing the ball.

3. Look for glasses that have a small nosepeice that doesn't interfere with your vision.

4. Look for glasses that don't have a frame that interferes with your vision.

5. Consider a base 8 or at least base 6 curve to see out of the corner of your eyes to follow the ball right into your hitting zone as you turn sideways.

Oakley Nanowire
Oakley glasses and sunglasses are available at LensCrafters, now both Luxottica companies. Oakleys have a stong following from sports figures because of their distortion free curved lenses: http://www.oakley.com/search/men+prescription+sunglasses
But they are a bit pricey. The Bolle/Serengeti/Ray Ban family also has good prescription sunglasses: http://www.opticsplanet.net/rx.html

6. Consider prescription sunglasses if you are playing day matches. I like the improved contrast from an amber colored lens.

7. For tennis, you should wear high impact polycarbonate lenses.

 

[jswinf]

Seeing as well as you can at a distance is a good thing for a tennis player. You'll have better timing tracking a nice clear image.

 

[autumn_leaf]

yes it definitely helps. i had prescription oakleys that i got last year and loved them...recently lost them *tears* but thinking about getting transition lenses if i can get the cost down.

i have -2.5 vision on both eyes now. had been wearing glasses since 4th grade.you'll definitely see the ball better that's pretty much a guarantee. i, like you, don't want to be dependent on my glasses. i wear them only when i feel like i need to, i.e. class, tennis, driving, etc.

i would get the glasses, and if you can afford it get transition lenses since they can double up as sunglasses when you play so you don't have to worry about the sun.

 

[EKnee08]

As a long time glasses wearer, I would tell you that the first thing I noticed years ago when I needed glasses was how much better I saw the tennis ball. I actually see better with glasses on the court versus contacts (the same will not be true for everyone). I actually have a very lightweight pair I wear exclusively on the court. Think about it. Good luck.

Can you please explain why you would see better with glasses than contacs? I always thought the opposite was true. I can't wear contacs and am not a candidate for lasix.

My opinion re glasses: they will help.

Regarding what type of glasses- any rimless light titanium glasses work best. I used to wear silloutettes but now have swissflex. Its a matter of style preference. The one thing I would recommend is the thinnest lens that is reasonable price wise with a reflection free coating with "transitions"(I agree with Autumn Leaf on this). "Transitions" lenses adapt to the amount of light indoors or outdoors so you may not need a pair of prescription sunglasses and have to worry about switching between sunglasses and regular frames as the light conditions change during a match.

 

[MAX PLY]

I also have an astigmatism with which I have had little success correcting with conacts (I am told that the technology has gotten better in the last year or so but haven't tried the new tech) so my earlier statement was really limited to me and my experience (why I stated "the same will not be true for everyone"), not necessarily the general population--sorry for the confusion.

 

[Power Player]

How do you guys wear glasses and not sweat all over them? I guess that would be my biggest issue if I did it (contacts wearer).

 

[r2473]

How do you guys wear glasses and not sweat all over them? I guess that would be my biggest issue if I did it (contacts wearer).

I'm like Federer; I don't sweat.

 

[Power Player]

I'm like Roddick, soooo....yeah.

 

[EKnee08]

I also have an astigmatism with which I have had little success correcting with conacts (I am told that the technology has gotten better in the last year or so but haven't tried the new tech) so my earlier statement was really limited to me and my experience (why I stated "the same will not be true for everyone"), not necessarily the general population--sorry for the confusion.

I understand, I have one too. Wore contacts in the late 80s to correct that as well.

 

[jswinf]

For you guys who don't want to be dependent on glasses, hey, it's a free country (as long as you're legal for driving) but if you're nearsighted you're really saying that you don't want to get used to seeing well at a distance. Using the glasses won't make your vision worse without them (may be rare exceptions to this and some would argue the point with no scientific basis), you just notice you're natural vision is blurry more when you have clear vision to compare it to. And without glasses there's a good chance you walk around squinting without being aware of it, people are wondering what's wrong with you.

 

[EKnee08]

How do you guys wear glasses and not sweat all over them? I guess that would be my biggest issue if I did it (contacts wearer).

Wear bandanas, not the $13 Nike kinds and sweatbands.

Use the Lens Crafters, Pearle Vision or other disposable towelettes to wipe the glasses if they become dirty during changeovers. E.g. below:

http://www.lenscrafters.com/eyeglas...sories-reading-glasses-cases-eyeglass-cleaner

http://www.embroidered-uniforms-cor...00-anti-disposable-towelett-15697-p-3069.html

http://www.opticsplanet.net/radians-lens-cleaning-toweletts.html

 

[autumn_leaf]

How do you guys wear glasses and not sweat all over them? I guess that would be my biggest issue if I did it (contacts wearer).

none of my frames ever rounded and touched my face so sweat doesn't come near them except for the side handles and nose bridge.

 

[dasob85]

How do you guys wear glasses and not sweat all over them? I guess that would be my biggest issue if I did it (contacts wearer).

bandanas. i have a white one similar to what federer is using, even down to the nike logo haha

and i absolutely hate when sweat drips onto your glasses and your shirt is soaked so you can't wipe them dry

 

[chollyred]

Mishin,

Try the new disposable contacts. Almost like wearing nothing. A year's worth of contacts are usually less than $60.

You'll definitely notice a better view of the ball and depth of field. It's much better being able to see the spin on the ball as it crosses the net than waiting for it to get to you.

I wear mono-vision (left eye for reading, right eye for distance) for normal activities, but change the left for a distance lens for sports (or even 3D movies).

If you decide to go with the glasses, I agree with the others about the thinnest, lightest lenses, flexible frames, and transitions. One other thing to think about is that most opticians push the style factor of the smallest frames/lenses possible, but for sports, you'd want a larger lens for peripheral vision.

 

[steve728]

I wear Silhouette rimless titanium with lightweight Ziess lenses with an antiglare coating. They are similar to what I think Martina N wears (I think the rimless frames are pretty much unisex--I am a guy by the way). I used to have some "sport" frames but I prefer the Silhouettes by a great margin.

r2473-I did have a prior incarnation of the Nike frames you cited and they were fine. I just prefer the rimless for tennis (otherwise I wear rimmed glasses for every day use). I also have a pair of Oakley prescription sunglasses but don't really like to play in them.

I also go the Silhouette rimless route when I wear glasses. They're great! (But a little pricey.) I keep a non-scratch cloth around to wipe them down occasionally, or at least a dry cotton t-shirt which I usually change into afterward. I also have daily disposable contacts, which are also fine, but sometimes it's not worth changing into them and using them up for a couple hours of hitting around.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

How do you guys wear glasses and not sweat all over them? I guess that would be my biggest issue if I did it (contacts wearer).

I can't play on a hot day without a hat to block the sweat. You can go the headband route if you don't look as stupid as I would with one.

 

[MAX PLY]

Likewise, except I always wear a hat (even indoors). Have done it since I was young and hats generally keep the sweat off the glasses. I do usually go through several hats during a match or practice session. Nevertheless, I still have to wipe the glasses off several times while playing. But, in the end, no big deal.