The last few years have seen an impressive increase in outdoor activity participants. Following the rising public interest in the environment, health,and fitness, being active outside has become a favourite pastime for many Brits.
As of 2024, Our Sporting Life reports that up to 15% of adults plan to hike at least every month. Similarly, Statista estimates that over six million people are engaged in running across the country. Now, this growth is understandable, considering that entering into outdoor hiking and running is relatively straightforward. As a beginner, you won’t really have need for speciality equipment just yet.
That said, if you’re among the nearly four million contact lens wearers in the UK, there are some considerations you have to make from the outset. According to reports, more adults prefer to wear contact lenses for their comfort and subtlety while providing vision correction. However, since these are medical devices that sit right up on the eye, there are specific safety measures you should observe while out in the elements during your hike or run. Here are a few of them:
Use dailies instead
As most people know, contacts come with varying lengths of usability. For many people, reusable lenses, which can be called weeklies or monthlies, seem like a more practical option. In reality, though, these can prove dangerous, as studies have found that they can essentially become Petri dishes for bacteria because of repeated use and exposure. Given that being outdoors means you’re in even more uncontrolled environs, reusable contacts can easily trap dirt, debris, pollution, and much more that can multiply and fester. This means the next time you reuse your contacts, they’re much likelier to irritate your eyes.
To avoid this, use daily contact lenses during your outdoor activities instead. Also called dailies or disposables, these contacts are designed for a single day of use, so they’re more hygienic. Even if you have a specific ocular condition, it’s easy to find a pair of dailies that will work since they now come in multiple varieties, such as Alcon Dailies for astigmatism or Clariti for multifocal. Since they also come in individual packs with their own solution, you don’t have to worry about bringing an extra bottle of solution that might just weigh you down. This will let you enjoy the outdoors with the peace of mind that your lenses are clean and safe.
Look for UV filters
Sun exposure to the eyes is no joke, which is why many health experts underscore the importance of wearing protective sunglasses regularly. Just like how it negatively affects the skin so, too, the sun can also cause serious damage and disease. Since it only takes about 60 seconds for sun damage to occur in the delicate eye region, most people don’t even notice that anything is wrong until symptoms occur. Aside from corneal sunburns and blurred vision, too much sun in your eyes can heighten the risk for cataracts, eye cancers, and pterygium. Since there is less shade in open trails or paths, it’s even more important that you use sun protection.
With this in mind, opt for contact lenses with UV filters. Although these are not substitutes for shades, they do provide an invaluable added layer of protection. Generally, UV-blocking contact lenses are split into two categories. The first one is Class 1, which can block 90% of UV-A rays and 99% of UV-B rays. The second is Class 2, which can block 70% of UV-A rays and 95% of UV-B rays. Since you’ll presumably be spending more time directly under the sun during your hike and run, you may as well go for Class 1 contacts. One such example is the Acuvue Oasys, which also comes in disposable varieties.
Pack extra glasses
Lastly, you’ll want to play it safe and bring glasses. Understandably, most who use contacts do so for the very reason that they want to avoid specs, but on the trail, having this backup is important. Consider that while most contact lenses are designed not to fall out and to keep up with wear and tear, unexpected things can happen outdoors.
Notably, you’re more vulnerable to shifting temperatures and changing weather conditions. When this happens, having a durable backup pair of specs designed for the outdoors, like Oakley, can ensure your vision is not compromised.
