Health & Well-Being
Vision options available for active boomers’
Active baby boomers, many of whom are shifting from team sports to individual sports, still have vision demands that may differ from their everyday activities. "Statistically, the baby boomer generation is becoming presbyopic in greater numbers than any other population. In other words, people who have never worn glasses before suddenly find themselves contemplating choices. This is an active population with significant disposable income, so many boomers can afford multiple options," says Charlotte A. Tlachac, OD, FAAO, who is an associate clinical professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry and former chair of the American Optometric Association Contact Lens Section.
Presbyopia is a condition in which the crystalline lens of the eye loses its flexibility. "The result is progressive difficulty in focusing on close objects. Presbyopia is not preventable; it’s simply part of the aging process. For many graying’ athletes, this can be an adjustment process," says Tlachac.
Most athletes under those circumstances have to accept a certain compromise in vision. "However, depending on the sport, bifocal glasses can make intermediate range hand/eye coordination difficult. In addition, glasses in general can be uncomfortable and, in some cases, impractical," notes Tlachac. "Fortunately, in the past five years, contact lens treatment options have increased significantly."
For bifocal contact lens wearers, there are a variety of design options in soft lenses, gas-permeable lenses, and specialty designs for astigmatism. "Vision correction is a part of one’s sporting equipment," she says. "As performance goes, it’s as important as wearing the right clothing, using the right clubs, or wearing the right running shoes. It’s another way to enhance the game."
"Each sport has different vision requirements. Now, all athletes have a variety of options," adds John J. Gardner, OD, FAAO, an optometrist in private practice and a former instructor at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. "No matter what the sport, from ballroom dancing to tennis, your eye health professional can recommend the best vision equipment for the best results."
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