A revolutionary game changer in sport?

Night lenses | A revolutionary game changer in sport?

THE BIG QUESTION: Why would someone with nearsightedness (short-sight) below -5.00D, who competes at the highest level in sports, choose to wear glasses or contact lenses for vision correction when they could enjoy complete freedom from both by switching to night lenses?

If the answer is “There is no logical reason,” and the result is unquestionably improved performance at the highest level, then perhaps night lenses are indeed a groundbreaking innovation in sports?

So, what exactly are night lenses? Night lenses are custom-fitted contact lenses that you wear while you sleep. During the night, they gently correct your vision using a process called Orthokeratology (sometimes referred to as ‘Ortho-K lenses’). When you remove them in the morning, you have perfect vision, eliminating the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses throughout the day. The effect naturally wears off after 24 hours, so users simply repeat the process as part of their daily routine, much like with daytime lenses. Night lenses have been available for around 20 years, but recent advancements and increased adoption by Optometrists in the UK have made them the exciting eye care innovation everyone is talking about.

So, can night lenses truly revolutionize sports? We asked a couple of night lens users for their perspectives:

Catriona Morrison, a multi-world champion at Duathlon, a bronze medalist in long-distance Triathlon at the World’s, and an Ironman champion, shared her thoughts:

“Catriona, do you believe there’s a connection between using night lenses and success in sports?”

“Absolutely. In any sport where you sweat and touch your face and eyes, wearing contact lenses comes with the risk of dislodging them, and that’s something you constantly worry about. Sports glasses can become sweaty and foggy, so you’re concerned about them too. To achieve peak performance, you need to ensure everything is perfect and worry-free. It would have been a different story for me if I had to deal with concerns about goggles coming off during a swim or a lens dislodging during a race. All I do now is put one lens in and take one lens out. Simple. I have nothing in my eyes for the rest of the day and the race. Why wouldn’t you want to control the uncontrollable? There are so many things you can’t control during a race; this is one thing you can.”

“What impact have night lenses had on your sporting life?”

“It’s revolutionary. All the hassle is gone. You don’t realize how valuable normal vision is until you have it! I wake up in the morning with nothing to worry about. I don’t even consider myself as having any kind of vision problem anymore. It’s incredible.”

Dr. Euan Speirits, an Elite 4X and Downhill Mountain Bike Racer and a night lens wearer, also shared his perspective:

“Euan, could night lenses transform sports for those who wear glasses or daytime contact lenses?”

“No doubt about it. They will absolutely revolutionize sports and life for those who can use them. The bottom line is, my life wouldn’t be where it is today if I had continued wearing contact lenses. I would never have achieved so much in mountain biking without the freedom that night lenses provide. I wholeheartedly recommend them. Anyone who’s worn daytime lenses has probably experienced them shifting in their eyes and that uncomfortable feeling. Knowing that you don’t have to worry about that in high-performance sports is a game-changer. Your vision is your own, with no compromises. I’m surprised more people don’t wear them.”

“How have night lenses impacted your sporting life?”

“They’ve genuinely revolutionized it. I can compete all day without the distraction of dry eyes from contact lenses or worrying about them drying out. In my recreational activities, like paddleboarding, I don’t have to worry about losing a contact lens or struggling to see if it falls out. Night lenses have made life completely normal for me.”

In top-level sports, the difference between gold and silver medals, successful or missed goals, and setting or missing world records often comes down to fractions of seconds or millimeters. Achieving peak performance requires everything to function perfectly and precisely on the day. Catriona, Euan, and other night lens wearers who compete professionally or at a high amateur level agree that, to achieve peak performance and results at the highest level, having “perfect vision” achieved without anything in your eyes or on your face is a logical and no-brainer decision.

Can night lenses help our pipeline of future champions?

It’s remarkable how many stories we hear from adults who abandoned their dreams of excelling in sports because of their nearsightedness. When they needed glasses or contact lenses, they gave up. We spoke to 17-year-old Oisin McVeigh (Osh), a rugby union player determined to progress in a sport he loves:

“Osh, as a rugby player, how do night lenses make a difference, and how do you expect it to impact your future?”

“All sports have become much easier now. In rugby, I need to be observant and see what’s happening on the pitch, which was challenging when I couldn’t see across the field or identify players. Having clear vision is incredibly helpful and will significantly improve my game. To enhance my performance, I needed lenses or sports glasses, but I wasn’t keen on wearing lenses during sports, fearing they might fall out or get dirtied during a match. Night lenses are perfect.”

And, as always, behind every talented young athlete, there are supportive parents who influence and make decisions about their child’s progress. We spoke to Osh’s mother, Grainne:

“So, mom, how did you decide to get Osh night lenses?”

“Osh is a talented rugby player, but he wasn’t wearing glasses or lenses on the field, and we couldn’t understand how he could play without proper vision. To improve, it was evident that he needed something to enhance his vision, so we explored the options. He wasn’t enthusiastic about wearing lenses for sports, fearing they might fall out or get dirty during a game. He also didn’t want sports glasses. Then, we heard about night lenses, and while they sounded unusual and even a bit crazy—a lens that changes your eyesight while you sleep? We researched them, and here we are!”

“Why is providing Osh with night lenses important to you as a parent?”

“As a parent, two things matter to me. First, stabilizing his eyesight [Ed note: night lenses can stabilize myopia in children]. I have a -13 eyesight, and I understand the challenges of having very poor eyesight. When I was young, I was an excellent swimmer, but I gave it up because I didn’t enjoy swimming with goggles. I loved water sports like water skiing but gave them up as well. Second, giving him choice and opportunity is crucial. Night lenses have opened up a world of possibilities for Osh, and that’s fantastic—providing choice and opportunities. He never has to give up anything because of poor eyesight or because glasses or daytime lenses hold him back. Hopefully, for his rugby career, this will be the best gift we could have given him as parents.”

If we can reduce the number of talented young athletes who quit sports because glasses or daytime lenses hold them back or enable more young individuals with myopia (near-sightedness) to excel with better vision at this crucial stage, our talent pool and pipeline in the UK will undoubtedly benefit. Are night lenses a revolutionary game-changer that will help some of our elite young athletes break through while assisting a portion of the approximately 1.5 million nearsighted 8-18-year-olds in the UK to perform at a higher level in professional or amateur sports? Undoubtedly.

** ASK YOUR OPTICIAN ABOUT NIGHT LENSES **
If you are a professional or high-level amateur athlete and find this article intriguing, please inquire with your optician about night lenses. If your optician doesn’t offer night lenses, you can find a nearby provider using CLICK HERE to see a cool/simple animation that explains the process
CLICK HERE to read/watch stories of other people who use night lenses

Article author

This article has been written by Tom Griffiths, Managing Director of Scotlens, a small custom-fit contact lens manufactuer in Scotland who have been making night lenses since 2003. Tom is an entrepreneur/social entrepreneur whose teen son’s life was completely transformed by night lenses. This life changing moment for his son, achieved with a ‘night lens’ which he had never heard of or been offered by his optician, sparked Tom into action. Passionate about the benefits of night lenses and determined to spread the word, Tom eventually joined the company where he continues his work as an ambassador for night lenses and as a Myopia Control Awareness campaigner for children and their parents.

CLICK HERE if you are a sports coach/body/association or media interested in contacting Tom
CLICK HERE to see Tom’s inspiration – his 16 year old son, a surfer (impossible without night lenses) – hear his family’s story