I did an interview with Bob Bubka for his show “The “Grill Room” on the XM/Sirius PGA Tour Network and we spoke of many things related to golf and vision, particularly the importance of wearing the right type of lens while out on the course, as well as a few tips to improve your vision and improve your game, regardless of which sport you play.
The ability to see clearly is key to all sports, and it was great to share with listeners of “The Grill Room” just how relevant it is to the game of golf in particular. While you are out on the course, the light conditions are always changing throughout the day—it may be a bit overcast when you tee off in the morning, but bright and sunny later in the afternoon. And many people –20% of the population, in fact—tell their coaches and trainers that they have trouble seeing the undulations, or changes, in the greens. Eyewear that automatically adjusts to these changing light conditions, such as Transitions lenses, can ensure that your eyes are always comfortable during the game and help improve your ability to correctly diagnose how each putt should be made.
Proper eyewear is especially important for older golfers. As we age, our pupils can actually get up to 20% smaller, causing us to need three times as much light to do certain things and for our eyes to take longer to adjust to changing light conditions. Wearing a lens that automatically adjusts can help your eyes remain comfortable, without straining in changing light conditions.
Also important is protecting your eyes from UV exposure. While it may not always seem like it, UV rays are present all year-round, regardless of how warm or cool, or sunny or cloudy it is outside. Just think about how many hours you spend outside while golfing—and because exposure to UV rays can contribute to the development of cataracts, macular degeneration and even skin cancer on the sensitive skin around the eyes, it is important to wear eyewear, such as Transitions lenses, that blocks 100% of UV rays.
Vision is important to any sport, regardless of your age—remember, it is never too early or too late to start taking care of your eyes by getting regular, comprehensive eye exams and wearing proper eyewear.
