Sunglasses Can Actually Improve Your Outdoor Performance

Your optometrist knows the routine: sunglasses are recommended to protect the eyes against UV rays and direct sunlight. Ditto for your GP, obstetrician, orthopedist, and physical therapist. We all know it. But did you know that sunglasses can also improve your outdoor performance? It’s true. The right pair of sunglasses can make a difference in how you perform.

Obviously, we human beings are terribly reliant on eyesight. Those images that make their way in through our eyes provide valuable information the brain needs to do what it does. But certain images can be confusing to the point that they cause the brain to misunderstand what is actually being seen.

Have you ever been driving down the highway on a hot, summer day only to see what appears to be a puddle of water several hundred yards in front of you? The thing is, you never reach that puddle. It continues to sit in the distance. What you are seeing is an optical illusion. Your eyes are taking in an image that your brain is not correctly interpreting. What is really nothing more than sun glare is being perceived by your brain as water.

There are other examples that could be cited here. That point is that there are situations in which a good pair of sunglasses can improve your performance. Here are three, compliments of Olympic Eyewear:

1. While Driving

Let us continue with the idea of driving. Sun glare can impede performance quite a bit. Glare from the pavement, the hood of your car, freshly fallen snow, or even bodies of water can impair your ability to see clearly. An exceptionally bright sun hitting you squarely in the face can even prevent you from seeing things in the road. To maximize your performance, choose a pair of wraparound sunglasses with polarized lenses.

2. Playing Golf

Golf is a sport best played on sunny days. The problem is that bright sunshine can make it more difficult for you to see both ball and the hole you are aiming for. There are two reasons for this. First, you have the normal glare problem. Sun glare distorts your vision regardless of what you are doing.

The other issue is squinting. If you squint because you do not have sunglasses, you are making it harder for your eyes to see what you are doing. Squinting can throw off your perception of a particular hole. It can deceive you in terms of the distance between your ball and the cup. Again, sunglasses are the solution.

Performance on the golf course can be improved with sunglasses featuring amber, brown, copper, or rose lenses. Each of these colours provides a much-needed contrast that helps you see fairways and greens more clearly.

3. While Cycling

One more example is cycling. In addition to the sun glare problems, cyclists have another problem with the wind. It can quickly dry out the eyes after just a few miles. Furthermore, airborne debris is always a risk when you are riding a bike at speed.

A good pair of sunglasses protects the cyclist’s eyes from UV rays, wind, and debris. They also reduce eye strain and glare. All these things combine to make for a better ride from start to finish. Incidentally, clear lenses are a good idea even on cloudy days and when riding at night. They offer protection against wind and debris even though the sun is not an issue.

Yes, sunglasses can actually improve your performance during outdoor activities. They do more than just protect your eyes against UV rays and direct sunlight.