Wearing contact lenses while playing sports*—what to know

^{*Always remember, contact lenses should not be worn in swimming pools or water environments.}

Published on November 5, 2025

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5 minute read

Athletes of all skill levels wear contacts

If you love playing sports like football or basketball, you know how crucial it is to see clearly while you're on the field. It can mean the difference between a game-winning touchdown and a dropped pass. Athletes that have only ever relied on glasses may wonder, “Could contact lenses be a good fit for my lifestyle?” While the answer to that questions is between the athlete and their eye doctor, this much is certain: Contact lenses are a common choice for athletes at the highest levels of their game, providing a reliable alternative to glasses.

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Why choose contact lenses if you’re an athlete?

1. Full field of vision

Contacts provide an unobstructed view, allowing you to see the ball and your teammates without the frames of glasses in the way.

2. No fogging up

When you sweat or when the weather changes, glasses can fog up. With contacts, you don’t have to worry about this, which means your vision will stay clear during the game.

3. Stable during runs, jumps and backflips

Contacts stay put on your eyes, no matter how much you run or jump. You won’t have to worry about them falling off, which is a relief for athletes playing contact sports like football and basketball.

4. Won’t get in the way of sports equipment

Whether we’re talking about a hockey mask or wraparound sunglasses in baseball, contact lenses give you the freedom to wear headgear without worrying about whether or not glasses will fit underneath.

5. Built-in UV protection^#

ACUVUE^® Contact Lenses are the only major brand which blocks at least 97% of UVB and 82% of UVA rays, as standard across the entire product line.^#

Are there contact lenses made specifically for athletes?

While the market for contact lenses made specifically for sports is relatively small, they do exist. Contact lenses made for sports tend to be tinted in a way that is intended to help athletes perform better. While ACUVUE^® doesn’t offer lenses specifically for athletes, all ACUVUE contact lenses have UV protection built-in, and ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX has a blue-light filter on top of it.^#,§

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Tips for athletes wearing contact lenses

If you’re considering wearing contact lenses while playing sports, here are some practical tips to keep in mind.

1. Consider trying daily disposable lenses

While the choice of lens is between you and your eye doctor, when it comes to contact lenses for sports, daily disposables are often a great choice. With daily disposables, you don’t have to worry about cleaning and disinfecting your lenses after every use, you can put in a fresh pair for each game. Keep in mind contact lens prices can vary, so it’s essential to find a pair that fits both your budget and your needs.

2. Stay hydrated

Just like the rest of your body, your eyes need moisture to stay healthy. Drink plenty of water before and during your game. If your contacts feel dry during your games, ask your eye doctor if you can use contact lens rewetting drops, and which ones would be best for your eyes.

3. Practice consistent hygiene

Locker rooms are not the cleanliest of places. Always wash your hands before touching your contact lenses. Good hygiene helps keep germs away that can cause eye infections, and an eye infection can keep you on the sideline. If you wear reusable lenses, using a clean contact lens case and the right solution is essential for helping keep your eyes safe.

4. Avoid rubbing your eyes

When playing sports, things like dust, pollen and sweat can all irritate your eyes. If you experience this, it’s important to avoid rubbing your eyes while you have contact lenses on because, depending on the irritant, it can make symptoms worse. Rubbing your eyes can also introduce bacteria, leading to eye infection. Remember—if you have to rinse your eyes, only do so with a doctor-approved eye drop, and if you have to take your lenses out, remember to find a place to wash and dry your hands thoroughly first.

5. Be prepared for weather changes

Playing sports outdoors means you face various weather conditions. If it’s windy or dusty, debris can get into your eye and/or under your contact lenses. To prevent this, consider wearing protective eyewear that can fit over your contacts.

6. Keep a backup

Accidents can happen, especially in sports. Always carry an extra pair of contact lenses. If you wear reusable lenses, bring along your contact lens case and multipurpose solution. This way, if something goes wrong during a practice or game, you can quickly fix the problem.

7. Listen to your body

Pay attention to how your eyes feel while playing. If you notice any pain, redness, or blurry vision, remove your lenses and consult your eye doctor. It's important to prioritize your eye health while being active.

Contact lenses for the win

Interested in experiencing firsthand the benefits of wearing contact lenses during sports? Visit an eye care professional for a contact lens fitting. They can help you find the right prescription and the best type of lenses for your needs.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to wear contact lenses while playing football or basketball?

Contact lenses are safe to wear during sports when worn as directed by your eye doctor.

Which provide better vision correction during sports: Glasses or contact lenses?

What’s better depends entirely on the needs of your eyes and the sports you play. It’s best to talk to your eye doctor to determine which option would bet the best fit for you.

Are there sports contacts?

Often when people talk about sports contacts, they mean specially tinted lenses. While these do exist, they’re not as easy to find as standard un-tinted lenses. Even so, most contact lenses can be worn during sports or exercise. Talk to your eye doctor about what you’re looking for and they’ll be able to provide the best recommendation for you.

Won’t my contact lenses fall out of my eye?

While it is possible that a contact lens can fall out during sports, it’s actually quite rare. Contact lenses are designed to fit snugly onto your eye and stay in place, even when you’re running, jumping or doing somersaults. An added benefit of wearing daily disposable contact lenses if that if one does happen to fall out, it can be easily replaced by a new lens.

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The information provided on this page and across the entire Acuvue.com experience is designed to offer educational insights into eye health, referencing expert advice from reputable medical and government organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Optometric Association, and the National Eye Institute. While we research, report, and review the content on Acuvue.com and its extended social media to deliver accurate and up-to-date vision, vision care, and vision correction information, we do not make any assurances, and content accessed on or through Acuvue.com and its extended social media is NOT intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any eye conditions or health issues. This brings us to our #1 eye health tip: Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical guidance and care.

#Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.
WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed.

NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

§Filtering of HEV light by contact lenses has not been demonstrated to confer any health benefit to the user, including but not limited to retinal protection, protection from cataract progression, reduced eye strain, improved contrast, improved acuity, reduced glare, improved low light vision, or improved circadian rhythm/sleep cycle. The Eye Care Professional should be consulted for more information.

Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.

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