Prescription sports glasses, any advice?

[sixp]

My son is almost 8 and has just started rugby and various other sports at his prep. However, he seems to take his glasses off, understandably, but his prescription is quite strong and with astigmatism, that I'm sure this must really hamper him. Has anyone had to deal with this?

Yep. ds 10 and wears sports goggles. He had a wobble wearing them for the first time but no problems now from him or others. The only thing he can't do is take part in scrums in rugby - but I don't mind that at all!!!!
It has saved many broken glasses and eye injuries. We got ours from the opticians when his prescription started to settle down. They were expensive (£130 iirc) but they allow him to play sport so it's worth it.

Just been told not even sports goggles are allowed for rugby, according to SRU advice, and contacts is the only option. Hmmm.

I believe contacts required at secondary age but goggles def OK at 8. DS (8) wears his at school and in the local rugby team (and indeed for football). RFU advice has recently changed so make sure you are looking at the most recent information.

The school has sent me the info, we're in Scotland and following Scottish rugby union guidelines, which do state no goggles, ever! So, we have an appointment at the weekend to look at lenses. Have no idea how this will go!

With astigmatisms, we were told that daily contacts were not possible and that he has to wait until he can cope/look after monthly ones.

I would hold your nerve with this for a bit and ask what the school advises in this situation. Contacts are expensive and I doubt if they can enforce your child to wear contacts. Good luck, and I shall watch this thread with interest.

Thanks 1805. Daily contacts would have to be non toric, so the astigmatism would not be corrected, but this would still constitute a good improvement in vision. Hmmm...

You can now get toric dailies.

But I don't bother because I like to change my eye colour. My sight is not perfect without the torics but good enough to drive legally and much better than no correction.

I would say get daily lenses if you can because anything else is a pain and lenses can get ripped in sport (I used to do martial arts).

My opotician does the check and is happy for me to order on the internet because she says even they cannot buy them cheaper.

Another option you might consider with an 8 year old is extended wear, the ones you can sleep in and wear for a week.

So it depends on how bad the astigmatism is then??

OP - I personally (because I am like this!) would press the school on the "no goggles" policy for a y3 (?) child. Or even the scottish rugby union organisation. It seems rubbish to me that if we lived in Scotland my ds could not play rugby, even in a closed private environment such as a school.

Mind you, I had an argument with a bouncy castle firm once because they wouldn't let my (then) 3 year old on with his plastic lensed glasses.

Can you please post with the out-come of the contact lense appointment?

Thank you. And good luck!

We looked into this for ds who is 9 and has very long sighted and astigmatism. They were very expensive and they didn't recommend them.

He takes them off for Footie and actually plays quite well. He wears his specs until he gets to the pitch then he puts them right back on after training or the game.

How does your son feel?

Contact lense appointment tomorrow, I will let you know how it goes.

Please please do not get the ones you can sleep in. I wore them for two years and thought they were the best thing ever but they have left my eyes so dry I can hardly ever wear contact lenses any more. My optition said it's a very common thing and I used to take them out overnight at least once a week.