Baseball is at the core of American sporting events, with leagues for everyone, from professional to peewee. Though you love baseball and enjoy playing it, you’ll have to get around vision problems while on the field. If you want to perform your best while on the grass and dirt, you should wear corrective lenses while playing. Here’s what to consider when choosing prescription baseball glasses.

Lens and Frame Strength

The primary concern for bespectacled people who play baseball is the following scenario: you stride up to the batter’s box and await a crafty pitch from the pitcher. You crouch down, bat in hand, ready to strike the soaring white ball back the way it came. The pitcher releases a beautifully quick ball that hurtles toward your face. Wham! The baseball lands squarely on your face.

Though this is a relatively rare occurrence, getting hit by the pitcher is still a possibility for all baseball players—the batting helmet can only do so much. In the case that a ball or player comes at your face with surprising velocity, you’ll want lens and frame strength that exceeds that of the oncoming object. A well-made, durable frame and lens set is vital for baseball players in every league.

UV Protection

Baseball games are notorious for lasting hours, leaving players wasting under the hot sun. While extra time outside is refreshing, it can be dangerous for your eyes. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause sunburn, but they can also decrease your visual acuity. You should consider adding UV protection to your prescription baseball lenses so you can avoid any eye pain or muscular soreness from perpetual squinting.

Level of Intense Movement

Baseball is a unique sport in that every position has varying degrees of bodily movement. While coaches expect every player in the field to hustle for the ball if it falls within their area, a player could spend an entire inning standing still in the far outfield, being stationary on the pitcher’s mound, or crouching low behind the batter’s box. Depending on the level of intense movement your position requires, you’ll want to decide between banded or non-banded glasses.

Banded glasses feature an elastic band that wraps from the temple tips around the back of your head. Non-banded baseball glasses utilize the power of rubbery friction at the tips to maximize grip and reduce movement. If you anticipate lots of quick movements, you should opt for the extra security of a banded goggle.

Knowing what to consider when choosing prescription baseball glasses helps you or your child make the most of their baseball experiences. If you need to find the perfect pair of youth baseball prescription glasses, reach out to our experts at Optics Outfitter today. Our team specializes in kid’s sports glasses and goggles, so let us help you find an eyewear solution that fits your needs.