One in 10 glasses wearers injured after playing sports without their specs

Over a third of Brits who wear glasses have admitted to playing sportswithout being able to see properly, according to a new survey. The poll, which questioned 2,000 adults with either long or short-sightedness, revealed that 42 per cent have misjudged distances or made errors after deciding to compete without their specs. One in 10 have even ended up injured due to their blurred vision.

More than half (52 per cent) avoid wearing their glasseswhen playing sport, worrying they might break, while 44 per cent worry they'll fly off mid-exercise and 32 per cent complain that sweating makes them slide around.

The study also found that only 37 per cent feel confident their glasses would stay secure when playing sport, with 29 per cent saying glasses hold them back from doing what they enjoy.

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A third have even experienced anxiety while wearing glasses in active or 'risky' situations where they might fall off.

Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers, which commissioned the research, said: "This sort of problem is more common than people might think. In a sporting environment, glasses are naturally more at risk of being damaged, and as a result, the findings show people are going without them entirely.

"Depending on their vision, this could have a fundamental impact on their performance or even increase the risk of injury."

Broken or bent frames, scratched lenses, and stretched or broken arms were among the most common outcomes of glasses being damaged during physical activity.

But the research also revealed 64 per cent have broken their glasses in some way outside of the sporting environment. The most common causes of damage included accidentally dropping them, sitting on them, or nodding off whilst wearing them.

Of those who have experienced damage, 69 per cent have attempted to repair them themselves – with replacing screws, twisting or bending frames, and using superglue amongst the top methods. However, 42 per cent confessed their DIY efforts weren't successful, according to the OnePoll.com data.

Giles Edmonds, from Specsavers, added: "Contact lenses are the natural option when it comes to maintaining perfect vision in a sporting environment. Unlike spectacles, contacts move with your eyes, eliminating peripheral vision restrictions that can be crucial in fast-paced sports environments.

"They don't fog up, slip down your nose due to sweat, or risk breaking during contact sports. Daily disposable contact lenses are particularly ideal for sports as they're fresh, hygienic, and easily replaceable if lost or damaged."