Although injuries are common in sports, you might not expect an athlete's eyes to be one of the most affected body parts. Vision Monday's report reveals that more than 32,000 sports-related eye injuries were treated last year. These include eye infections, blunt trauma, and corneal abrasions from pools, arrows, darts, and more. This emphasizes the need for eye protection for athletes, which the National Eye Institute says can prevent 9 out of 10 sports-related eye injuries.
This is why professional athletes turn to reliable sports brands for protection—and Oakley is chief among them. Oakley's sunglasses are known for using the latest technologies for eye protection in sports, like PRIZM polarized lenses for enhanced visual acuity and O-Matter frames for lightweight and comfortable wear. More importantly, they specifically design sunglasses for various sports, like golf, skating, and running.
It's thus no surprise that athletes across different sports trust the brand. Here are a few ways its sunglasses provide this much-sought-after eye protection:
They protect cyclists from debris.
A wraparound sunglasses design covers the entire eye area, including the sides. This protects the eyes from all angles, making it especially useful for cyclists at risk of debris from the road flying into their eyes at high speeds. Oakley has many wraparound-style frames specifically for cycling, including the Jawbreaker Ascend. This model has an extended field of view in its upper peripheral region, covering a bigger part of the eye area for maximum protection.
The 2023 collection it released in partnership with the Tour de France also consists of several wraparound frames, including the Encoder, Radar EV, and Sylas. This year's winner, Jonas Vingegaard, wore Oakley's Sutro Sweep as he crossed the finish line.
They cut out glare while surfing.
Surfing exposes athletes to the sun's glare reflecting off the water. Unfortunately, this can temporarily blind them, causing them to lose balance or direction. Oakley's sunglasses cut out this glare with its various PRIZM lens options, including the Deep Water lenses. These are specifically made to cut through glare in water sports—so much so that surfers can even see what's happening beneath the water and avoid hitting rocks below the surface if they need to bail.
Australian surfer Ethan Ewing was showcased in Oakley's global campaign last year wearing Hydra sunglasses. Aside from PRIZM Deep Water lenses, this model has a grippy nose pad perfect for preventing slippage after popping up.
They enhance contrast while playing baseball.
It's vital for athletes to see everything clearly. However, the sun's brightness can wash things out and make this challenging. In these conditions, baseballs can be especially hard to spot. Here, Oakley's PRIZM lenses offer an added benefit: they help athletes distinguish different colors better while enhancing contrast.
Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez regularly wears the Oakley Sutro Lite sunglasses. Its lenses allow him to keep track of the ball and make quick decisions on the field. Not to mention, wearing sunglasses is one way he can rest his eyes. After all, our post "How to Improve Your Eyesight" emphasizes how this can give the eyes a break, especially when they're strained from sun exposure. With rest, Rodriguez's eyes can focus better when he plays.
They're durable enough for Olympians.
Sports sunglasses have to be durable since athletes often stumble, fall, and come into physical contact with bats, balls, and other people. That's where Oakley delivers. Take its Kato sunglasses: they're frameless yet have a supporting flange at the top of the lens that provides extra durability. That means these sunglasses don't break easily upon impact.
Even Olympians and Paralympians consider these sunglasses to be strong enough for their needs. Oakley's partnership with the 2028 Olympics, Paralympian Games, and Team USA proves this. With the latter citing the brand's high-performing eyewear as a leading factor behind the collaboration, viewers can spot athletes like professional soccer player Trinity Rodman and rowing Paralympian Oksana Masters donning Oakleys at their respective events.
Oakley is a trusted name in the sports world. With the thought and precision that goes into its sunglasses, it's no wonder different types of professional athletes wear them.
