Photo © iStock.com/JobsonHealthcare

By Sara Bonizio

In an increasingly environmentally-aware world, car sharing services such as Zipcar have expanded to eight countries, and a growing commitment by urban dwellers to a car-free lifestyle has yielded numerous bike rental and bike-sharing services. More and more commuters are pedaling to the office, while cycling remains a top exercise choice to enjoy the outdoors.

New York City alone saw double-digit growth in bike ridership for four straight years, according to Transportation Alternatives, an independent nonprofit organization that promotes bicycling, walking and public transit. Additionally, cycling for cures and other causes has become a popular fundraising method for various nonprofit organizations, providing a fun, physically challenging way for both athletes and amateurs to give back and raise money for their charities of choice by pedaling in multi-hour and even multi-day bike-a-thons.

During the intake and eyewear selection process, eyecare professionals (especially those in urban areas where bike commuting is prominent and bike share programs are prevalent) should educate patients on the importance of proper safety eyewear and review the numerous cycling eyewear options—as well as emerging wearable technology—to optimize patients’ vision while protecting their eyes.

EASY RIDERS AND ELITE ATHLETES ALIKE NEED PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR
Even casual and occasional riders need proper eye protection. When these patients are shopping for sunwear, eyecare professionals should encourage them to consider a wrap style with shatterproof, glare-eliminating polarized lenses that can also stand in as everyday sunglasses. Dedicated cyclists have numerous specialized eyewear options to provide a proper fit while ensuring an unimpeded crisp view of the road ahead, as well as a safeguard against sun damage and flying debris from roads and trails.

GETTING FRAMED
Frames should be flexible and lightweight enough to be comfortable, but strong enough to withstand impact. Adjustable temple tips and nosepads provide a custom fit. Cyclists need to use their hands at all times, so frames must fit securely on the face and not slip, despite sweat. Some frames were developed with this in mind—the more the rider sweats, the better they grip.

Nylon or plastic are lightweight materials that are safer and more durable than metal. A shield/wraparound style blocks wind (especially important for contact lens wearers, to prevent drying of the contacts); to offer proper ventilation for this style, the frame should have “air holes” or channels at the top of the frame to prevent fogging, which also prevents turbulence that can make it hard to see. An upper “sweat bar” can also help control fogging. Wraparound lenses that reach above the eyebrow allow unobstructed vision when the patient is “riding (low) in the drops” (the lower curved section of the handlebars).

Temple arms should hug the face and not move or slip; cable temples that hook around the bottom of the ear might also be beneficial. ECPs should encourage patients to bring their helmets to their appointment to try on with the eyewear, as glasses can interfere with the straps and retention systems of some helmets.

‘WHEELY GOOD’ LENSES
For purposes of comfort and protection, patients need lightweight yet shatterproof safety lenses. Polycarbonate is highly impact-resistant; Trivex is also safety-rated, and the higher Abbe value may produce sharper peripheral vision with less chromatic aberration than poly (though Trivex isn’t as light as poly). Visual acuity throughout the patient’s entire field of vision is crucial when cycling; lenses— especially when providing vision correction—cannot produce distortion in the periphery. A rimless toric lens provides an extended range of view in the upper peripheral region by reducing distortion, allowing for a clear viewing throughout the range of vision and helping the rider avoid blind spots when cycling. Road and mountain bikers rely on an unobstructed view of their path, in many directions, especially during a speedy descent.

Both poly and Trivex have inherent UV-filtering properties; blocking harmful UV rays (which contribute to cataracts in the long term and can cause photokeratitis in the short term) is essential. Lenses should also have scratch-proof coating to withstand flying debris.

Polarized lenses are ideal for cutting glare and helping filter out reflections from bright, smooth surfaces, such as the wet surface of the road after rain. Photochromics, which adjust the darkness of the tint to varying amounts of light, may be a good choice for more casual riders, though some cyclists may find they clear too slowly under the conditions they are used in.

SPOKES ON THE (COLOR) WHEEL: A WORD ON TINTS
Tints for cycling lenses should emphasize colors where the eye is most sensitive to detail, thus improving the patient’s reaction time and by extension, performance and safety. Amber and rose lens tints increase visual acuity and are highly recommended for cycling, especially in conditions with weak sunlight. Yellow lenses filter out more of the blue wavelengths of light, providing greater visual contrast and are also a good choice for cyclists. Blue attenuator lenses reduce the transmission of blue light wavelengths, increasing the contrast while presenting colors in a neutral way. Gray lenses, though less efficient, reduce glare and render colors true to life. They are a good choice for a more casual rider looking for all-around sports-appropriate sunwear to take them from errands, around the park to the road.

Cyclists who participate in long races will experience all types of weather, from direct sunlight to pouring rain, and they will race day and night; interchangeable lens options give riders the flexibility they need to see optimally in different lighting and weather conditions, and having a clear option is necessary to maintain protection from dirt, debris and wind when riding at night.

WEARABLE TECH FOR CYCLISTS
Over the past few years, FitBits and other wearable technology have become ubiquitous among casual exercisers, as well as more serious athletes for tracking activity levels, caloric intake and even sleep. Cyclists also have “smart eyewear” options as well as electronic devices that attach to standard eyewear. These products provide performance tracking via a “heads up display,” where cyclists can review and respond to their workout performance (efficiency, calories burned, heart rate) in real-time to optimize the workout.

As with any ancillary technology, the cyclist should be able to use it safely: hands-free, with a flick of the eye or nod of the head, without compromising posture or diverting attention from the road. Aside from workout data, many wearables keep the rider “connected,” providing navigation and safety alerts, and even delivering visual text and other notifications from one’s smartphone (which some may find convenient but others may find too distracting). Models with audio allow riders to take phone calls, play music and listen to podcasts.

As riding also affords cyclists ample opportunity to take in their surroundings—urban scenes, nature landscapes and everything in between—some may enjoy wearables with the ability to record photo and video hands-free via voice commands and head movements (with optional remote control or touchpads on the eyewear).

Whatever the extent of your patients’ recreational interests and athletic prowess, eyecare professionals (especially in areas where cycling is popular and convenient) should recommend durable sport sunwear to meet the safety needs of casual riders, providing UV and glare protection as well as eye protection; more serious cyclists will benefit from dedicated cycling frames with greater customization capability and advanced lens options.


Contributing editor Sara Bonizio is the marketing director for Metro Optics, a New York-based optical retailer.