Tee Off in Style and Safety: Why Wearing Sports Glasses in Golf Matters More Than You Think

Whether you're an amateur golfer or a seasoned pro, you've likely invested in the best clubs, shoes, and even a state-of-the-art rangefinder. But what about your eyes—the most critical tool in your game? Surprisingly, many golfers overlook the importance of protecting and optimising their vision on the course. That’s where sports glasses specifically designed for golf come in.

Let’s explore why they’re not just a fashion statement, but a performance and health necessity.

Precision Vision: The Edge Every Golfer Needs

Golf demands extreme visual precision. You need to track a small white ball against a sky-blue or overcast backdrop, judge distances, read greens, and adjust to constantly changing light conditions.

Sports glasses for golf are typically engineered with lenses that:

• Enhance contrast (especially between green and white).

• Reduce glare from sun and water hazards.

• Improve depth perception, crucial for judging distance and slopes.

According to the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), nearly 5 million people in the UK require spectacle correction while playing sports. Golfers fall into this group—which highlights the scale of the opportunity (and need) for properly fitted sports eyewear

UV Protection: Your Eyes Are at Risk

Golfers often spend 4 to 5 hours per round exposed to direct and reflected sunlight.

Prolonged UV exposure can lead to:

• Cataracts

• Macular degeneration

• Photokeratitis (sunburn of the cornea)

• Pterygium (a growth on the white of the eye)

High-quality sports sunglasses block 100% of UVA and UVB rays, offering a layer of protection that can significantly reduce the risk of these long-term issues.

The World Health Organisation estimates that up to 20% of cataracts are caused by UV exposure, a risk easily reduced by wearing UV-protective eyewear.

Impact Protection: Accidents Happen

While golf may seem like a low-risk sport, eye injuries are more common than many realise—caused by stray balls, snapped tees, tree branches, or even wind-blown debris. Golf balls can travel at over 120 mph, and even a minor impact to the eye can result in serious damage, including corneal abrasion, orbital fractures, or retinal injury.

That’s where golf-specific sports glasses come in. They’re not just about vision enhancement—they’re about protection.

A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that 90% of eye injuries in sports could be prevented with the proper protective eyewear. For golfers, that means not just seeing better—but staying safer.

An Underrated Investment

While golf clubs and shoes are essential, your vision ultimately dictates your performance. Sports glasses specifically designed for golf not only protect your eyes but also enhance your game by improving visual clarity, contrast, and focus.

Whether you're teeing off in the morning sun or sinking a crucial putt in the late afternoon glow, make sure your eyes are equipped for the challenge. A clearer view could be the key to shaving strokes off your score—and protecting your eyesight for years to come.

Ready to upgrade your game? Speak to us about golf-specific eyewear and find out what lenses and frames suit your vision and play style best.

Watch our video showcasing our latest project, creating the ultimate golf sunglasses for a client in the US: https://youtube.com/shorts/cmaFAXCA-KQ?si=Cv9pn-NbVorSFjgE