The competitive edge

Sports vision appliances are more widespread and varied than may at first be apparent. Any appliance that can give enhanced performance or protection from either missiles or radiation hazards could be included.
This means that most of us unwittingly dispense for sport, only to become aware of this once something has gone wrong, for example when narrower frames restrict the field of view, or modern materials cause distortion. If such a dispense impairs the patient's sporting ability, they are likely to return to the practice to complain.
A careful assessment of the demands of any particular sport can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of an appliance. For example, the best spectacles for rifle shooting bear no resemblance to those for shotgun shooting.
Rifle shooting is a monocular task requiring a modified prescription for a static target; the clarity of the gun-sight is of over-riding importance. Shotgun firing, however, is binocular and a fast-moving assessment of the clay is essential.

Contact Lenses
Contact lenses, are often the best visual option, as they provide no restriction on the field of view and constraints regarding the stability and safety of the frame and so on. But these also require extra thought for some sports.
A lens assessed as fitting on alignment is likely to move with blinking on up-gaze, the superior periphery of the lens being over the pupil as long as gaze upwards is maintained. This could give rise to disturbing prismatic effects, for example for a badminton player with overhead shots. Given that a significant number of severe eye injuries in badminton come from missed clears (and not just smashes, as one might expect) the ocular safety of the player may be compromised.
Clarity of vision, preferably binocular, on upward gaze is essential to avoid ocular injury in the situation of dealing with a descending shuttlecock.
Most contact lens manufacturers now boast 'aberration free' lenses, which may give improved visual quality in low contrast situations. These are available in both monthly and long-term wear lenses, for example the Nissel sports lens which has a larger diameter to reduce flare and increase stability.
Consideration should also be given to whether UV inhibitors are required, as in sailing, where the drying effects of heat and wind along with spray may also cause complications.
Ciba Vision produces a lens in a teal tint for tennis, featuring a Boll