Any football players with bad eyes on here?

My 8th grader is the center for his football team. It's the joy of being 6-1, 187 at 13 years old. He has bad eyes, about -5. He can't wear contacts. We've been unable to find any kind of glasses that will work under his helmet, and we've actually purchased a few pair. He's always just played 'blind'. Good thing he isn't a wide receiver.

Would welcome ANY suggestions.

 

http://www.sporteyes.com/football.htm
Read up & scroll to bottom to Recommended Styles

Good Luck

 

Probably a stupid idea, but I know you can get prescription ski googles?

Or, how about a "prescription" visor like they all seem to be wearing these days?

Having said that, seems to me most centers may as well be blind anyway

Cheers,
Ian

 

why can't he wear contacts? I played a couple years of D1A football and I have a -7 prescription, but I can't imagine doing it without contacts.

 

We've done the whole contacts thing. Didn't work out.

Will check that site, thank you!

EDIT: Well hell. The site suggest RecSpecs, which we own. They don't work. They also suggest other styles with a 'helmet adapter strap' that essentially turn them into the same style as Rec Specs. The strap is the problem. When he puts his helmet on, the strap gets pushed down the back of his head, which in turn pulls the glasses down his face.

There has to be a better way.

 

Maybe he needs to grow out his afro.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

what about laser eye surgery?

 

Honestly Jim, I'd TRY to get in touch with the Head Trainers - preferably some that have been around awhile - for the Cowboys or Mavericks, or the local Universities.

Is there a 'Sports Medicine' division of the local college Med School, let alone an Optometry Division/School?

Your son cannot possibly be the first ever in such a predicament, somebody has to make something that will work, although it may not be cheap.

PS - your local eyeglass outlets - USUALLY go to the same 'grinding shops' to have their custom-made lenses made. Here in Blamaha every eyeglass place uses one of two labs here in town, maybe try to find out who the main labs are in Dallas and talk to them? They can't make glasses (frames) for you, but they might be able to steer you to somebody that can, who will in-turn order the lenses from them.

 

Couldn't you just sew on another strap that goes from one side, over the top of his head, and down to the other side to keep the strap from getting pulled down? Sure seems like an easy <$5 solution since you already own the glasses...

 

Why can't he wear contacts? That is the best option.

Too young for LASIK by the way.

MDS

 

I wonder if you called RecSpecs home office and talked to them if they can steer you to something, surely your son is not the first in the world to have this need?
Some companies have folks that work on the rare custom-made stuff that is different than the 'retail' or even 'off the rack' stuff?