Through their eyes: seven celebrities who wear contact lenses

Have you ever held back from doing something you love because you wear glasses?

It could be due to fears of injury, worries they’ll affect your performance or even insecurities… Imagine if Cristiano Ronaldo, who’s just taken the lead for the most amount of goals scored in a career at a whopping 800, did the same. The playing field could look very different today!

Take a look at the visuals below and imagine the world from a brand new perspective - through the eyes of celebrities whose most memorable career moments might’ve been totally different if they hadn’t worn contact lenses.

We’ve also teamed up with a professional optometrist to get expert advice on eye and lens care during and after sports and other hobbies so that you can ensure you’re keeping your contacts in good condition.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Hailed as one of the greatest footballers of all time, 36-year old Cristiano Ronaldo needs no introduction. But what you may not know is that the footballing superstar wears contact lenses to ensure he can perform at his best level on the pitch.

Around 20% of Ronaldo’s goals have been headers, showing that contact lenses are safe even when the ball is making contact with the head very close to the eye.

Ronaldo’s come back to Manchester United has proved successful so far, as he’s rescued the team on numerous occasions, contributing 12 goals in 15 games just this season alone.

This is what Ronaldo would see without contact lenses on the pitch.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson

28-year-old Olympic champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson, also known as KJT, is best known for her success on track and field. The athlete recently broke the British record in the 2019 World Championships, winning herself a gold medal, and also holds the British record for the women’s pentathlon at the 2015 and 2019 European Indoor Championships.

Katarina’s natural talent on the track has been bolstered by her use of contact lenses, with the athlete claiming: “I definitely couldn’t be a heptathlete without my contact lenses. They allow me to perform, they allow me to be free – they just allow me to be myself.”

Imagine taking a stab at track and field without them.

Novak Djokovic

World-renowned tennis superstar Novak Djokovic (34) has won 86 ATP singles titles, five ATP Finals titles, and a record 37 ATP Masters titles.

Djokovic certainly doesn’t mess around when it’s time to serve up his A-game on the tennis court. The world’s number 1 ranked player can credit part of his incredible success to his 20/20 vision, provided by his contact lenses.

As you can see, without them, he would need much more than a second serve to make his shots…

David De Gea

Aged 31, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is known as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, having enjoyed many career-defining moments during the course of his sporting life.

A little known fact about De Gea? He actually has an eye condition called hypermetropia, meaning he is far-sighted and can only see things that are far away from him. To counteract this, De Gea relies on the use of contact lenses when on the pitch, helping him to keep his eye on the ball.

Doing so without them could be tricky.

Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko is a Korean-born New Zealand professional golf player. At just 24, she was the youngest person ever to win a professional golf tour event and the youngest person ever to win an LPGA tour. After wearing glasses for the first part of her career, she claimed that switching to contact lenses changed the way that she saw the world.

With glasses, Ko found that if she wasn’t looking straight out through them, but left or right instead, that the distance can look different. Which when it comes to taking a shot is less than ideal. After switching to contacts, Ko said “Contacts are right on your eyeballs. They move around with your eyes…The last thing I want is to have to clean my glasses when I’m playing.”

Jennifer Aniston

Possibly one of the most-loved actresses of our time, the award-winning Jennifer Aniston, aged 52, also wears contacts both on and off-screen.

Famous for her portrayal of Rachel Green in the popular sitcom Friends, she has also played lead roles in numerous shows and movies. More recently, Aniston wrapped the second season of Apple TV’s The Morning Show, in which she stars alongside Reese Witherspoon.

There’s no doubt the star would struggle in a glam photoshoot or on the red carpet without her trusty contact lenses.

Orlando Bloom

44-year old British heartthrob Orlando Bloom is best known for playing Legolas in the blockbuster The Lord of The Rings and is also engaged to pop singer Katy Perry. Bloom wears contact lenses not only to correct his sight but also for his film roles; the actor wore blue coloured contacts for his part as Legolas.

This is what Minis Tirith would have looked like without them.

Contact lens wear and care

No matter what you’re doing, whether that’s playing sports, swimming, travelling or just heading to work, you should feel confident that your lenses are providing you with the best vision possible allowing you to feel your very best.

So how can you look after your own eyes and lenses to ensure they stay in top condition when doing your day-to-day activities? We spoke to optometrist Sujata Paul for her top tips on contact lens care for a variety of different sports and hobbies, so whether you’re in the water or on dry land, you’ll have all the information you need to perform at the top of your game.

Swimming and water sports

If swimming’s your thing, consider wearing eye protection in the water. Sujata recommends using a vision-correcting kit that prevents water from seeping in - “Wear tight-fitting goggles to prevent water getting in, and have prescription swimming goggles so there’s no need to wear contact lenses.”

If you do need to wear lenses in the water, it’s important to give your eyes a break straight away once you get back onto dry land, to avoid irritation. “Remove contact lenses immediately after swimming, wear glasses and wait a few hours before inserting a fresh pair of lenses,” says Sujata.

If you’re wearing daily disposables, Sujata says it’s important to throw them away after your session and not reuse them. She recommends combatting dryness with rewetting eye drops as chlorine/sea salt has the potential to aggravate your eyes.

High-intensity activities

If you regularly enjoy dynamic sports where you’re moving around a lot, such as running or tennis, it’s best to use soft lenses, such as daily disposable contacts. They’ll allow you to see clearly, and won’t aggravate the eye as you move around.

Sujata says: “Soft lenses offer better stability for both comfort and vision, while one-time use lenses provide better hygiene and reduce your chance of an eye infection as there’s no cleaning involved”.

Just remember never to use daily disposable lenses more than once, as they’re only designed for one-time use and could cause an infection.

Contact sports

While contact sports like rugby, football, and karate are good fun, they do come with risks, and it’s important to be aware of the things you can do to keep both your eyes and lenses as healthy as possible.

In rugby, the regulators that govern the sport don’t allow players to wear glasses. Given the level of contact in rugby, this isn’t surprising, but it makes daily disposables a great option, as they’re not only safe but provide full peripheral vision.

Sujata says: “Due to the nature of the sport, it being muddy and close contact, one-time lenses are essential to reduce the chance of eye infections. This is therefore important for both hygiene and safety”.

If you’re taking part in contact sports, be sure to throw away your lenses immediately after playing and before showering to minimise the chances of an infection.

General eye care and infection prevention

Contact lenses are generally very safe and easy to use and can help to make your daily activities much more comfortable and enjoyable. It’s important to remember the proper care for them though and to consider safety and hygiene when using them.

In order to ensure your eyes remain well looked after and infections are kept at bay, it’s advisable to follow the NHS’ guidance on contact lenses:

• Always wash, rinse and dry your hands thoroughly before touching your lenses.
• Only wear your contact lenses for the recommended time as highlighted on the box.
• Always have an up-to-date pair of glasses for when you take your lenses out.
• Book in regular contact lens check-ups, even if everything seems ok.
• Get advice straight away if you’re having any problems with your contact lenses, such as sore, red or swollen eyes. If this happens, remove your lenses until you are told it is safe to start using them again.

Sujata also advises avoiding exposing contact lenses to any sources of water, since the bacteria in water can cause serious harm to eye health, potentially leading to loss of vision. She also suggests being cautious when it comes to hair products and make-up since residual products from these products can be transferred onto the lenses and cause problems.

When to seek professional advice?

If you’re worried you might have an infection or are experiencing problems with your vision, you should make an appointment with your GP or optometrist immediately.

Look out for the following symptoms:

• Blurry vision
• Pain/discomfort in the eye
• Unusual redness in eyes
• Mucous/watery discharge
• Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
• Foreign body sensation in the eye
• Cannot remove lenses
• Contact lens trapped under eyelid

These symptoms could be a sign of infection or another underlying problem, so be sure to seek medical advice.

Are you looking to up your game and enjoy your hobbies with hassle-free, crystal clear vision? Have a browse through our full collection of contact lenses to find the perfect pair for you.

From daily disposables to extended wear lenses, there’s something to suit everyone - whether you’re a painter, performer or pentathlete. We’ve even got the best coloured contact lenses to help give you a brand new look for a party or event.