I have a high diopter, can I play sports full force?

[Eldin]

My diopter is 8.00 in my left eye and 8.30 in my right eye. I used to wear glasses (a couple of weeks ago), but now I wear contact lenses and went to play football with friends 3 days ago, but I always ignore hitting the ball with my head and play every sport half-hearted (not full, 100% power).

So, can I play sports, mostly basketball (I'm 6'5'' so I like bball), and what is the worst that can happen if I do? I play sports in contact lenses because it's way easier than glasses, there is nothing to break, no slipperiness, no fog etc.

Can I play sports full force or not? (I haven't bought protective eyewear and don't intend to unless a doctor suggests it... Only yearly lenses and 2 pairs of normal glasses)

My eye doctor (opthamologist) said it's no problem to even box with lenses yet alone other softer/easier sports as well.

[JohnHaganMD]

Your ophthalmologist is in a much better position to advise you than I am. If you play a contact sport like football, soccer, rugby, lacrosse and you wear contacts you should wear eye protection goggles over them (sports specific eye protection). Regular glasses do not protect your eye enough and neither does just contacts. Boxing is a brutal sport that no one in my opinion no one should participate in. I have personally taken care of 4-6 boxers with retinal detachments.

[Eldin]

Thank you for your answer doctor. I was just saying boxing as an example, I don't play extreme sports, only football(soccer) and basketball.

Another question I have is if I can wear sunglasses over contact lenses, beacause nothing should touch your contact lense, no bacteria, and the sunglasses are close to the eyes, so can I wear them? ALSO:Can I wear them when it rains/snows?

Thank you again for taking your time to answer my questions, I appreciate it.

[JohnHaganMD]

Yes you can wear sunglasses or protective sporting goggles over your contacts. You will see better with contacts because the image from contacts will be bigger and easier to read than with your thick glasses.  Yes you can wear contacts in rain, snow, gloom of night.