Could Laser Eye Surgery Improve Your Marathon Experience?

Eye Care Tips For Marathon Runners

Running a marathon, no matter the distance, puts significant strain on your body, including your eyes. Dust, wind, sweat, and prolonged exposure to the elements can lead to discomfort or irritation during a long race. Here are a few practical eye care tips tailored for Marathon Day to keep your vision clear and comfortable over the miles:

1. Hydrate Early: Dehydration can dry out your eyes, reducing tear production. Start hydrating 24-48 hours before the race with water and electrolyte drinks to maintain overall moisture levels, including the moisture in your eyes.
2. Consider Lubricating Eye Drops: If you’re prone to dry eyes, pack a small jar of artificial tears, but check the marathon rules to be sure that you are permitted to use them. Apply the drops before the race starts to pre-empt irritation from sweat or dust.
3. Protect Against The Sun And UV Rays: Choose lightweight, UV-protective sunglasses with a snug fit to shield your eyes from sun, wind, and debris. Wraparound styles offer the best protection.
4. Be Mindful of Allergies: If you’re running during pollen season, wear sunglasses and take allergy medication if necessary. Use antihistamine eye drops before the race if you have seasonal allergies.
5. Blink Regularly: Fatigue can make you blink less, drying out your eyes. Consciously blink every few minutes, especially in windy or dry conditions along exposed stretches.
6. Shield Your Eyes From Sweat: Wear a sweat-wicking headband or visor to divert sweat away from your eyes. Salty sweat can sting and blur vision if it seeps in.
7. Rinse After Running: After finishing the marathon, rinse your face with clean water to remove sweat and salt around your eyes. If possible, close your eyes for a few minutes to let them recover from hours of exposure.
8. Post-Marathon Checkup: If your eyes feel unusually sore, blurry, or sensitive hours later, see an eye care professional. Prolonged irritation could be the sign of a scratched cornea or infection from debris.

Optimax Is A Proud Sponsor Of The 2025 Liverpool Half Marathon

This year’s edition of the annual Liverpool Half and 10 Miler Marathon will take place on Sunday 23rd March 2025. It marks the 31st anniversary since the start of what was originally known as the Liverpool International Half Marathon back in 1994.

The half marathon has become a firm favourite in the lead up to the London Marathon, with many people using the race as a test of their progress as they head toward the tail end of their marathon training. Others use the 10-mile distance as a step up from regular 10Ks and test themselves over a longer distance.

Known for its vibrant, celebratory vibe, the event showcases Liverpool’s rich culture and scenic beauty, enhanced by community support along the route. The start and finish of the marathon is at the Pier Head on the waterfront in front of the Liver Buildings in the city centre. Other landmarks nearby are Liverpool ONE retail centre, Albert Dock and the Liverpool Museum.

With the city now a firm visitor destination with people from across the world, it is expected that the 2025 marathon will attract a mix of elite runners, club athletes, and casual participants, including many raising funds for charities.

The 2025 Liverpool Half and 10 Miler Marathon is sponsored by a number of brands, including Optimax Eye Surgery, the UK’s longest-established laser eye surgery specialist. We have 18 clinics spread across the UK, including one in Liverpool, and we are committed to making quality eye care accessible to people all over the country. We invest constantly in the latest technologies to ensure that our clinics are always at the forefront of innovation in the field of ophthalmology.

For over 30 years, we have been a trusted provider of vision correction treatments, helping thousands of people reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses and contact lenses. With well-equipped clinics, a team of passionate professionals, and a commitment to personalised care, we have distinguished ourselves as a top choice for refractive treatments in the UK.

How Laser Eye Surgery Fixes Vision Challenges Peculiar To Marathons

Marathon running presents unique vision challenges due to the combination of prolonged physical exertion, environmental exposure, and the need for sustained focus over hours.

In particular, wearing glasses or contact lenses during a marathon introduces specific challenges that can affect comfort, vision, and performance over the long haul of a race. Some of these include:

1. Slipping: As you sweat, glasses can slide down your nose, requiring constant adjustments which could slow you down as you run.
2. Limited Peripheral Vision: Some glasses may not provide a wide field of view, making it harder to spot hazards or other runners.
3. Discomfort: For glasses, frames may cause pressure on the nose or behind the ears, leading to discomfort. For contact lenses, runners could experience eye irritation when faced with season allergies or dry air.
4. Obstructions: In rainy or dusty conditions, glasses can get wet or dirty, reducing visibility. In the case of contact lenses, long races can lead to dehydration and wind exposure can dry them out, causing blurry vision.
5. Falling Off: Sudden movements, bouncing, or wiping sweat off your face could ultimately cause the glasses to fall off. Contact lenses may also get dislodged mid-race; this could happen when you rub your eyes or blink excessively.

These teething problems can be avoided by runners if they decide to try out laser eye surgery, a revolutionary treatment used to correct common vision problems like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. It provides a competitive edge by enhancing vision, improving comfort, and reducing potential distractions.

Here are some of the ways in which laser eye surgery improves your marathon experience:

• Clear Vision Without Glasses: Many runners struggle with foggy lenses, frames slipping due to sweat, or rain blurring their vision. Laser eye surgery provides sharp vision without the hassle of adjusting glasses mid-race or worrying about them falling off. It also eliminates the discomfort of dry eyes caused by contact lenses, allowing for a distraction-free run.
• Newfound Freedom: With laser eye surgery, you can run, sweat, and move freely without worrying about eyewear. Whether you're sprinting to the finish line or enduring long miles in changing weather conditions, your vision remains clear without any external interference.
• Long-Term Cost Savings: Laser eye surgery removes the burden of recurrent spending on prescription glasses, replacement contacts, cleaning solutions, and frequent eye checkups. In the long run, this procedure helps to save huge sums of money that can be better spent on other kinds of marathon gear.

At Optimax, we offer two types of laser eye surgery, LASIK and LASEK. The same lasers are used for each procedure and both produce outstanding results. We also use Wavefront technology, which obtains a unique map of each eye, and together with other tests we tailor the treatment accordingly. 

Laser eye surgery is a very quick procedure: you’ll be in the treatment room for about 10-15 minutes, but the laser will only be on your eye for a matter of seconds. Much of the time in the surgery room will be spent preparing you for the procedure and checking the laser settings. The laser will be turned on and applied to your eye for a short period which could range from a few seconds to one minute, depending on your prescription. The procedure is generally safe, with minimal exposure to post-surgery risk.

If you have any inquiries about laser eye surgery at Optimax, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are more than happy to discuss queries with you over the phone (0800 093 1110) or email (enquiry@optimax.co.uk).