If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, you might be wondering: Can I do MMA with contact lenses? Or maybe you’re curious, Do MMA fighters wear contact lenses? You’re not alone—this is a question many aspiring fighters ask.
According to a 2023 study, an astounding 4 billion people worldwide use eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. In the USA alone, 70% of adults need some form of vision correction.
So if you’re concerned about whether bad eyesight might hold you back from MMA or other martial arts, don’t worry—I got you!
As someone who’s worn eyeglasses for years, I can tell you firsthand that my shortsightedness never stopped me from pursuing MMA.
In this article, I’ll explain why poor eyesight doesn’t have to be a barrier in MMA, how you can train with vision challenges and the official rules about wearing contact lenses in MMA matches. Let’s dive into how you can tackle MMA with confidence—no matter your eyesight!
Eyesight 101: What Is Bad Eyesight for MMA Fighters?
Before diving in further, let’s look at the two most common types of vision problems: myopia and hyperopia.
What is Myopia (Shortsightedness)?
Myopia, or shortsightedness, means you can clearly see objects that are close to you, but things get blurry as they move farther away.
What is Hyperopia (Farsightedness)?
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, allows you to see objects clearly at a distance but makes it difficult to focus on things up close. This vision issue often develops in adults after the age of 40-45.
What Does 20/20 Vision Mean?
Eye doctors measure the clarity and sharpness of vision using a system known as 20/20 vision or 6/6 vision. But what does that actually mean?
An eye chart
measures your visual acuity—how sharp your vision is. The top number represents your distance from the chart in feet, while the bottom number indicates the distance at which a person with normal eyesight can read the same line.
For example, if you have 20/40 vision, you can read a line of letters from 20 feet away, while someone with normal vision can read it from 40 feet. In other words, your eyesight is less sharp than average.
What Is Legal Blindness?
In the USA, if your vision is 20/200 or worse even with corrective lenses like glasses or contact lenses, you are considered legally blind. For an MMA fighter, according to unified rules of mixed martial arts, this will disqualify you from any competition.
Can MMA fighters wear contact lenses?
Yes! According to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, fighters are allowed to wear contact lenses during fights. If you lose a contact lens during a match, the referee can pause the fight, allowing you to recollect and reinsert the lens before resuming.
The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) also has strict medical requirements for MMA fighters, both professional and amateur. In almost every state across the USA, fighters must undergo a vision test before competing.
This means whether you wear contact lenses or not, as long as a certified ophthalmologist confirms that your vision is safe and sufficient for competition, you are allowed to participate in MMA bouts. Even with contacts, your vision must meet the medical standards set by these organizations to ensure you can fight safely.
How to Handle Contact Lenses in MMA Training and Fights
In my experience, the best way to handle contact lenses in MMA training or fights is simple: don’t use them at all!
I know this might sound strange, especially if you’ve been relying on glasses or contacts since a young age, but hear me out. The truth is, you might not actually need them during practice or fights.
Why You Don’t Always Need Contact Lenses in MMA
Think about it—during a sparring session or fight, your opponent is trying to close the gap and strike. Even if you have 20/30 vision and things at a distance are slightly blurry, you’ll still be able to see your opponent and their movements up close.
I’ve practiced with contact lenses before, and honestly, it didn’t help. Here’s why:
- Distraction: I found myself constantly worrying about whether the lenses could withstand the impact of punches or kicks, instead of focusing on the fight itself.
- Losing Lenses: No matter the type or how well-moistened they were, if I took a direct hit to the face, the lenses would fall out. This happened multiple times during sparring, and it seriously interrupted my training.
Why You Should Avoid Glasses in MMA
Wearing glasses during MMA practice is a definite no. Glasses can easily break, and the shattered pieces can injure your eyes—a risk you don’t want to take.
If You Must Use Contact Lenses
If you’re not comfortable training without lenses, be sure to invest in high-quality lenses designed to stay moist and in place. Personally, I recommend using daily disposable lenses because they’re fresh each time and more comfortable during training.
Consider LASIK Surgery
Another option is laser eye surgery (LASIK), which many fighters choose to permanently correct their vision. This can eliminate the need for contact lenses or glasses entirely, allowing you to train and fight without worry.
Famous UFC Fighters with Bad Eyesight
Several UFC fighters have fought with significant vision problems. Here are two of the most famous examples:
Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje,
known for his hard-hitting style, struggled with poor eyesight for much of his career. In his early days, he often wore glasses to press conferences and had difficulty seeing his opponents clearly inside the octagon. Gaethje’s vision issues were so severe that he once admitted he could barely see his opponent during fights.
In 2020, former UFC fighter Dan Hardy revealed that Gaethje had undergone laser eye surgery, which greatly improved his vision. Since then, Gaethje has been able to compete without worrying about his eyesight affecting his performance.
Charles Oliveira
Brazilian MMA fighter Charles Oliveira also faced serious vision challenges. Before his UFC 280 bout against Islam Makhachev, Oliveira discussed his poor eyesight on a podcast. He explained that he used to see multiple faces in the octagon, and his vision was only 50% effective. This, of course, made fighting incredibly difficult.
However, after undergoing laser eye surgery, Oliveira regained 100% of his eyesight, giving him a significant boost in his performance. His story highlights the impact that clear vision can have on an MMA fighter’s ability to compete at the highest level.
Final Thoughts
In MMA or any other martial arts style, bad eyesight doesn’t have to stand in your way.
Whether you choose to fight with contact lenses, consider LASIK surgery, or even adapt to sparring without them, you have options. The key is to find what works best for you and to ensure that your vision meets the standards for safety in the ring.
At the end of the day, your focus should be on your training and technique, not worrying about your vision.So, gear up, get your vision sorted, and hit the mats with confidence—MMA is within your reach, no matter what your eyesight looks like!