In a survey of 89 CHS athletes on Oct. 19, 45 percent wear either glasses, contacts, braces or retainers in their games. Some athletes, like year-round runner and sophomore Colleen Megerle of Colts Neck, have to deal with both braces and glasses in sports.

“I got contacts recently which are a lot of help in racing and running in general, but the braces never really bothered me,” Megerle said.

Both Megerle and sophomore Kyle Wheeler of Wall said braces do not inhibit performance in any way and noticed no change in performance level when getting them on or off. Megerle and Wheeler, a soccer player, also said they never wore a mouthguard, but still were not troubled by the braces.  

But some high-school sports, such as football, lacrosse, field hockey and wrestling, require participants to wear mouthguards to prevent injury.

School nurse Dorothy Condon explained the dangers of not wearing mouthguards.

“[Braces] can be knocked off and cause damage to your teeth, gums, or lips,” Condon said.

She recommended that during any contact sports, players with braces wear the Boil and Bite Mouth Protectors because they conform around the teeth and braces to prevent injury.

While braces don’t affect many CHS athletes, glasses cause issues for some. Megerle said her glasses bounce on her face while running and impede her vision during rainy weather.

But unlike Megerle, senior Rachel Fenniman of Ocean Township thinks her glasses are essential to her performance as a member of her home school’s Color Guard.

“Personally, I think wearing glasses is important because I think seeing what everyone else is doing is more important than the safety of my face,” Fenniman said.

Condon stressed the importance of wearing eye protection at all times during sports even while wearing contacts. If hit while wearing glasses or contacts, eye damage, such as a scratch to the cornea could follow, some even require surgery. The chances of a serious injury are less likely while wearing contacts, but it is better to wear protective goggles to prevent any harm.

“I definitely recommend wearing both [a mouthguard or protective goggles] during any activity,” Condon said.