Every few years, the world’s top soccer nations come together for the most anticipated international competition in the sport. Billions of fans tune in from around the globe, watching every match, every save, and every game-changing goal.
For athletes, it represents the pinnacle of competition. For fans, it’s a celebration of passion, national pride, and unforgettable moments.
But while most conversations focus on speed, strategy, and skill, one critical performance factor often goes unnoticed: Vision.
Few sports place greater demands on the visual system than soccer.
Players must constantly:
At the highest levels of competition, fractions of a second can determine the outcome of a match.
Research has demonstrated that enhanced visual clarity, contrast sensitivity, and visual comfort can positively influence athletic performance, especially in sports requiring rapid decision-making and moving target tracking. ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses were engineered specifically to optimize these visual demands through proprietary Light Architecture™ technology.*
International soccer tournaments are played in a wide range of environments: Bright midday sunshine, overcast conditions, stadium shadows, artificial lighting and reflective playing surfaces
These conditions can create glare, visual stress, and reduced contrast sensitivity, making it more difficult to identify important visual details quickly.
The athletes aren’t the only ones facing challenging lighting conditions. Tens of thousands of fans spend hours in stadiums exposed to bright sunlight, glare, reflections, and changing light conditions before and during the match.
For individuals who experience light sensitivity or visual discomfort, these environments can make it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses are engineered to filter 100% of harmful UV radiation and over 99% of Blue Light, helping provide visual comfort and clarity so fans can focus on the game.
Because some of the greatest moments in soccer happen both on the field and in the stands.
ALTIUS® for Every Soccer Player & Fan, whether or not they wear contact lenses or even have a vision correction. Find an eye care professional near you and ask about ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses. Visit altiusvision.com/find-a-provider to get started.
Unlike ordinary tinted spectacle lenses or adaptive photochromic eyewear, the Light Architecture™ of ALTIUS® is precision-engineered. With over 25 years of research and development, these innovative filters not only control the brightness through their total tint immersion, but also through their targeted biological and neurological impact. ALTIUS® Lenses are designed to manage the quality and quantity of light reaching the eye, reducing “visual noise” caused by chromatic aberration and blue light overstimulation, while enhancing clarity, contrast, and target tracking.
In other words: ALTIUS® performance-tinted single-use soft contact lenses don’t just block glare, it builds a better visual environment for your brain to perform.
Both ALTIUS® tints, Amber and Grey-Green, utilize FDA-cleared Light Architecture™, offering 100% UV absorption and blocking over 99% of blue light (<500 nm) through full 360° total tint immersion. This uniform and complete coverage eliminates peripheral light leakage, surface reflections, and distortion common with spectacles, ensuring uncompromised performance and protection across the entire visual field.
What distinguishes ALTIUS® Amber is its calibration for 50% visible light transmission (VLT), a balance that reduces excessive light without over-dimming the visual field.
This makes it ideal for dynamic, reactive sports like baseball, tennis, and football, where rapid target tracking and contrast recognition are essential. By reducing chromatic aberration by 53%, Amber minimizes “visual noise,” allowing for sharper image formation and faster visual processing.
ALTIUS® Grey-Green’s 38% visible light transmission (VLT) makes it ideally suited for outdoor environments with intense glare, such as on water, turf, or pavement. Athletes and active individuals benefit from enhanced visual comfort, improved contrast, and reduced visual fatigue in bright, high-glare settings.
Traditional spectacle tints such as FL-41 only partially block blue light and allow light to reach the eyes from around or behind the spectacle frame. On the other hand, ALTIUS® Grey-Green and Amber soft contact lenses block over 99% of blue light (<500 nm) and allow no light to enter the eye other than through the lenses.
Clinical surveys show that when worn during migraine attacks, ALTIUS® Grey-Green users report:
Reports from users who suffer from photophobia due to traumatic brain injury, concussion, and other conditions suggest similar favorable results when using either tint.
Both ALTIUS® Grey-Green and Amber spectral transmission profiles are meticulously tuned to the human visual system.
As shown in the above Figure ALTIUS® filters nearly all violet and blue wavelengths, including virtually all energy related to iPRGC Sensitivity, while selectively transmitting narrow-band green light (~550 nm). Burstein’s research identifies this wavelength as uniquely beneficial, it reduces cortical hyperexcitability and evokes calming emotional responses during migraine episodes.
By modulating these neural responses, ALTIUS® Light Architecture™ minimizes pain activation while supporting balanced visual and emotional perception, truly architecting light for neurological wellness.
Traditional flat or spectacle lenses leave the eye exposed to stray peripheral light, a limitation overcome through the evolutionary progression of curved, high-wrap designs pioneered by industry leaders from Nike MaxSight™ to today’s ALTIUS® Light Architecture™ system.
With complete corneal coverage, ALTIUS® achieves the ultimate in light management, merging optical precision with clinical protection, from performance vision to migraine management, post-concussion care and TBI recovery.
With availability in both corrective and non-corrective (Plano) powers, ALTIUS® is truly for EVERYONE.
ALTIUS® Light Architecture™ redefines how eye care practitioners and patients address photosensitivity.
Related information:
As demonstrated in Burstein et al.’s seminal Neurobiology of Photophobia (J Neuro-Ophthalmol, 2019), photophobia is not merely discomfort, it’s a neurological condition involving overstimulation of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). These specialized retinal cells connect visual input to pain-processing centers in the thalamus, amplifying headache pain and emotional distress.
Use of ALTIUS® Single-Use Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses During Water Activities(2024)
Use of Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses in Patients with Photosensitivity (2024)
Every October, Prevent Blindness designates Contact Lens Safety Month to highlight an important message: contact lenses are medical devices, not accessories. With more than 45 million people in the U.S. wearing contact lenses, proper fitting, safe use, and daily hygiene are essential to protecting vision and eye health.
That’s where ALTIUS® performance-tinted single-use soft contact lenses bring peace of mind. Designed with both performance and protection in mind, they give wearers the visual clarity, comfort, and safety they need, every single day.
Improper use of contact lenses can put eyes at serious risk. Poorly fitted lenses or outdated prescriptions can injure the cornea, while exposure to water or improper cleaning may lead to painful infections such as Acanthamoeba keratitis. Even cosmetic or decorative lenses require a prescription and professional fitting.
The message is clear: healthy eyes depend on safe lenses compliance and professional guidance. That’s why speaking to an eye care specialist is always the first step.
Unlike planned-replacement lenses that require cleaning, disinfection and storage, ALTIUS® single-use daily disposable lenses deliver fresh, hygienic comfort every day, with no solutions, no surface build-up, and reduced infection risk.
But ALTIUS® goes further than safety. Built with Light Architecture™ Technology, they are clinically validated to:
ALTIUS® protects eyes from environmental stressors while enhancing the way users see and perform in daily life.
October is also recognized as Eye Injury Prevention Month, a reminder that vision protection goes beyond contact lens safety and extends into sports performance.
According to Prevent Blindness, more eye injuries occur from basketball than any other sport, followed by pools and water sports. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) notes that nearly 90% of serious eye injuries can be prevented with proper protective eyewear, and even spectators are at risk from unexpected contact with balls or players.
Sports-related eye injuries can include corneal abrasions, retinal detachment, and traumatic cataracts, many of which can be avoided with the use of appropriate, certified eye protection.
ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted single-use soft contact lenses, oftentimes used in conjunction with protective clear eyewear, help athletes see better and perform better. They provide up to 62% reduced Visible Light Transmission (VLT) in bright environments, 100% UV protection, and 99%+ blue light filtration for clearer, more comfortable vision.
Whether it’s basketball under bright lights or water sports on reflective surfaces, ALTIUS® can help protect what matters most: your vision.
Contact Lens Safety Month is a reminder, but safe practices should be part of every day. The best contact lens is the one that not only enhances vision but also protects eye health.
ALTIUS® delivers both. By combining the safety of single-use disposables with performance-driven benefits, ALTIUS® empowers users to live, work, and play with confidence.
👉 Talk to your eye care specialist to learn if ALTIUS® is right for you.
In football, every position demands split-second reaction time and precise vision. Whether you’re a quarterback reading coverage, a receiver tracking the ball in glare and shadow, or a lineman reacting off the snap, comfortable and clear vision can be the difference between success or failure.
That’s where ALTIUS® AMBER Performance-Tinted Single-Use Soft Contact Lenses come in. Engineered to sharpen visual clarity, cut glare, and improve target tracking, they deliver an edge that athletes can feel immediately. ALTIUS® gives athletes the freedom to perform without distraction because they don’t fog, don’t distort, and don’t interfere with peripheral vision as sunglasses or visors do.
The American football, nicknamed the “Pigskin” dating back to its origins in the 1850’s, still retains the same low-contrast brown color, especially the pro-level ball that lacks the white stripes used in college and youth play, is arguably one of the hardest objects in sports to visually track. When seen against complex, ever-changing backgrounds like stadium seating, spectators, the turf, player uniforms, and bright sky or stadium lights, the ball can almost disappear. The improved contrast and clarity created by ALTIUS® helps the ball “pop” from the background, making it easier to locate, track, and catch.
At every level, athletes are realizing that Vision, the guiding sense to most of performance, can be protected, optimized, and trained. ALTIUS® is leading that shift. So if you’re noticing more athletes with that signature amber-red tint in their eyes, it’s not just a trend. It’s a sign of athletes protecting their vision, enhancing their performance, and gaining an edge that could change the game.
At the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA)—the premier U.S. organization for neuro-optometric rehabilitation—ALTIUS® presented new clinical data on photophobia management. Rachel C. Ayars, ABO, NCLE (Director, ALTIUS®), Dr. Charles Shidlofsky, OD, FOVDR, FNAP, and Janice Nilsson, COMT, OSC, engaged directly with attending doctors during the poster presentation.
The data demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in light sensitivity symptoms—average patient scores dropped from 8.86 to 2.58 after one month of ALTIUS® use. The event validated ALTIUS® as a disruptive, clinically relevant innovation for patients with migraine, concussion, and light-triggered neurological conditions. It also created meaningful opportunities to connect with leading neuro-optometric physicians and reinforce ALTIUS®’ growing role in the medical management of photosensitivity.
“The migraine market is projected to grow steadily from $1.93 billion in 2024 to $1.97 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 2.2%. This growth is attributed to the rising prevalence of migraines, growing awareness of treatment options, government initiatives, increased alcohol consumption, and lifestyle changes” (The Business Research Company).
As an Eye Care Professional (ECP), you likely encounter patients struggling with migraines, many of whom experience photophobia—an extreme sensitivity to light. Traditional solutions like sunglasses or blue-light-filtering glasses provide partial relief but often fall short in addressing the full spectrum of visual discomfort. This presents an opportunity for ECPs to adopt more advanced, clinically supported solutions, such as ALTIUS® performance-tinted contact lenses.
A clinical study evaluated the effectiveness of ALTIUS® Grey-Green Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses for migraine sufferers with photophobia, revealing statistically significant improvements in light sensitivity, visual comfort, and daily function.
Key Findings from the ALTIUS® Migraine Study
Patient-Reported Symptom Improvements After One Month of ALTIUS® Wear:
The study confirmed that ALTIUS® effectively reduces visual discomfort triggered by light, enhances contrast sensitivity, and provides a non-invasive alternative to traditional migraine management strategies
Patients with migraine-related photophobia often face:
For ECPs, addressing these gaps is crucial. Providing a solution that not only blocks harmful UV but also improves visual comfort and clarity can significantly enhance patient outcomes.
ALTIUS is a single-use, soft-tinted contact lens engineered to filter light efficiently while maintaining optimal visual performance. Its core benefits include:
The demand for clinically proven, migraine-friendly optical solutions is rapidly growing. ECPs who integrate ALTIUS® into their practice will not only deliver life-changing relief for light-sensitive patients but also establish themselves as leaders in advanced, patient-centered eye care.
💡 Interested in offering ALTIUS in your practice? Contact us today to learn more!
References:
https://www.openpr.com/news/3853093/key-influencer-in-the-migraine-market-2025-rising-prevalence
Feel Better and Play Better - Emma Bruntil’s ALTIUS® Story
Emma Bruntil, a wrestler for Team USA, first experienced debilitating migraines in December 2022. As many migraines sufferers experience, the reason behind her migraines wasn’t fully clear. It could be the injuries she’s suffered in her sport, including a neck injury that resulted in an uptick in anxiety. But no doctor could give her a real diagnosis for the cause of her severe migraines.
The biggest trigger for her migraines? Bright lights.
Due to her sport, Emma would spend hours in an extremely bright lit gym practicing and competing, which became a huge problem for her migraines.. She found herself suffering worse and more frequent migraines as she was constantly under some kind of bright light - weight lifting, practicing, competing. The light caused her not only to fall prey to another migraine, but also pulled her focus from what she really wanted to be concentrating on - her sport.
Her doctor prescribed her some medicine that seemed to help, but didn’t fully resolve the issue.
The only thing that started to help was wearing sunglasses. The sunglasses helped to remove some of the bright light that triggered her migraines, but she couldn’t wear sunglasses during practice or competition.
And she noticed that wearing the sunglasses before competing gave her a disoriented feeling. When she had to take the sunglasses off, bright lights felt harsher and overwhelming. She needed another solution to let her feel better and perform to her best abilities.
That’s when Dr. Mike Saxerud suggested that Emma give ALTIUS lenses a try.
As Dr. Saxerud explains, “Before the Altius lenses, we were able to reduce her migraine symptoms and improve her visual responses with a variety of neuro-optometric and vision therapy techniques. However, the bright lights in the weight room and gym were the obstacles that kept us from continuing to progress. Once the Altius lenses were employed, we have seen tremendous improvements in her visual function and comfort that has allowed her to see more progression and get the extra edge needed to compete and win at the highest level.”
She got a sample of our Amber lenses. As someone who had never worn contact lenses or needed any vision correction, inserting and removing the lenses did have a slight learning curve. Because our lenses are soft with a vivid tint, the process was easier than she expected. She adapted quickly to wearing them. Her first time wearing them in competition resulted in her feeling better than she had in a long time. In fact, she won that tournament, out scoring her opponents 32-2.
Emma continued to wear the Amber lenses during her training and competitions, when she knew she would be faced with bright lights that could cause a migraine. She found that her light sensitivity wasn’t the only thing that ALTIUS helped with.
The anxiety that she started having after her neck injury improved significantly. She felt the overall calming effect that many experience when wearing ALTIUS lenses. When our eyes are less stressed, our mind tends to find better focus and release the anxiety caused by visual noise and disturbance.
Her wrestling also improved. She competed against an opponent that had previously beaten her 3 of the 4 times. Wearing the Amber lenses, Emma beat her opponent in 2 of the 3 matches, taking the win. She felt more confident and controlled, which helped her focus on technique and responding quickly to her opponent’s moves.
At one point in the match, her opponent ripped one of the lenses out her eye. Eye injuries are quite common in wrestling, but because she was wearing the ALTIUS lenses, Emma’s eyes were protected from the bright lights AND her opponent’s fingers.
With less visual distraction, her mind was able to concentrate on the activity at hand, and her body responded with a quicker reaction time. Her opponent in the Final X competition, which determines the Senior World Team, had previously received points on her by hitting her single leg. While wearing the ALTIUS Amber lenses, her competitor didn’t get one leg hit.
The Amber lenses also provide a fun intimidation factor for the combat sport of wrestling. The bright orange tint of the lenses are hard to miss, and Emma has heard plenty of comments about her eyes with the lenses on - most of which are very positive with people mentioning how cool it looks, like she’s a vampire. ALTIUS lenses may not be cosmetic lenses, but they do change the look of your eyes, which is a fun additional bonus for competitive sports.
Living in Colorado, Emma takes advantage of the many outdoor activities and wears the Grey-Green lenses to protect her eyes and her brain from any exposure to the bright lights.
We’re excited to follow Emma on her journey as she prepares for Senior Worlds and for the 2024 Olympics.
68 kg1st - Emma Bruntil, Titan Mercury
