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Did you know that each year, an estimated 100,000 sports and recreation-related injuries occur in the United States? Over 90 percent of these are preventable, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
The AAO offers the following important facts regarding sports eye safety:
Children are the victims of one-third of all sports-related eye injuries.
Common injuries incurred while participating in sports are abrasions and contusions, detached retinas, corneal lacerations, cataracts, hemorrhages, and eye loss.
High risk sports with recommended special eye protection include basketball, baseball, hockey, water polo, football, lacrosse, softball, racquet sports, soccer, fencing, paint ball and downhill skiing.
Basketball and baseball are associated with the most eye injuries in athletes 5- to 24-years-old.
Hockey-related eye injuries in Canada decreased 90 percent after certified full-face protectors were made mandatory in organized amateur hockey.
Athletes participating in high-risk sports should wear properly fitted eyewear specifically design for their sport.
Protective eye gear should be made of polycarbonate, a synthetic material able to withstand impacts of up to 90 mph.
Contact lenses and streetwear glasses are ineffective means of protection.
Parental support of protective eye gear is crucial to preventing injury in children.
What should you do to protect your eyes while playing sports?
1) Know the right kind of protective eyewear for your sport.
2) Have your eyewear fitted by an ophthalmologist (an Eye M.D.).
3) Make sure your kids wear sports eye protection, even if it's not required by the school/league.
4) Questions about eye protection? Consult your Eye M.D.
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Sports Eye Safety