More than 40 percent of eye injuries that occur every year are related to sports or recreational activities. A recent study found that about 30,000 people in the U.S. went to an emergency department with a sports-related eye injury, a substantially higher estimate than previously reported. Three sports in particular accounted for almost half of all injuries: basketball, baseball and air/paintball guns. Cycling, soccer and raquetball also have high rates of injury.
In support of Sports Eye Safety Month in April, our doctors at Grin Eye Care are offering athletes of all ages guidance on how to protect their eyes.
Sports related injuries can range from corneal abrasions and bruises on the lids to more serious, vision-threatening injuries such as a retinal detachment and internal bleeding. Over 1/3 of these sports injuries happen to kids.
The good news is that simply wearing protective eyewear can prevent about 90 percent of eye injuries. Follow these tips to save your vision:
- Wear the right eye protection: For basketball, racquet sports, soccer and field hockey, wear protection with shatterproof polycarbonate lenses.
- Put your helmet on: For baseball, ice hockey and lacrosse, wear a helmet with a polycarbonate face mask or wire shield.
- Know the standards: Choose eye protection that meets American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. See the Academy of Ophthalmology’s protective eyewear webpage for more details.
- Throw out old gear: Eye protection should be replaced when damaged or yellowed with age. Wear and tear may cause them to become weak and lose effectiveness.
- Glasses won’t cut it: Regular prescription glasses may shatter when hit by flying objects. If you wear glasses, try sports goggles on top to protect your eyes and your frames.
