According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, emergency rooms in the United States treat approximately 30,000 sports-related eye injuries each year. Almost 90 percent of those injuries could have been prevented by wearing the right eye protection.
Eye Protection is for Everyone!
Whether you are five or 55 years old, you should always protect your eyes when playing sports. Typical eyeglasses or sunglasses are not enough to protect your eyes. While a broken bone or sprained ankle will usually heal, a serious eye injury can result in blindness or permanent damage.
Here are five tips for protecting your eyes while you or your child are participating in sports.
- Know your risk for eye injury – believe it or not, basketball is the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries.
- Always wear the right protection for your eyes according to the sport you are playing.
- Choose eye protection with polycarbonate lenses that have passed testing by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) or CSA for field hockey, soccer, basketball, or racquet sports.
- For lacrosse or ice hockey, wear helmets with a face mask or wire shield with polycarbonate for protection.
- Children and teens should use batting helmets that have polycarbonate face shields to protect their eyes.
If you or your child do experience an eye injury, do not delay in seeking immediate medical assistance. After an emergency room visit, make sure to schedule an appointment with a Valley Eyecare Center eye doctor by calling 602-955-2700 or schedule an appointment online.
