prevent sports eye injuriesSports can be a lot of fun for kids. They’re a great form of exercise, they teach youngsters teamwork and a healthy sense of competition, and give them a chance to make new friends.

Yet there’s no denying that playing sports can be dangerous if you don’t take certain precautions. Every year, more than 30,000 children sustain severe sports eye injuries while enjoying their favorite athletic activities, according to Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.

Here are some facts about sports eye injuries to consider, and some precautions you can take:

  1. Nearly all sports-related eye injuries are preventable, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
  2. The most common eye injuries connected to sports are abrasions and contusions, corneal lacerations, cataracts hemorrhages, detached retinas and the loss of an eye.
  3. The largest number of sports eye injuries for kids 5 to 14 comes from baseball. In most cases, injuries come from “ocular contact” with the ball.
  4. Basketball accounts for 28 percent of injuries for players 15 to 24. Most of these injuries are due to eyes being poked by fingers or elbows.
  5. Water and pool activities account for nearly 5,500 eye injuries each year, according to the organization Prevent Blindness.
  6. The Little League baseball organization recommends players wear protective facemasks, but does not require them. Another youth baseball organization, the Dixie Youth Baseball Team, mandates runners and batters wear polycarbonate face shields. Since the rule went into effect, there have been no reported cases of a significant eye/face injury to a player wearing the gear. Coaches also say they’ve seen no negative change in player performance since the rule was enacted.
  7. In Canada, eye trauma dropped by 90 percent when amateur hockey teams began requiring full-face protectors.
  8. In the NFL, players prevent eye injuries by wearing facemasks fitted with shields specially contoured to their position.
  9. The AAO says polycarbonate lenses give the best eye protection for many sports. These lenses are thin, lightweight, scratch resistant and can be constructed to meet most eyewear designs or prescriptions. It’s a material first developed by NASA for astronauts’ helmets, and can withstand the force of a .22 caliber bullet.

The AAO recommends all athletes wear eye protection, but notes that players should wear something that’s designed for their game to prevent sports eye injuries:

  • Baseball – Players should use a polycarbonate or wire face guard attached to helmet while at bat. When in the field, they can switch to sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses.
  • Basketball – Sports goggles fitted with polycarbonate lenses.
  • Field hockey – Goalies should wear a face mask, while players in the field should have sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses or wire mesh goggles.
  • Football – Just like with the NFL, the AAO recommends a polycarbonate eye shield attached to helmet with wire face mask.
  • Ice hockey – Everyone on the ice should have a helmet with full face protection.
  • Lacrosse – Players should wear a helmet with full face protection or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses/wire mesh goggles.
  • Paintball – Most paintball facilities will require this anyway. If not, it’s a good idea to wear full-face-protection goggles -- covering the cheeks, ears, and eyes -- with eye protection lenses that are at least 1/10 inch thick.
  • Racquet sports –Players should wear sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses.
  • Skiing – Before hitting the slopes, invest in ahigh-impact resistant eye protector.

The AAO also offers some general tips for protecting kids’ eyes when they’re playing sports:

  • Make sure protective eyewear lenses are made from polycarbonate.
  • Contact lenses or non-sports protective eyeglasses should never be used as a substitute for protective eyewear. Eyeglasses should always be ASTM F803 certified in order to prevent injury from sports impact.
  • Set a good example by wearing sports protective eyewear when you play sports.
  • Children with a history of eye injuries or who only have vision in one eye should never participate in boxing or full-contact martial arts.
  • For sports where a facemask and helmet with an eye-protector is required, functionally one-eyed athletes should also wear goggles with polycarbonate lenses.

Prevent Sports Eye Injuries with Liberty Sport

If you’re looking for sports eyewear for your children, look no further than Liberty Sport. Our frames and lenses are designed specially to protect against impact, and tested to meet or exceed the toughest ASTM F803 standards. They’ll handle any prescription, while also looking stylish and fun.

Visit our website to find the eyewear that’s right for you and your kids.

Liberty Sport – Performance Eyewear Solutions – Authentic Since 1929

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