Sports Eye Safety
Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic
Edward H. Titmus, Jr. Center for Sight | 11618 Busy Street | Richmond, VA 23236
(804) 423-2020 | toll-free (888) 790-2020 | fax (804) 423-5409
www.TheEyeSite.org
Washington Area Office | 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 700 | Alexandria, VA 22314
Star Pupils is the children's vision campaign of
Recommended Sports Eye Protection for Your Child Athlete
Baseball
Recommended protection:
- Faceguard (attached to helmet) made of polycarbonate material
- Sports eyeguards
Injuries prevented:
- Scratches on the cornea
- Inflamed iris
- Blood spilling into the eye's anterior chamber
- Traumatic cataract
- Swollen retina
Basketball
Recommended protection:
- Sports eyeguards
Injuries prevented:
- Fracture of the eye socket
- Scratches on the cornea
- Inflamed iris
- Blood spilling into the eye's anterior chamber
- Swollen retina
Soccer
Recommended protection:
- Sports eyeguards
Injuries prevented:
- Inflamed iris
- Blood spilling into the eye's anterior chamber
- Swollen retina
Football
Recommended protection:
- Polycarbonate shield attached to a faceguard
- Sports eyeguards
Injuries prevented:
- Scratches on the cornea
- Inflamed iris
- Blood spilling into the eye's anterior chamber
- Swollen retina
Hockey
Recommended protection:
- Wire or polycarbonate mask
- Sports eyeguards
Injuries prevented:
- Scratches on the cornea
- Inflamed iris
- Blood spilling into the eye's anterior chamber
- Traumatic cataract
- Swollen retina
Every 13 minutes, an emergency room treats a sports-related eye injury. And, 43 percent of sports-related eye injuries are to children ages 14 and younger.
Fortunately, 90 percent of all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented just by wearing the proper eye protection. Lenses should be made of polycarbonate and have an American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) label, indicating they meet the standards of the ASTM for the specific sport. And, polycarbonate eyewear is 10 times more impact resistant than other plastics, according to the National Eye Institute.
Make sure your child knows that regular glasses don't provide enough protection.
Tips for buying protective eyewear for your child
Prevent Blindness America recommends that athletes wear sports eyeguards when participating in sports.
Prescription glasses, sunglasses and even occupational safety glasses do not provide adequate protection. Sports eyeguards come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Eyeguards designed for use in racquet sports are now commonly used for basketball and soccer and in combination with helmets in football, hockey and baseball. The eyeguards your child chooses should fit securely and comfortably and allow the use of a helmet if necessary.
The following guidelines can help you find a pair of eyeguards right for your child
- If your child wears prescription glasses, ask your eye doctor to fit your child for prescription eyeguards. If your child is a monocular athlete (a person with only one eye that sees well), ask your eye doctor what sports your child can safely participate in. Monocular athletes should always wear sports eyeguards.
- Buy eyeguards at sports specialty stores or optical stores. At the sports store, ask for a sales representative who's familiar with eye protectors to help you.
- Don't buy sports eyeguards without lenses. Only "lensed" protectors are recommended for sports use. Make sure the lenses either stay in place or pop outward in the event of an accident. Lenses that pop in against your child's eyes can be very dangerous.
- Some eyeguards are available with anti-fog coating. Others have side vents for additional ventilation. Have your child try on different types to determine which is most comfortable.
- Check the packaging to see if the eye protector your child selects has been tested for sports use. Also check to see that the eye protector is made of polycarbonate material. Polycarbonate eyeguards are the most impact resistant.
- Sports eyeguards should be padded or cushioned along the brow and bridge of the nose. Padding will prevent the eyeguards from cutting your child's skin.
- Have your child try on the eye protector to determine if it's the right size. Adjust the strap and make sure it's not too tight or too loose. If you purchased your child's eyeguards at an optical store, an optical representative can help adjust the eye protector for a comfortable fit.
Until your child gets used to wearing a pair of eyeguards, it may feel strange, but bear with it! It's a lot more comfortable than an eye injury.
Sun and Injury Protection for Other Outdoor Sports and Activities
When your children play outdoor sports or work outside, they may need both UV protection and proper safety eyewear.
To protect eyes from UV sun damage, your child should wear a brimmed cap and eyewear that blocks UV rays.
For certain outdoor activities, your child may also need eyewear designed to provide impact protection for that activity. Here are some things to consider when buying eyewear for outdoor activities:
Biking/Cycling
UV protection
Protection from wind and debris
Boating
UV protection
Glare protection
Skiing/Winter sports
UV protection
Polarized lenses to reduce glare and brightness
Yellow, amber, orange-red tints to improve contrast
Hiking/Mountain climbing
UV protection
Polarized lenses to reduce glare
Racquet/Ball sports
Protective eyewear
UV protection
Yard work
Protective eyewear
UV protection
