April is Sports Eye Safety Month. This month, Eye Care Professionals encourages all our patients to wear proper eye protection when participating in athletic activities.
Potential eye injuries that can result from sports include corneal abrasions, orbital fractures, detached retina, and even cataracts. In some instances, people have even had their eyes dislodged from their sockets.
But which sports are the most dangerous for your vision?
Basketball
Basketball is the leading cause of eye injuries in children. Protective eyewear made from polycarbonate lenses is the best way to keep your eyes safe during basketball.
Right now, there’s a viral video of a basketball player whose eye was dislodged from his socket – we don’t recommend watching it.
Baseball
Baseball is another leading cause of eye injuries among children 14 years and younger, with flying bats and careening balls as the main culprits.
Certified helmets with attached safety glasses (for batters and base runners) and protective eyewear for fielders can protect your vision.
Racquet sports
Racquet sports include badminton, table tennis, tennis, squash, and racquetball. Since these sports rely on quickly reacting to fast-moving balls, it’s no wonder they have a high incidence of eye injuries.
Once again, protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses is a must.
Although basketball, baseball, and racquet sports are responsible for the bulk of eye-related injuries, other sports can also pose risks to your eye safety. Ice hockey, lacrosse, and boxing are particularly risky, as well as soccer and field hockey.
Can regular glasses protect my eyes?
Unfortunately, glasses do not provide sufficient eye protection during sports or other recreational activities. Worse still, they can shatter if damaged, resulting in further injury.
The only way to protect your eyes while playing sports is to make sure you have the proper protective eyewear. In fact, 90 percent of serious eye injuries are preventable through use of protective eyewear.
ASTM International sets the standards for sports eye protection, so before you spend money on those special glasses, make sure they’re certified!
Do you have any questions or concerns about sports-related eye health? Eye Care Professionals can help. Contact us today to learn more about how to keep your eyes safe and healthy.
