Keep Your Eyes Healthy on the Field, Course and Court

Protecting our eyes from injury is something many people don’t think about unless there’s an obvious threat. We wear sunglasses on very bright days and safety goggles on the job or when doing projects around the house (at least we hope!). But one thing people overlook is the potential for eye injuries while playing sports.

It’s estimated that around 600,000 people suffer on the field, court and course. Yet, according to Prevent Blindness America, 90 percent of those would have been preventable with the right protective eyewear.

September is Sports Eye Injury Prevention Awareness Month. While that might be a mouthful, it is a great time to think about the athletes in our lives whose vision we want to protect. Here are some myths debunked about eyewear for sports.

My child doesn't play contact sports. Eye injuries can happen in just about any sport. In fact, one of the most common sport for eye injuries is swimming. Racket sports or any activity where a person could be hit or jabbed by an elbow, finger or piece of equipment puts the player at risk.

I can just use my safety goggles from work/my hobby. Athletic eyewear is made from special materials and designed for specific sports. For example, eyewear for baseball needs to accommodate a batting helmet. Safety goggles from work or other activities are not an adequate substitute.

My child will think she looks silly and won't wear them. While many schools and athletic organizations don't have a specific eyewear policy, it is becoming more common. Remember when kids didn't wear bike helmets? Today, most parents won't allow their child on a bike without one. Make it a rule that if she wants to play sports, she needs to be protected.

My eyesight is perfect.  Why do I need special eyewear for playing sports? For many people who have good vision, the idea of eyewear for sports doesn't occur to them. And for some low-risk sports, it's fine to forego the protection.  But, if you have had an eye injury in the past or are at particular risk for harm to your eyesight, it's important to consider protective eyewear for athletics. This is especially critical in sports that have a higher incidence of eye injuries.

As the saying goes, your eyes are the only pair you’ll ever have. It’s important to keep them safe. If you have any questions about protective eyewear for sports, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 773-525-0592.