Did you know that there are over 40,000 sports-related eye injuries in the U.S. alone each year? Most of these injuries occur to children who play a school sport. While the majority of these injuries are preventable, it is important to ensure you or your child wear the right eyewear for the particular sport being played.
Sport-Specific Eyewear Recommendations
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends that all athletes use either a polycarbonate lens or shatterproof frames with lenses that are strong enough to resist impact and protect your eyes from debris and other hazards. Polycarbonate lenses have been around since the 1960s and have been used in safety glasses, hockey visors, motorcycle helmets, and more. They’re extremely impact resistant and they absorb 99.9 percent of UV rays from the sun which makes them ideal for athletes who enjoy outdoor activities.
When choosing eyewear for specific sports, it is important to consider the type of activity being played and the environment that you will be playing in. For example, if you are playing basketball outdoors then a pair of polycarbonate goggles with UV protection is recommended as opposed to a pair of sunglasses which would not provide adequate protection against flying balls or elbows during a game. Similarly, if you are playing baseball indoors then polycarbonate frames with padded temples can help protect against impacts from flying objects such as bats or balls as well as reducing fatigue from long periods spent wearing them.
It is also important to make sure that your eyewear fits properly so that it does not slip off during activity or obstruct your vision in any way. When purchasing sport-specific eyewear for yourself or your child, make sure to get fitted by an optician who can customize fitment to ensure maximum protection and comfort while playing any given sport.
Sports-related eye injuries can be very serious and often result in permanent vision damage; however, most can be prevented with the proper eye protection! Whether you’re playing soccer on a sunny day outdoors or baseball indoors at night, always make sure you’re wearing sport-specific eyewear designed specifically for optimal safety and protection during physical activity. Fitting may require customization but even small tweaks can make all the difference when it comes to protecting your eyes from potential harm! So don’t forget - when engaging in physical activities always remember to put safety first by investing in quality sport-specific eyewear!