Although rain has been keeping many athletes off the fields these days, spring sports season has arrived.
According to a news release from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, each year more than 40,000 athletes suffer an eye injury of some sort. A majority of those injured were children, and 90 percent of the injuries were preventable.
According to the University of Illinois Eye Center, almost one third of sports-related eye injuries are to children between the ages of 5 and 14. In 2002, there were more U.S. emergency room visits due to eye injuries suffered while playing basketball than any other sport. Basketball was followed by water or pool activities, and baseball/softball.
"Athletes need to choose protective eyewear because eye injuries can be devastating - not just career ending, but life changing. Eye injuries are one of the leading causes of visual impairment in children," said the news release, “Children can end up with injuries ranging from abrasions of the cornea and bruises of the lids to internal eye injuries such as retinal detachments and internal bleeding. Unfortunately, some of these athletes end up with permanent vision loss and blindness.”
Today, athletes can choose from a variety of eye protection including goggles, face shields and guards. It is important that you ask your eye doctor or other eye care professional about eyewear protection that is appropriate for the sport you participate in.
Protective eyewear must be properly fitted by an eye care professional, and it’s recommended that it be made of polycarbonate plastic. Regular street glasses and contact lenses do not offer enough protection for sports. This not only applies to “athletes” but also to those evening and weekend recreation partcipants as well.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that parents ensure their children wear eye protection when they play sports. In addition, according to the University Of Illinois Department Of Ophthalmology, “Children are especially vulnerable as they often have underdeveloped depth perception and may have difficulty judging the position of a flying ball. It’s not uncommon for a child to misjudge a ball in flight, miss it, and take a blow to the face instead. Safety goggles are advised for children who play softball and baseball.”
Although there are many children's sports leagues, schools and teams that don't require children to wear eye protection, as a parent, it’s a good idea to insist that your child wear eye protection every time they play.
Also, set a good example by wearing eye protection yourself whenever you participate in a sport or extracurricular activity. According to the University of Illinois Eye Care Center, there is no evidence to show that wearing eye protection hampers athletic performance.
Carthage Press
author: Kristi Hodson