Hospitals and clinics treat approximately 40,000 children
and adults annually for eye injuries related to sports activities.
Because not everyone seeks medical treatment for eye injuries, the
number of eye injuries is suspected to be higher — by as much as
100,000 per year.
Most of these injuries can be prevented, just by using
well-fitting eye protection appropriate for your sport.
| Badminton |
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses |
| Baseball |
Polycarbonate faceguard (attached to
helmet) for batting and base running
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses for
fielding |
| Basketball |
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses and side
shields |
Bicycling
(LER)* |
Sturdy street frames with polycarbonate
lenses and a strap to secure them to your head |
| Boxing |
None available |
| Fencing |
Full face cage |
| Field hockey |
Full face mask (wire or polycarbonate) for goalie |
| Football |
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses for all
others |
| Full-contact martial arts |
Polycarbonate shield attached to a faceguard or
helmet |
| Handball |
Not allowed
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses and side
shields |
| Ice Hockey |
Helmet and full face (wire or polycarbonate) mask
|
| Lacrosse (male) |
Helmet and full face (wire or polycarbonate) protection
required |
| Lacrosse (female) |
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate
lenses required
Helmet and full face protection (wire or polycarbonate)
recommended |
| Outdoor |
Glasses or eyeguards that block 99 to 100 percent of
the full UV spectrum |
| Paintball |
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses required
Full face protection recommended |
| Racquetball |
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses and side
shields |
| Skiing |
High impact resistant eye protector |
| Soccer |
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses and side
shields |
| Softball |
Polycarbonate faceguard (attached to helmet for batting
and base running
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses for
fielding |
| Sport shooting |
Sport eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses |
| Squash |
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses |
| Street hockey |
Full face cage for goalie
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses for all others
|
| Swimming |
Swim goggles |
| Tennis (doubles) |
Sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses and side
shields |
| Tennis (singles) |
Sturdy street frames with polycarbonate
lenses and a strap to secure them to your head |
Track and field
(LER) |
Sturdy street frames with polycarbonate lenses and a
strap to secure them to your head |
| Water polo |
Swim goggles with polycarbonate lenses |
| Wrestling |
None available |
Yard work
(lawn mowing or hedge trimming) |
Sturdy street frame with polycarbonate
lenses |
| Lower Eye Risks |
|
In certain instances (such as strong prescriptions)
polycarbonate lenses may not be suitable for street frames. Your
ophthalmologist can use an allyl-resin plastic in its stead, although
it's not as strong as polycarbonate.
If the sport in which you or your child participates
requires helmets or face masks, the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends that sports eyeguards with polycarbonate lenses also be
worn, particularly in the case of one-eyed athletes, or those who
have had eye injury or surgery. Athletes who have had eye injury or
surgery, or who have good vision out of only one eye should not
participate in boxing, wrestling, and full-contact martial arts.
Contact lenses and regular street glasses do not provide
adequate eye protection. Neither do glasses without lenses or eye
protectors that are yellowed with age.
Protective eyewear might be needed for other sports, too.
Check with your ophthalmologist, optometrist, or other health care
provider if you or your child participates in a sport not listed
|
