An estimated 40,000 sports-related eye injuries occur every year, the majority of which are preventable. September therefore marks Sports Eye Safety Month at the start of every new school year. Here’s what parents of the most avid athletes need to know so that we can all be prepared in case of an unexpected emergency.
Racquet sports, basketball and baseball are considered to be the highest risk sports for eye injury because of high-velocity projectiles. Boxing and martial arts sports are especially high risk for direct contact to the eye with a closed fist, glove or finger; though soccer, basketball and other sports are not immune to these kinds of injuries as well.
Protective polycarbonate lenses provide the best insurance against sports-related eye injuries. Polycarbonate is an impact-resistant plastic that is especially shatter-proof and protects the eyes up to ten times more effectively than other plastics. In baseball, hockey, football and other sports where protective helmets and facemasks can be worn, make sure these are also manufactured with polycarbonate material.
It is important to note that ordinary vision-correcting glasses and contact lenses offer little to no eye protection, and in certain sports, may actually increase the risk of injury during sporting activities. Contact lenses are especially troublesome during water sports where, without goggles, they can amplify the risk of blinding eye infections with water-borne bacteria.
Seek medical care with any of these symptoms of moderate to severe eye injury:
- Blurred vision in the affected eye
- Double vision
- Aching / throbbing pain in or around the eye
- Scratchy / sandy irritation on the eye surface with blinking
- Pain with eye movement
- Seeing new flashing lights, floaters, or cobwebs from the affected eye
Evidence of the following signs on your athlete’s eye also require urgent evaluation:
- Limited vertical or lateral eye movement in the affected eye
- Laceration or cut in or around the eyelid
- Bruised or protruding eye / orbit
- “Cat eye” / abnormal pupil
- Layering of blood behind the eye’s clear center
What to do?
DO NOT touch the eye or try to fix anything yourself. If you have access to a protective shield or the bottom of a syrofoam cup, these can be taped to cover the eye until you can reach medical care.
Where to go?
During weekday hours, you’ll receive the most timely and specialized care by bypassing the emergency room and heading straight for the nearest eye care provider. The Berkeley Eye Center, for example, has 20 offices in and around Houston and can accommodate patients without prior appointment.
After hours, if you’re already established at an eye care practice, contact their answering service for further guidance. Otherwise, head to the emergency room.
Keep in mind, not all emergency rooms are created equal in terms of ophthalmology coverage. Most corner 24-hour emergency centers are ill-equipped for eye care. An emergency room at a at large university medical center is more likely to have dedicated ophthalmology coverage, and you may consider a confirmation phone call while en route to avoid any delays in care or hospital-to-hospital transfers.
Special considerations
- Athletes with a history of previous eye surgery, including LASIK, are more prone to serious eye injuries and should wear polycarbonate protective lenses to protect the integrity of the surgery, even if it was done several years prior.
- Any athlete with visual limitation in one eye should wear polycarbonate protective lenses at all times to protect the better-seeing eye.
In the spirit of Sports Eye Injuries Awareness Month, we hope you take some time to review what you’re doing to help protect your eyes while you play. If you’ve suffered a sports eye injury or need helping choosing the right protective eyewear for your activities and prescription needs, call Berkeley Eye Center today at (713) 526-3937.