Every 13 minutes, someone in the U.S. is treated at an emergency room for a sports-related eye injury, according to the National Eye Institute. Prevent Blindness America has designated September as Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month in hopes of reducing these very serious and often preventable injuries.
Common Sports Injuries
The sports that produce the most eye injuries are basketball, water and pool activities, baseball and softball, and football, according to Prevent Blindness America. Common injuries include:
- Eye infection
- Blunt trauma
- Corneal abrasion
- Eye socket fracture
- Detached retina
- Traumatic cataract
While some sports eye injuries are minor, in the most severe cases, they can lead to permanent loss of vision.
Preventing Sports Eye Injuries
Proper eye protection can prevent many of the eye injuries listed above. Particularly for children, the support of parents, coaches, school administrators, and others are needed to make sure children are playing sports as safely as possible.
“Any injury can happen in a split second, but the effects of a serious eye injury can have lasting negative effects for a lifetime,” Prevent Blindness CEO and president Hugh R. Parry said in a press release. “We encourage anyone, adult or child, to always make sure that eye protection is consistently part of their uniform, and to consult an eye care professional before starting any sport to make sure their vision is healthy and protected.”
The right eye protection depends on the age of the participant and the type of sport, and the experienced optometrists and opticians at Berkeley Eye Center can help determine the right protective eyewear for your child. Contact us today to schedule an eye exam and to find the right eyewear for your families’ needs.