September is Sports Eye Safety Month – North Texas Eye Research Institute

September is Sports Eye Safety Month – North Texas Eye Research Institute

Nearly 30,000 sports-related eye injuries are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year. The good news is that 90% of serious eye injuries could be prevented by wearing appropriate protective eyewear.

Different activities and sports have different levels of risk for eye injury. Make sure that you’re using the right kind of eye protection for each activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection and in some cases can make an injury worse if they shatter.

If you have an eye injury go to the emergency room immediately, even if the injury appears minor. Delaying medical attention can result in permanent vision loss or blindness.

Basketball is the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries in the United States followed by baseball and softball.

Protective eyewear with shatterproof plastic, called polycarbonate lenses, should be worn for sports such as basketball, racquet sports, soccer and field hockey. In ice hockey and men’s lacrosse, a helmet with a face mask or wire shield that includes polycarbonate, should be worn, too.

Be careful during activities or games involving projectiles and other sharp objects that could create injury if in contact with the eye.

Spectators at sporting events should also be careful. Balls, bats, and players can end up in the stands at any time. Keep your eyes on the game and watch out for foul balls and flying objects.

Source: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries-sports
For this and more information regarding eye health visit: https://www.aao.org/