For many parents “back to school” also means “back to sports”. For optometrists “back to sports” also means an influx of eye injuries.
While parents may not realize it, sports like soccer, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, and even racquet sports put kids at an increased risk for eye injuries. According to the National Institutes of Health, most eye injuries in school-age children are sustained during sports. Most sports-related eye injuries are, fortunately, easily prevented with the use of protective eyewear.
How to Choose Protective Eyewear
Having your child wear proper protective eyewear during practice and games is the best way to prevent serious eye damage. Fortunately choosing protective eyewear for your child isn’t as daunting as it may seem. First, it’s important to recognize that prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses typically do not provide adequate protection for use in sports. In fact, wearing eyewear not designed for sports while playing adds to the possibility of injury from breaking or shattering, as regular frames and lenses are not strong enough to withstand much impact.
When choosing protective eyewear be sure to look for lenses made from polycarbonate, the same material used in bulletproof windows. Polycarbonate is ten times more resistant than plastic or glass and has built-in UV protection– a bonus when playing outdoors. Wraparound designs (either goggles or frames with arms) provide good peripheral vision and ensure that the frame covers the entire eye socket, offering the best protection. Additionally, lightweight frames offer more comfort and are longer wearing.
It is also important to recognize that sports eyewear can be sport-specific. Women’s lacrosse players, for example, are required to wear US Lacrosse approved protective eyewear that may not be appropriate for soccer, basketball or other sports. If you’re unsure which eyewear type is the right one for your child’s particular sports the National Eye Institute (NEI) has a great guide available on-line at http://www.nei.nih.gov/sports/findingprotection.asp. To ensure that you are purchasing the best type of protective eyewear for your child, however, it is a good idea to visit a licensed optician.
Today there are quite a few good options for protective sports eyewear available on the market in a wide range of prices. Brands like Rec Specs and Hilco are well made, meet American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards and are readily available. Many come in a wide range or colors and are available with prescription or non-prescription lenses.
Does your child wear protective eyewear while playing sports? We’d love to hear from you! Leave us a comment here to share your experiences with us and other parents.