Sport Related Eye Injury in Children
April is Sports Eye Safety Month
Sports are the number one cause of eye injuries in children under the age of sixteen years old. The most common sports for eye injuries are baseball, basketball, hockey, and racquet sports (like tennis and badminton). But it's important to know that soccer, golf, water sports and many others, can also be dangerous to the eyes. Whatever the sport or however old you are, it's important to protect your eyes! This is why famous athletes such as, NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, NBA All-Star Kareem Abdul Jabbar and MLB Hall of Famer Johnny Bench protect their eyes when they are on the field or court.
In recognition of Sports Eye Safety Month in April, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Eye doctors across the country appeal to all athletes, children and adults, to wear appropriate protective eyewear.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, "Athletes need to choose protective eyewear because eye injuries can be devastating - not just career ending, but life changing. Eye injuries are one of the leading causes of visual impairment in children." Eye injuries in children can range from abrasions of the cornea, bruises to the lid of the eye, as well as internal eye damage such as retinal detachments and internal bleeding. Unfortunately, some of these athletes with eye injuries end up having permanent vision loss and blindness.
Many of these sports related eye injuries could be avoided by wearing proper safety goggles. Athletes can choose from a diverse selection of lightweight, sturdy, effective and fashionable protective eyewear. This protective eyewear should have polycarbonate lenses. Batting helmets with polycarbonate face shields for baseball and helmets and face shields for hockey are also very important gear to be worn to decrease the amount of eye injuries in sports. It is also a good idea to have the eyewear fitted properly by an eye care professional. Another important point is that regular glasses will not provide the right amount of protection during sports. Atheletes need to know that this protective eyewear will not hamper their performance and it can prevent 90 percent of eye injuries due to sports.
The benefits of sports in the lives of children are well known, but it's crucial for parents, coaches, and athletes to know that sports are the leading cause of eye injuries in children. Most sporting leagues don't even require their young athletes to wear eye protection. Even though it has been proven that the occurrence of eye injuries is greatly reduced when athletes wear protective eyewear. It's up to you to protect your young athlete; until your child's sporting league or team enforces mandatory eye protection.
Whatever the game, whatever the age, be sure to protect your child's eyes!
Published by Renee Bodkin
Education is important to me. I am a lifelong learner and teach that daily to my students. I am also fulfilling the most important role of my life as mother to 3 active, little boys. Family is the foundatio... View profile
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- Protective eyewear should be worn for all sports.
- This protective eyewear should have polycarbonate lenses.
- 90% of sport related eye injuries could be avoided if protective eyewear was worn.
5 Comments
Post a CommentGreat article. I love your stuff because it's so practical. My nieces are getting goggles in Easter baskets!
Kids sports are getting so competitive...we should increase the safety measures we take to protect our kids. It's all fun and games until someone looses an eye, or so they say.
We studied this in our Sports Injury class in college and the reason the athletes prefer not to wear eye gear during games is becuase they feel it interferes with their ability to see as clearly as possible to play. More education on the frequency of eye injuries and prevention is needed I think. Great article!
Great article; I echo what Melissa has to say. This is something all parents should be aware of.
Great article Renee! Sports for teens and children are such a big thing these days and I wish that there were more efforts put into helping parents (and coaches) be aware of the dangers of eye inuries. I rarely see young atheletes wearing protective eyewear.