Here are the stats.  More than 600,000 eye injuries related to sports and recreation occur each year with 42,000 of these injuries being severe enough to require Emergency Room attention.  That means approximately every 13 minutes a person with a sports related eye injury visits an emergency room.  Over 80% of children do not utilize protective eyewear in situations that represent a risk of eye injury.  More than 90% of all eye injuries can be prevented with the use of appropriate protective eyewear.

Good protective eyewear consists of both frame and lenses made of a high impact material.  Those athletes participating in sports using “street wear” (corrective eyewear or sun wear that does not conform to established standards) are at a far greater risk of eye injury than participants using no eye protection at all.  The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Optometric Association, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology have all strongly recommended protective eyewear for all participants in sports in which there is a high risk of injury.  Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, Hockey, Tennis, Soccer, Volleyball, Water Polo, Football, Air Rifle, BB Gun, Paintball, Boxing Martial Arts, Squash, Racquetball, Fencing, Badminton, Fishing and Golf are all considered as high-to-moderate sports with a risk of eye injury.  Other popular sport activities like skateboarding, riding scooters, roller blading, and biking can also cause serious eye injury.  Just because someone is proficient at their sport does not mean that he or she is safe from eye injury.  Sports eye injuries are unrelated to experience and one could argue that playing one’s sport among those with less expertise might expose an individual to an even greater risk of eye injury.

The only lenses of choice for sports or those in an active work environment should be a material that can withstand a great force, as well as, be thin and lightweight for optimal performance.  Polycarbonate lenses are the answer.  They provide high impact resistance and are about 20% thinner and lighter than regular plastic lenses.  The polycarbonate material offers protection from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays; a great benefit for those involved in outdoor sports.  Also, polycarbonate lenses have been treated with a scratch resistant coating.  These lenses are available in a large array of prescriptions, can be tinted for a patient’s specific needs, and are available with photochromic properties (lenses that change color) or with polarization. In recent years, another material has been introduced to the eye care market called Trivex.  While it has many similar characteristics to polycarbonate, Trivex has an additional benefit of providing an even higher quality visual experience.

An appropriate frame for sports is equally important.  Using a regular or “street wear” frame with a strap to keep it in place during physical activity is not the answer.  They are not designed for impact resistance and often can cause more severe eye injuries.  Frames for the athlete must be constructed in a manner to ensure they will not break up and cause injury to the eye or other areas of the face.  These frames, which are typically made from nylon, should have a smooth continuous surface with soft nose pads and temple pads and a sturdy adjustable temple strap.  All sport frames should meet what is known as the ASTM

(American Society for Testing and Measures) F803 standard and the frame should be so labeled.

Here is one last stat to consider.  Twenty-seven percent of all eye injuries suffered by children between the ages of 11-15 occur while playing sports.  Help kids avoid the sidelines and add appropriate eye protection to their game.