Do You Protect Your Eyes While Playing Sports?
Do you or your children participate in sports regularly? Are you sure to always wear protective eyewear when you do? If not, the following fact may shock you: 90 percent of eye injuries can be prevented through use of the right protective eyewear.
That’s right, 90 percent! The facts are in: wearing the right protective eyewear can dramatically reduce the chance of eye injury. So why don’t more people use protective eyewear? Perhaps this is because we often see the pros going without using protective eye gear. Or perhaps we think it doesn’t look cool, or may restrict our vision on the field or the court, or because we think athletic protective eyewear is simply uncomfortable.
Whatever the reason is, it’s just not good enough when it comes to preserving long-term eye health. Taking a ball or an opposing player’s finger to the eye could end your chance to play competitive sports for the rest of your life – that’s the reality. When factoring in the down side, it’s simply not worth the risk when the solution is so simple.
Types of Protective Eyewear for Sports
So, what are the right kinds of protective eyewear to wear while playing various kinds of sports? In sports like baseball, football, hockey, or lacrosse, a polycarbonate helmet or football-approved helmet with a facemask, wire shield, or visor should be used to protect the eyes. For sports like basketball or racquetball, goggles with polycarbonate lenses can serve the purpose of effectively protecting the eyes.
It’s important to use equipment that has been tested and approved by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), or has been approved according to ASTM standards.
If you look, you will probably see many more professional athletes using some kind of eye protection, and at lower levels of play, eye protection is often required. Even if you are a casual participant in sports, it is important to protect your eyes. Even at low levels of play, a flying ball or a stray elbow could easily do serious damage to your eyes.
The Importance of Wearing Protective Eyewear
Once you have your protective eyewear, consider areas you can use it for other than sports. Woodworking, cleaning with dangerous chemicals, watching fireworks close up, and even yardwork can all cause dangerous debris or fluids to fly into the eye and do damage, and regular eyeglasses are often not sufficient protection.
If you are struggling to find protective eyewear you are comfortable with, consult your local optometrist for suggestions. They may be equipped to find the right materials and adjust the fit to make sure your eye protection is comfortable enough to wear.
A Great Way to Protect Your Eyes for Optimal Eye Health
Using the right protective eyewear is a great way to take care of your eye health and the eye health of your children. Another great way is by making sure to go in for regular comprehensive eye exams.
A good eye exam can assess your vision and make sure you have the correction you need to perform as best you can on the court or field. It can also help discover any threats to your eye health that may not be obvious, as some eye problems do not have presenting symptoms until the issue has progressed.
If you need an eye exam or to purchase eyewear in the Portland, Oregon area, Beaumont Vision is the place to go. We offer a wide selection of eyewear options as well as fantastic optometric care from highly-trained professionals in a comfortable environment. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 503- 331-3937 now.