Eyewear That Protects Your Child's Eyes

Each year thousands of eye injuries could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing protective eyewear. Eye injuries happen while playing baseball, puttering in your garage workshop or on the job. Children are especially vulnerable to eye injuries because they don't know their vision, and possibly a lifetime of healthy vision, is at stake.

Sports-related eye injuries are topping 100,000 per year, and almost all are preventable by protective eyewear. One example is eye injuries caused by paintball, which are on the rise. [Read more about paintball eye injuries.]

For children, eye injuries happen mainly while playing. Children should wear eye protection for the following sports and recreational activities:

Add to the list any other activity that uses a projectile or racket; or involves rough contact with other players; or requires travel at high speed.

Some kids may object to wearing protective eyewear because it hinders their vision, or no one else is wearing it. Remind your child that many professional athletes, such as basketball great Kareem Abdul Jabbar, have worn protective eyewear and excelled in their sport.

If your child participates in organized sports, speak to the coach or adviser about all team members wearing protective eyewear. The team as a whole stands to benefit as no one will be sidelined with an eye injury.

For neighborhood recreation, simply make protective eyewear part of the required gear along with the in-line skates and hockey stick.

Perhaps the best way to encourage your kids to don protective eyewear is to wear it yourself. Wear your wraparound safety goggles when joining the kids in pickup basketball or playing the standard summer Saturday softball game, as well as working around the house with a weed whacker or power saw.

Another idea is to purchase the protective eyewear along with the sports equipment when your child first expresses interest in a sport. A soon-to-be longtime habit of protective eyewear will begin.

Take your child with you for the purchase, and if possible, allow him to select which style he prefers. Protective eyewear is available either prescription or nonprescription. Even a child requiring refractive correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism will be able to see clearly while wearing protective eyewear.
 

Be sure to choose the appropriate protection for the sport. Fencers and baseball, hockey and lacrosse players should wear a polycarbonate face mask or wire shield. Participants in other sports including basketball, soccer, hockey and tennis should wear sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses and side shields. (Also read about fitting sports eyewear to your child's face.)

Polycarbonate lenses are 10 times more shatter-resistant than other plastics. Using this material in sports goggles protects the eyes far better than standard plastic lenses in glasses.

Remind your child to don protective eyewear while skiing. Ultraviolet rays and excessive sunlight bouncing off snow and ice can lead to sunburn on the eyes, amazingly enough. Sunglasses or ski goggles with UV filters will protect your child's eyes. Opting for polarized lenses may help your child see more clearly while on the slopes.

Read more about sports eyewear and ski goggles. Also, how often should your child have an eye exam?