Sports Eyewear

Looking at the statistics about eye injuries will probably make you want to run right out and buy some protective gear. About 40 percent of hospital admissions for eye injuries are sports-related.* Meanwhile, protective eyewear could have prevented 90 percent of those injuries, some of which are permanent.**

Still not convinced? Well, as a teenager, you're in the age group that suffers the majority of sports-related eye injuries: 71 percent occur in people under age 25.***

Age isn't the only factor to consider. If your eyes are weaker than normal, you need to take particular care when playing sports. Previous eye injuries and surgery can sometimes lead to weakened eyes.

Choose sunglasses that block at least 90 percent of ultraviolet rays. Shown: Oakley's Penny.

Also, the sport you play can make a huge difference in the kind of protection you need. Basketball usually tops the list of most injuries caused. Players' fingers are the main culprit. Baseball is often second, with most injuries stemming from a ball striking the eye.

Racquet sports (racquetball, squash, tennis, badminton) are a common source of eye injuries, mainly from balls and racquets hitting the eye at very high speeds. A hockey puck also tends to do a lot of damage because it moves so fast. Chlorine in swimming pools is another problem, because too much can damage the cornea. If you play an outdoor sport, you'll need eyewear that filters the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light, which can cause permanent damage.

Types of protective eyewear include: goggles, face masks, shields, sunglasses and scuba masks. Remember, everyday glasses don't provide enough protection from impact.

For most sports, you should wear polycarbonate goggles. Polycarbonate is very resistant to impact, so it's the only reasonable choice in sports where your eye might encounter a ball, racquet, finger, etc. Goggles come with an elastic band to keep them from sliding off your head. They provide protection for basketball, racquet sports, soccer, non-helmet hockey (field hockey, for example), snow sports (skiing, snowboarding), water sports (skiing, surfing, swimming) and more. Swimming goggles are the only ones that don't need to be polycarbonate, because there is little risk of impact while you're swimming. Most styles of goggles are available as prescription eyewear, and it's important to get UV-blocking ones if you're playing outside.
 

With water goggles, it's important that the pair fits you and seals correctly. A Sight for Sport Eyes offers these tips: "You want the goggle to fit on the bone around the eyes, not inside the eye socket itself. An improperly fit goggle will cause 'raccoon eyes.' This is because the goggle rests on the socket, instead of the bone, and cuts off circulation."

Check how the seal seems in the store, then test the goggles in some water at home. If you wear contact lenses, you'll need swim goggles to keep your lenses from coming into contact with water containing chlorine or infection-causing bacteria.

Page 2 of 2: Face masks, shields, sunglasses, underwater masks