Sports Eye Safety Month: Protecting Your Eyes During Physical Activity
Image Credit: AdobeStock/aicandy
Last year in the United States, there were over 32,000 sports-related eye injuries, representing a nearly 20% increase from the previous year, according to annual data from Prevent Blindness.
To raise awareness about the risks of significant and potentially blinding eye injuries, Prevent Blindness has declared September as Sports Eye Safety Month. It aims to educate the public about the importance of proper eye protection during physical activity.
Prevent Blindness provides a range of resources to promote sports eye safety. These include free downloadable fact sheets, shareable social media graphics, and a dedicated webpage.
In addition, Prevent Blindness has released a new episode in their online Focus on Eye Health Expert Series titled “Sports Eye Safety.” In this episode, Jeff Todd, the president and CEO of Prevent Blindness, interviews sports vision specialist Keith Smithson, OD, of Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry and Sports Vision Pros.
According to the data, sports-related eye injuries are caused by various factors, with “non-powder guns, darts, arrows, and slingshots” accounting for the highest rate of injuries overall. For children aged 0-14, “pools and water sports” pose the highest risk. The types of injuries include blunt trauma, penetrating injuries, eye infections, and corneal scratches and abrasions.
Athletes participating in water or snow sports, such as surfing or snow skiing, face an additional risk of vision loss or damage due to prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The bright glaring sunlight reflecting off water or snow intensifies this risk, as noted by Keck Medicine of USC.
Prevent Blindness emphasizes the importance of wearing protective eyewear for athletes of all ages participating in sports. They recommend consulting an eyecare professional to determine the appropriate eye protection for each individual’s sport and medical needs.
According to the National Eye Institute, using proper protective eyewear can prevent 9 out of 10 sports-related eye injuries.
In an interview with Ophthalmology Times, Lori Pacheco, RN, CRNO, highlighted the high risk of eye injuries in racquet sports. She mentioned the combination of high-speed rackets and balls pose a significant danger to the eyes, resulting in permanent or partial loss of vision, torn retinas, bleeding, cuts requiring stitches, and black and blue eyes.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) reports that approximately 40% of eye injuries occur during sports and recreational activities. Among ophthalmologists surveyed, 53% stated that they primarily treat teenagers (ages 13-19) for sports-related eye injuries, followed by young adults (20s), children (12 and under), adults (30-50), and older adults (50+).
The AAO also estimates that there are approximately 30,000 sports-related eye injuries in the United States each year, many of which could be prevented with proper eye protection.
Pacheco emphasizes the importance of using the appropriate protective equipment to prevent these injuries from occurring.
In order to promote sports eye safety among children, Prevent Blindness recommends the following for parents and caregivers:
- Parents, teachers, coaches, and school nurses should familiarize themselves with the risks associated with eye injuries in sports before allowing children to participate.
- Parents should consult an ophthalmologist or optometrist to receive recommendations for protective eyewear before enrolling their child in any sports program.
- Parents should ensure that their children only participate in after-school organized sports programs that have adult supervision.
- Parents should meet with a child’s coach or athletic trainer to ensure that proper procedures are in place to handle any potential eye injuries.
- Parents, teachers, coaches, and school nurses should be aware of the warning signs of an eye injury and know when to seek treatment.
Prevent Blindness has partnered with Rec Specs during Sports Eye Safety Month to promote education and awareness about protecting vision. They offer free educational and promotional materials, including the Sports Eye Safety Guide from Liberty Sport, the company behind Rec Specs.
“A sports-related injury can happen in an instant, but the effects may last a lifetime,” Todd stated. “Team up with your eye doctor to find the best sports eye protection to help keep you in the game today and save your sight for the future.”