Choosing the Right Eye Safety Gear Before Playing Sports

When it comes to sports, the usual focus is on certain aspects, such as training and coaching, wearing the proper attire and taking precautions to protect parts of the body like the arms, legs, fingers, etc. While not given as much thought as the ones enumerated above, eye safety should also be prioritized regardless of whether you are playing for recreation or preparing for a tournament.

The Importance of Sports Eye Safety

Blindness in children is caused by numerous factors, including sports-related eye injuries. Also, Prevent Blindness America reports that hospital emergency rooms treat more than 40,000 of these injuries every year. Unfortunately, up to 90% of them could have been prevented with protective eyewear. Truly, eye safety matters when playing sports.

Tips When Buying Sports Eye Protection

Start by consulting an optometrist or eye care professional to get the best eye protection for your sport and lifestyle. If you are wearing prescription glasses, check with your doctor if fitting you with prescription eye protection is possible. Make sure the eye safety gear has an adjustable strap to ensure a right and safe fit. See to it that it has pads or cushions along the brow and bridge of the nose to prevent eye guards from cutting the skin.

Sports That Require Eye Protection

Certain sports require eye protection more than others. Specialized face masks or goggles are often used alongside protective equipment in sports like archery, hockey, lacrosse or winter sports like snowboarding or skiing.

Polycarbonate goggles are often used when playing basketball, soccer, baseball, tennis or cycling. The lenses of these goggles are made of impact-resistant polycarbonate, which works well in protecting your eyes from fast-moving objects. Since most of the sports mentioned are done outdoors, the lenses also have built-in ultraviolet (UV) protection. They can also match your existing prescription so you won’t have to wear both glasses and goggles at once.

For your eye care needs, turn to Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry. We offer a wide range of services including comprehensive eye exams, LASIK eye surgery co-management and sports vision. Call us today at (703) 660-9494, or fill out our contact form to schedule your appointment. We serve residents of Alexandria, VA, and the surrounding communities.