Children’s Sports Vision

According to a recent study reported by Prevent Blindness America® (PBA), more than 38,000 sports-related eye injuries occur each year of the severity that requires a trip to the emergency room. School-aged competitors are particularly prone to eye injuries since their athletic skills of coordination, balance, reaction time and speed are still being fine-tuned through their involvement in athletic programs. In one year alone, children between the ages of 5 to 14 endured a significant amount of injuries due to sports.

When a child participates in a sports activity, the impact of a ball or other equipment, as well as an opponent’s fingers, hands, and elbows, become a threat to a child’s visual safety. If a person plays a sport that requires a helmet or faceguard, don’t make the mistake of thinking their eyes are protected from injuries. Their eyes are still exposed to danger from sports equipment or an opponent’s finger penetrating the openings of a facemask.

Likewise, if a child wears glasses, everyday street eyewear is not held to the same protective standards as are eyewear products labeled as protective eyewear for sports use. The lens in non-protective sports frames could easily pop out and puncture or cut the eye, as well as a frame mangled from an impact.

The good news is that you can help prevent a young person from being sidelined because of a serious eye injury. You can make the decision to help protect their eyes by adding protective sports goggles to their equipment bag. Remember, while protective sports eyewear can provide significant protection; they cannot guarantee to be unbreakable or guard against all foreseeable impacts. However, a quality pair of Rec Specs® equipped with the appropriate polycarbonate lenses to meet sport safety standards can be sight savers since they help keep the eyes and surrounding ocular region protected.

The sports vision specialists at Bristol Optometry are armed with Liberty Sports Protective Sports Eyewear, the most advanced prescription and non-prescription F803 products, to meet the needs of your up-and-coming superstar!