Eye Care Basics: Avoiding Eye Injuries While Playing Sports

When you are gearing up to hit the court or field in your favorite sport, you are probably not thinking too much about eye care. However, sports-related eye injuries cause nearly 30,000 emergency room visits every year in the United States. If you or your child is involved in sports in the Bandera or San Antonio, TX, area, our optometry and eye care experts at Vision Plus can help you stay safe and minimize the chance of injury.

The Importance of Sports Vision Care

Fortunately, our eyes are typically well-protected, and most eye injuries are mild. However, since sports often involve fast-moving equipment and athletes, the chances of a serious injury there are higher. Sports injuries can cause everything from serious, long-lasting pain to permanent vision loss and blindness.

Which Sports Tend to Cause Eye Injuries?

Just about any sport can put your eyes at risk, but some are more dangerous than others. Basketball is one of the most dangerous ones, despite--or maybe because of--players not routinely wearing any sort of sports vision protection. Baseball, softball, racquetball and hockey also rank high on the list. Any sport involving fast-moving balls or other equipment is particularly risky.

How to Balance Eye Care and Athletics

One of the best ways to keep your eyes safe is simply to wear protective gear. For most sports, protective goggles made from shatter-proof polycarbonate lenses are a great idea. For hockey, lacrosse, and certain other sports, an approved wire mask can also be acceptable. Regardless of which option you use, it is important to make sure it meets ASTM standards.

For some sports, such as boxing and other martial arts, safe eye protection may not be available. In that case, it is a good idea to keep in touch with your eye care specialist or optometry clinic to assess your risk and vision health.

Call Vision Plus Today

Whether you're looking to learn more about how to keep your eyes safe or have other optometry needs in Bandera, TX, or San Antonio, we can help. Give Vision Plus a call today to set up an appointment with our expert staff.