Make April 2021 Your Month for Sports Eye Safety!

April 1, 2021

Do you know which sport is the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries in the United States? Answer: Basketball. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eye injuries have cost the NBA $2.4 million in a single season! Eye injuries can – and do – happen when playing any sport. In fact, in 2018 more than 28,000 people suffered eye injuries related to sports activities. The doctors at Atlantic Eye want to remind patients involved in sports that the right protective eyewear is the best defense against eye injury, whether you’re a high school player or an NBA star.

Now that spring is here and Covid-19 restrictions are likely easing up, athletes will be eager to return to sports activities. Yet, many athletes will neglect to gear up for eye safety. Players may think that eye protection will interfere with their range of vision, or that lenses will fog up and get clouded with sweat. But sports eye protection has been much improved over the years, and though wearing a pair of eye guards may feel strange at first, it’s better than suffering an eye injury that might lead to vision loss.

Consider these examples of all-too-common sports eye injuries:

  • Retinal detachment is a serious injury requiring surgical repair that might take a player out of the game forever.
  • The subconjunctival hemorrhage causes blood to leak into the eye.
  • A poke to the eye can actually cause it to pop out of its socket!
  • Impacts from balls, elbows, bats, etc. can cause fractures to the bones around the unprotected eye.

Given the frequency of serious sports-related eye injuries, wearing appropriate eye protection seems like a no-brainer. Bear in mind, contacts or regular glasses do not provide enough defense. Whatever your age or skill level, your Atlantic Eye physician can fit you with protective eyewear designed for comfort and performance as well as safety, with prescription lenses if needed. This spring, act for eye safety – call us for more information about protective eyewear before you (or a family member) go out to enjoy your favorite sports activities.