How to choose protective sports eyewear
Not long ago, athletes rarely wore eyewear specifically designed to protect their eyes during sports, and sports-related eye injuries were widespread.
Today, sports eyewear can be spotted on almost anyone who picks up a ball, bat, racquet or stick — whether they play in the major leagues or the Little League.
Fortunately, coaches, parents and players now realize that wearing protective eyewear for sports pays off in several ways. The risk of eye damage is reduced, and the player's performance is enhanced by the ability to see better. In fact, many athletic and fitness clubs today do not permit their members to participate without wearing proper eye gear.
In the past, there was some resistance by children to wear protective sports eyewear because they thought it might make them “look funny.”
Today — thanks to sports eyewear being routinely worn by college and professional athletes — protective goggles, face shields and other sports eyewear are widely accepted, much the way bike helmets have become the norm. In addition, both children and adults like the image that wearing modern sports eyewear gives them: It shows they mean business on the playing field.
If you're not wearing eye protection for sports, consider this...
Prevent Blindness America reports that hospital emergency rooms treat more than 40,000 eye injuries every year that are sports-related.
Any sport in which balls, racquets or flying objects are present pose a potential for eye injury.
In racquetball, for example, the ball can travel up to 140 miles per hour (62.6 meters per second) or even faster. The same is true for tennis.
In professional baseball, some pitchers can throw the ball up to 100 miles/hour (44.7 meters/sec) or faster. In cricket, the fastest bowls can deliver the ball at 93 miles/hour (41.6 meters/sec) or faster.
Even sports such as badminton can cause significant eye injuries. (You may be surprised to learn that the fasted shuttlecock speed recorded was approximately 306 miles/hour, or 136.8 meters/sec!)
Another potential danger is that the racquets and bats themselves move at high speed in a confined space and could strike a player.
Flying objects aren't the only hazard. Many eye injuries come from pokes and jabs by fingers and elbows, particularly in games where players are in close contact with each other. Basketball, for example, has an extremely high rate of eye injury.
Features to look for in protective sports eyewear
Prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and even on-the-job industrial safety glasses typically do not provide adequate protection for sports use.
Sports goggles are made in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many are designed for racquet sports and are available for basketball and soccer. Some are even designed to fit in helmets used for American football, hockey and baseball.
Lenses in sports eyewear usually are made of polycarbonate. Since polycarbonate is such an impact-resistant lens material, it works well to protect eyes from fast-moving objects. Polycarbonate also is lightweight and has built-in ultraviolet protection (UV) — a valuable feature for outdoor sports.
The eyewear frame also plays an important role in the safety, comfort and visibility of sports eyewear. Also, different sports require different types of frames, which has led to development of sport-specific frames.
Most sport frames can accommodate both prescription and nonprescription lenses. Sport frames are constructed of highly impact-resistant plastic or polycarbonate, and many feature rubber or silicone padding to cushion the frame where it comes in contact with the head and nose.
Some sports styles are contoured, wrapping slightly around the face. This type of goggle works well for biking, hang-gliding and sailing. Contact lens wearers especially benefit from a wraparound style, as it helps keep out wind and dust.
Important fitting considerations for children
Sport goggles and other sports eyewear must be properly fit to the individual wearer. This is particularly important with children, because the normal temptation is to purchase a larger goggle than is needed today so the youngster has "room to grow."
Some growing room is acceptable, and sports goggles are made to be somewhat flexible in their width adjustment.
But if the frames are too large and don't fit properly, the amount of protection they provide will be compromised, increasing the risk of eye injury. It's a risk not worth taking.
By the same token, permitting a youngster to continue wearing goggles that he or she has outgrown can be just as dangerous.
First, the frames will be uncomfortable, tempting the child to take them off. Second, the frames can obstruct peripheral vision, leading to poor performance and a greater risk of being hit by a ball or other unseen object from one side or the other.
Review the fit of your child's sport goggles each year to ensure that they are still providing proper protection. Make sure the padding inside the sides of the goggle rests flush with the face and the eyes are centered both horizontally and vertically in the lens area.
Page published on Thursday, January 23, 2020
