More than 90% of sports eye injuries can be prevented by simply wearing the correct protective eyewear.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology wants everyone who plays sports to consider wearing protective eyewear to protect their vision. During April Sports Eye Safety Month, it’s important to understand that most sports-related eye injuries are avoidable when an athlete chooses to wear the proper eye protection. With more than 100,000 sports-related eye injuries occurring each year that result in approximately 13,500 cases of permanent vision loss, it’s time to bring attention to the public and encourage all athletes, young and old, to wear protective eyewear.
It’s because of these alarming statistics that American Academy of Ophthalmology has named April Sports Eye Safety Month. In addition, they have discovered though a national survey that less than 35% of the respondents said that they always wear protective eyewear while playing sports. The American Academy of Ophthalmology survey and additional studies also discovered that:
- More than 40% of all eye injuries each year are related to sports or recreational activities.
- Men are more likely to sustain an eye injuries related to athletic activities than women.
- The majority of people in the survey felt that the most common place to be involved in an eye injury is while at work. The truth is that nearly half of all eye injuries occur in the home.
- Of the eye accidents that occur in the home, most were the result of activities like home repairs, gardening, house cleaning and cooking. A third of these at home incidents occurred inside the living areas of the house.
- While dust, foreign objects and chemicals can damage the eyes, sun exposure is also a major factor that can cause eye damage.
- And finally, the academy discovered that more than 78 percent of people who reported an eye injury were not wearing the recommended safety eyewear at the time of their injury. Of those who did report wearing protective eyewear at the time of their accident, many of whom were just wearing standard eye glasses, less than 6% were actually wearing safety or sports glasses.
With studies showing that more than 90% of sports eye injuries can be prevented by simply wearing the correct protective eyewear, it’s a shame that more people don’t realize they’re putting their eyesight in danger. Specific sports eyewear is available for just about any sport you can imagine and available in prescription lenses for those who depend on glasses or contacts. If you’re involved in a sport, your eye doctor can properly fit you with the correct sports eyewear that will keep you safe while playing your favorite sport.
Protecting your eyes from injury is such an easy thing to do and will go a long way toward protecting your healthy vision throughout your lifetime. Make it a point to protect your vision during April is Sports Eye Safety Month. Call 1.877.733.2020 or schedule an appointment today to learn more about our practice, read patient testimonials and receive excellent care.