Your sense of sight can be left vulnerable when playing sports. Athlete, weekend warrior, or recreational player, eye safety tips for athletes can reduce the risk of eye-related injuries on the field or court.
In some cases, eye injuries can lead to blindness and puts an end to an athlete’s career. Therefore, protecting your vision during sports should be a top priority.
Most sports injuries are preventable injuries, and this includes eye injuries. Here, we are going to discuss eye safety tips for athletes, and where you can go in Washington, Missouri for top-notch eye and vision care.
What Are Some Risks Athletes Take with Their Eyes During Sports?
Eye trauma can result from sports injuries, the most common of which are corneal abrasion, blunt injuries and penetrating injuries.
A corneal abrasion is a scraping of the outer corner of the eye, usually from a fingernail. Blunt injuries are usually caused by an object, such as a ball, making a collision with the eye/s and compressing it. Penetrating injuries are a result of an object, such as pellets or broken spectacles, piercing the eye.
Radiation eye injury is another thing which is a result of exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun and is very harmful to one’s vision.
What Sports Have a High Incidence of Eye Injuries?
There are high-risk sports and low-risk sports when it comes to eye injuries. Examples of sports with a high risk of eye injuries include:
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Softball
- Fencing
- Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Racquetball
- Squash
- Mountain biking
- Boxing
- Full-contact martial arts
- Skiing and snowboarding
- Airsoft rifles and pellet guns
- Paintball
If you are in a sport that is considered low-risk for eye injuries, such as swimming and track, you would still need to protect your eyes.
How Can Athletes Protect Their Eyes During a Game?
Eye safety for athletes is possible with education and the right protective gear. If you play sports that have an eye safety risk, consider the following:
- Wearing specially designed protective eyewear for racquet sports or basketball.
- Donning protective helmets and face gear for collision sports, such as hockey.
- Wearing batting helmets made of polycarbonate for baseball.
- Choosing eyewear with polarized lenses to block UV rays for outdoor sports, and also prevent sunburn and glare.
- Using thumbless gloves while boxing, to help reduce thumbing injuries to the eye
As an athlete, you want to make sure you have the right protection that is designed for your specific sport and that it fits you well. Each sport will have specific requirements for eye protection. Some important features for eyewear are scratch-resistant and shatterproof and are made with polycarbonate lenses.
If you experience any symptoms after an incident affecting your eyes, such as blurred vision, pain, irritation, swelling, or redness, contact a medical professional immediately.
Clarity of vision is highly important for an athlete. If you have an injury or are experiencing vision difficulties, consult an ophthalmologist immediately for treatment and to find out your options.
Ophthalmologist in Washington, Missouri
The highly skilled team of eye doctors at Advanced Sight Center offer comprehensive vision care. We make use of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment for our eye exams and offer you the latest innovations in eye treatment.
Our board-certified ophthalmologists are highly experienced in the treatment of athletes with eye injuries, particularly corneal abrasion. We can also make recommendations for the best eyewear for your sport.
Our eye specialists are proud of the level of service we provide athletes and active individuals in Washington, Missouri. To schedule an appointment with an eye doctor, call our office today at (636) 239-1650 or use our convenient online request form. We look forward to giving you the best in eye care in Washington!
