Playing sports comes with several benefits. It does not only strengthen and improve one’s physical abilities; it can also help boost a person’s mental sharpness, emotional health, and social skills. But due to the nature of various kinds of sports, risks of injuries are always present. One example of this is the risk of eye injury.
That said, it is important to have the right gear and protective eyewear to keep your eyes safe. This is true for anyone, whether you are wearing glasses or contact lenses or not. By wearing the right eye protection, you can save yourself from eye injuries such as corneal abrasion, detached retina, eye socket fracture, and hyphema.
Polycarbonate lenses are usually recommended for protective sports eyewear because they are impact-resistant and shatterproof. They are also thinner and lighter than plastic and provide UV protection. Make sure that the polycarbonate lenses that you use meet or exceed the current sport-specific ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International standards.
In this post, corneal reshaping expert Lumen Optometric shares tips on how you can protect your eyes when playing different sports.
Baseball and Softball
Use helmet-mounted faceguards that are approved by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). Eye guards like goggles or spectacles are also recommended to minimize injury in case of a ball impact. Sports eye guards should be approved to ASTM F803-19 or the most current standard.
Football
Use a faceguard with a polycarbonate visor shield. The shield will protect against objects that can potentially penetrate openings in the faceguard grid.
Soccer
Use sports eye guards that have ASTM F803-19 approval.
Basketball
Use sports eye guards like goggles or spectacles that are approved to ASTM F803-19.
Field Hockey
Use sports eye guards that are approved to ASTM F2713-18 or the most current standard.
If you’re looking for an eye exam doctor, Lumen Optometric has a team of eye specialists who will ensure the best care for you. We also have expertise in various eye care services including myopia management, orthokeratology, neurolens therapy and more. Call us at (626) 921-0199 or fill out our contact form to request an appointment.