Just like speed and strength, your vision is an important component in athletic performance.

In fact, you should consider clear vision as important as wearing the right shoes or sporting apparel. It’s another way to enhance your game!

Proper eye protection and visual correction can mean the difference between a successful season and a tragic one. In fact, studies show that about 30% of eye injuries among children under 16 are sports related. Why? Children are especially susceptible because of their underdeveloped depth perception, fearless style of play, and athletic immaturity.

Some sports related eye injuries include:

• Blindness
• Scratches on the cornea
• Bleeding in the eye
• Traumatic cataract (cloudy lens)
• Swollen retina
• Inflamed iris
• Fracture of the eye socket

Basketball and baseball the two sports that cause the most eye injuries for children between 5 and 14 years old, mostly because eye protection is not as well-enforced in these sports compared to others.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that children wear protection for the following sports:

• Baseball
• Softball
• Racquetball
• Tennis
• Badminton
• Soccer
• Ice hockey
• Street hockey
• Basketball
• Lacrosse
• Archery
• Fencing
• Boxing
• Karate

We’ve found it’s best to purchase protective eye wear at sports specialty stores or from your eye care professional. Also, make sure your sports goggles fit securely, have impact-resistant lenses, and are approved by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM).

At our office, we recommend Transitions lenses for added protection because they cut glare and UV exposure in the sun!

Looking to get fit with prescription sports glasses? Give our Concord office a call at (704)792-2777 (Concord)! We’ll be glad to help!