Kids Need To "See" The Importance Of Sports Eyeguards

League City, Texas – With the new school year currently underway, millions of school children are heavily involved in sports activities. While a great way to get involved and stay in shape, all it takes is one small accident and a child’s eyes can be damaged. September is National Home & Sports Eye Health and Safety Month, and the doctors at The Eye Clinic of Texas provide some basic information to keep children safe this sports season.

According to Prevent Blindness America, of the nearly 36,000 sports-related eye injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2002, more than 40 percent were to children age 14 and younger. Regardless of age group, the most frequent injuries occur while playing basketball (6,552), water/pool activities (4,559) and baseball/softball (3,716). Injuries include scratches on the cornea, inflamed iris, blood spilling into the eye’s anterior chamber, traumatic cataract, eye socket fracture and swollen retina. The following are some of the professional athletes that have suffered serious eye injuries related to their respective sports:

• Orlando Brown, Baltimore Ravens tackle - four tears to iris caused by referee's weighted penalty flag hitting his right eye, took three years to recover
• Stuart Scott, ESPN sportscaster, while working out with NY Jets - football hit his left eye and split his cornea and lens
• Jennifer Capriati, tennis superstar- abnormal growth in white of eye (pterygium) caused by longtime UV-ray exposure, required surgery on both eyes
• Eric Gagne, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher - suffered eye injury from hockey, now wears prescription goggles to protect eyes

“Nearly all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented,” says Bernard Milstein, M.D., ophthalmologist at The Eye Clinic of Texas. “Protecting your eyes in any sport, at any age, needs to be a top priority. It might feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but is a lot more comfortable than a serious eye injury.”

Milstein says regular glasses do not provide enough protection, and can possibly shatter (depending on the lens type) and cause greater injury. For basketball, soccer and racquet sports, proper safety goggles, also known as lensed polycarbonate protectors, should be worn. Baseball and football players need to wear tight-fitting helmets with polycarbonate face shields. For football players, this face shield should be attached to the face guard. When playing hockey, individuals should use the helmets, as well as wire or polycarbonate face shields approved by the U.S. Amateur Hockey Association.

“Eyeguards should fit securely and comfortably, as well as work in conjunction with a helmet, if necessary,” Milstein says. “Regular eyeguards cost between $20 to $40; $60 or more for those with prescription lenses.”

To find the best pair of eyeguards, Milstein recommends the following tips. An ophthalmologist should fit an athlete for an eyeguard. For monocular athletes, those that can see well in only one eye, the doctor can advise on which sports to avoid. Purchase eyeguards only at sports specialty or optical stores, and make sure they have lensed protectors that are stationary or pop outward in the event of an accident. The eyeguards should also have an anti-fogging device.

Sports eyeguards should be padded along the brow and bridge of the nose to prevent cutting the skin. Try on the eyeguard to make sure it is not too tight or too lose. Check packaging to ensure the eyeguard has been tested for sports use and is made from polycarbonate material, which is the most impact resistant.

Founded in 1972, The Eye Clinic of Texas (www.ecot.com) offers the latest in laser vision correction surgery, as well as a full range of other eye needs at three locations throughout Galveston County: League City, Galveston and Texas City. For more information on sports safety and protective eyeguards, call 281-332-3937.

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