April 5, 2005
Protect yourself from sports-related eye injuries
With spring finally arriving after a long winter, more people are outdoors participating in various sports. Although playing sports is a great way to get in shape, more than 40,000 people each year suffer from sports-related eye injuries.
In recognition of April's Sports Eye Safety Month, ophthalmologists at the UM Kellogg Eye Center want to remind athletes of all ages to wear the appropriate protective eyewear to prevent eye injuries.
Sports-related eye injuries can range from abrasions of the cornea and bruises of the eyelids to internal injuries, such as retinal detachments and internal bleeding. Many of these injuries can lead to vision loss and permanent blindness. However, over 90 percent of these injuries can be prevented if protective eyewear is used properly.
For all age groups, baseball, basketball and racquet sports are the most dangerous sports causing the most eye injuries. Other sports such as hockey, football, soccer, tennis, golf and water sports also cause a number of eye injuries each year.
For children, sports are the leading cause of eye injuries. Most of these occur because many sports leagues, schools and teams don't require their young athletes to wear any kind of eye protection. So, protecting your children's eyes because the parents' responsibility.
When choosing protective eyewear, including goggles, face shields and guards, please follow these tips:
- Check that the eyewear is appropriate for the sport you are playing
- Make sure the eyewear is made of polycarbonate plastic
- Have your eyewear properly fitted by an eye care professional
For more information on purchasing protective eyewear, please contact our Optical Shops. We have three locations in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas:
- Ann Arbor – 734.764.5144
- Brighton – 810.844.2576
- Canton – 734.844.3251
Contact: Aimee S. Bergquist, 734.763.4660, aimeesb@umich.edu.
