According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), up to 90% of sports-related eye injuries could have been prevented by wearing the proper eye safety gear. For sports like football, snowboarding, skiing and more, you can usually find specialized eyewear alongside other protective equipment.
What Is Protective Eyewear?
Protective eyewear is often made of strong and durable polycarbonate, which is a type of plastic that is resistant to impact and ultraviolet (UV) light. Safety goggles and face guards are some of the most common types of protective eyewear designed for sports. Regular eyeglasses and sunglasses do not provide protection from eye-related injuries, but most protective eyewear can match the individual’s glasses or contacts prescriptions.
What Kind of Protective Eyewear Do You Need?
There are different types of protective eyewear that are suited for different sports. For sports like basketball, mountain biking, racquetball, baseball and softball (when fielding), kids need safety goggles with polycarbonate lenses. When playing sports, such as hockey, tackle football, baseball and softball (when batting), kids need to wear helmets with polycarbonate face guards attached to them. On the other hand, kids need safety goggles with polycarbonate lenses when participating in water sports like surfing, water polo and water skiing.
In some cases, kids may require other types of eye protection in addition to face protection for sports such as lacrosse, fencing and paintball, and when assuming certain positions like a goalie. If you are not too certain about what type of safety eyewear your child needs in order to protect their eyes and vision, do not hesitate to ask your child’s eye specialist or coach about it.
Call Us for Your Eyewear Protection Needs!
Opti-Care offers a number of top-notch optical services, including eyeglasses, contact lenses and low vision care. Give us a call at (410) 795-8670, or fill out our online form to request an appointment.