Sports Related Eye Injuries – Common Facts
- An estimated 40,000 sports-related eye injuries occur each year in the United States.
- 13,500 people go blind due to sports-related eye injuries.
- 90 percent of sports-related eye injuries could have been prevented.
- One-third of people who suffer from sports-related eye injuries are children.
- The most common consequences of sports-related eye injuries are abrasions, contusions, detached retinas, corneal lacerations, cataracts, hemorrhages and loss of an eye.
- Water and pool sports such as diving, swimming and water skiing collectively, make up the second leading cause of sports-related eye injuries.
- Paintball has become a popular sports worldwide, but as bee noted with devastating eye injuries, including blindness.
- In the NFL, facemasks fitted with shields are specially contoured according to the player’s position, to help further prevent injuries.
- There was a ninety-percent decrease in ocular trauma after certified full-face mask became mandatory in organized amateur hockey, in Canada.
- Polycarbonate lenses provide the best eye protection for many sports. They are lightweight, scratch resistant, thin, and can be designed to meet most eyewear designs or prescriptions.
- Polycarbonate is 10 times more impact-resistant than other plastics and can withstand the force of a .22-caliber bullet, which is why it is the best for eye protection.
Remember to always use the proper eye protection equipment for your particular sport.
