According to the National Society to Prevent Blindness, almost 40,000 eye injuries were reported to be related to sports and recreational products. This number only reflects those that were reported, and estimates have been as much as 100,000. The sad part about eye injuries is that they often result in permanent damage, and over 90% of the injuries sustained could have been prevented. Many athletes have lost their careers due to an eye injuries. The eyes are probably one the most important part of the body needed to effectively compete in sports. However, most people do not take any measures to protect them. They protect their heads with helmets and their bodies with pads, but few wear eyewear to protect their eyes.

There are many factors that will increase your risk to injury. Those with low skill levels, often found in the younger athletes, are at a greater risk. About 44% of the reported injuries were to children under the age of 14. Thus, young children should be protected, as any eye injury could permanently end ones future in sports. Also, those with pre-existing eye conditions are at a bigger risk. For instance, if one is playing with low vision in one eye and good vision in another, precautions should be taken to protect the good eye, as injury to the good eye could result in vision loss, reducing the overall vision of the athlete. Also, those with high prescriptions might be at a bigger risk for permanent damage due to the inherent weaknesses pre-existing in their eyes. Also, those who have had eye surgery may also be at greater risk, since surgery may have weakened the natural state of the eye.

Other factors that increase your risk is the sport you are playing. Participating in a moderate to high risk sport signals the need for eye protection. Low risk sports usually do not involve a ball or bat, and are usually individual sports. (i.e. swimming, track and field, etc.). Moderate risk sports may involve the use of a ball or bat, and team sports. Sports injuries usually are a result of the ball hitting the eye, or a teammate or opponent poking the eye with a body part. Such sports should require protective eyewear. High risk sports are sports that involve direct physical contact, such as boxing or wrestling. Unfortunately, no protective eyewear can be worn in these sports. Caution should be taken by those who are have an existing eye weakness in participating in such sports.

Eye injuries may seem rare, but they are not. More aggressive play in sports recently has resulted in more and more eye injuries being reported every year. Take precautions now to ensure a successful sports future.