CHICAGO—September is here, bringing with it cooler nights, back-to-school business, and, of course, the fall sports season. In recognition of this, Prevent Blindness has again declared September as Sports Eye Safety Month, in order to educate the public on the risk of painful and potentially blinding eye injuries that can occur while playing sports without the proper eye protection. According to new data from the organization, there were more than 32,600 sports-related eye injuries treated in the United States in 2023, underscoring the importance of sharing this information.

According to Prevent Blindness, its data shows that the “pool and water sports” category had the highest rate of eye injuries last year. In second place was the “non-powder guns, darts, arrows and slingshots” category. Finally, for those ages 15 and older, basketball had the highest rate of injury. In addition, Prevent Blindness said that pickleball, which has shot up in popularity over the past few years, is increasing the number of eye injuries. Prevent Blindness cites the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), which reports, “the risk of eye injury is higher in doubles games because two players are always close to the net and have less time to duck and avoid a fast-flying ball.”

Sports-related eye injuries include blunt trauma, retinal tears or detachment, penetrating injuries, corneal scratches and abrasions, said Prevent Blindness. Alongside this, eye infections can be contracted through water sports, and those who wear contact lenses are at a higher risk of contracting these infections.

 
 
With this information in mind, Prevent Blindness recommends that athletes wear eye guards when participating in sports and underscores that regular prescription glasses, sunglasses and occupational safety glasses do not provide enough, or the right kind of, protection. In addition, the organization urges athletes and caretakers of children participating in sports to consult an ECP to determine the best kind of eye protection for each case.

Prevent Blindness recommends the following guidelines:

  • Monocular athletes (a person with only one eye that sees well), should ask their eye doctor what sports they can play safely. Monocular athletes should always wear sports eye guards.

  • When purchasing eye guards with lenses, make sure the lenses either stay in place or pop outward in the event of an accident. Lenses that pop in against the eyes can be very dangerous.

  • Polycarbonate eye guards are the most impact resistant. Polycarbonate lenses are also thinner and lighter than plastic, are shatterproof and provide UV protection. For sports use, polycarbonate lenses must be used with protectors that meet or exceed the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International, a global standards development organization.

  • Each sport has a specific ASTM standard, so check the package and/or protector to make sure the appropriate ASTM standard designation for the sport is on the product, before buying it. Do not buy the product if there is no ASTM code provided.

  • Look for eye guards that are certified by an authorized certification organization such as the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) or independently tested by an accredited laboratory that provides independent verified evidence of protection and performance. Do not buy products labeled as “ASTM Certified” as ASTM does not certify products.

For ECPs, Prevent Blindness offers a number of resources that will help make Sports Eye Safety Month as helpful as possible. These include fact sheets, shareable graphics for social media and a dedicated website. In addition, the organization has released a new Focus on Eye Health Expert Series episode, “Sports Eye Safety,” with sports vision specialist Keith Smithson, OD, of Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry, and Sports Vision Pros.

Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness, said, “Most sports-related eye injuries can be avoided by simply wearing the proper eye protection. By working with your eyecare professional, you can stay in the game with healthy eyes today and for years to come.”



   
  Editor's Note

This is the first of a two-part series on Sports Eye Safety Month. Part two highlights several eyecare practitioners who weigh in on the importance of eye safety while playing sports. Click here to read the story.