on Thursday, April 19, 2012 Did you know that eye injuries are
the leading cause of blindness in children in the United States?
Most of these eye injuries are sports related. In fact, most eye
injuries among kids ages 11-14 occur while playing sports. Of
these eye injuries, almost 90% of them could have been prevented
with the use of protective eyewear. First, an eye exam before
enrolling a child in any sport is important. An eye exam done by
an eye care professional can help detect preexisting eye
conditions in athletes. After an eye exam, an eyecare
professional can recommend the best protective eyewear for that
patient. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles,
safety shields, and eye guards designed for a particular sport.
While protective eyewear does not include contact lenses,
protective eyewear can easily be worn over them. In fact, all
active children are encouraged to wear protective eyewear; not
just children who need vision correction. Here is a breakdown of
sports according to eye i