From protective padding to physical therapy, young athletes
possess plenty of tools to stay safe on the field or court. But are you doing
enough to protect your active teenager's eyes and vision? Read on to learn the
top five ways you and an ophthalmologist can help keep your adolescent
athlete's eyes on the prize.
According to the National Eye Institute (NEI),
sports-related eye injuries lead to about 100,000 doctor visits each year.
These injuries are the primary cause of childhood blindness. The NEI further
estimates that 90 percent of them could have been avoided with the right
equipment.
Certain sports like lacrosse, hockey, and racquetball
typically require all athletes to wear headgear. For other high-intensity games
like soccer, baseball, or basketball, protective eye-wear may be optional. In
these cases, you should always err on the side of caution when it comes to your
child's vision.
If your teen's team has official eye-wear standards or uses
mandatory face shields, follow those guidelines. Otherwise, a pair of
polycarbonate sports glasses offer the best all-around protection for teenagers
on the move. When in doubt, speak to your child's coach and ophthalmologist to
find the safest and most effective solution.
Even if your child's sport doesn't require protective gear,
you may find that standard glasses do more harm than good. Not only are they
prone to slipping and mud splatters, but one stray elbow is all it takes to
snap frames and crack lenses. To avoid the potential hazard and expense,
consider switching to contact lenses.
Contact lenses allow your teen to focus on and process
images naturally. They are also more compatible with protective lenses,
eliminating the need for prescription sports glasses. For both convenience and
safety, contact lenses are preferred in most sports.
Physical injuries aren't the only way time outside can
damage eyes. Just as ultraviolet radiation from the sun harms skin cells, it
has a negative effect on vision. Overexposure to UV light can lead to sight
deterioration, cataracts, and unnatural growths around the eyes. Eyes can even
experience a form of sunburn called photokeratitis.
Luckily, UV damage is easy to counteract with a little
preparation. Sunglasses and similarly shielded sports glasses act as filters
against UV rays without compromising performance. When possible, use wraparound
lenses to further block reflected light.
Sports encourage close contact between athletes, but that
camaraderie also carries risks. Infectious diseases that cause conjunctivitis,
or pink eye, spread quickly through shared towels, handshakes, or pool water.
Additionally, small injuries to the eye may become infected during the healing
process.
At best, an eye infection can sideline an athlete for days
or weeks at a time. At worst, it can cause permanent damage. When you schedule
regular appointments with an ophthalmologist, you can catch these infections
before they become a serious threat.
Strong sight improves athletic performance, but it's also an
important safety factor. Without adequate visual acuity, reflexes, and hand-eye
coordination, your teenager is more likely to incur all kinds of injuries. One
misjudged catch or swing can be all it takes to end up at the doctor's
office.
Because of this danger, you need to monitor your child’s
vision. Ophthalmologists are able to measure response times and pinpoint any
visual problems that may be slowing them down. This type of exam tends to be
more intensive than a standard check-up, designed to catch specific issues
related to sports.
Nothing matters more than preserving your child's health and
safety during the sports season. Contact
us at Calvert Ophthalmology Center today to help your teenager's
vision mature as intended and prevent any unnecessary damage to his or her
sight.
