Kids most commonly get eye injuries playing sports, but their eyes can also be injured while playing with BB guns or other toys that can fire a projectile, from chemical burns, or simply from the UV rays of the sun if they don't wear sun glasses.
Sports Eye Safety
For most parents, sports eye safety is limited to wearing prescription safety goggles instead of their regular glasses...April is Sports Eye Safety MonthThat is unfortunate, because according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, sports eye injuries affect more than 40,000 people each year and sports are the leading cause of childhood eye injuries. Among the sports that commonly cause eye injuries include:
- baseball
- basketball
- football
- hockey
To be safe, be sure your child is wearing appropriate protective eyewear when playing sports, which typically includes protective goggles or sports eyeguard, a face shield or guard, made of shatter resistant polycarbonate plastic, and not just his regular glasses. A pediatric ophthalmologist can fit your child with protective eyewear, to make sure they fit properly and are comfortable.
Sunglasses
In addition to protection from baseballs, basketballs, and flying elbows, you need to protect your child's eyes from the harmful effects of the sun.Even younger children should wear real sunglasses that filter out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays.
What You Need To Know About Preventing Eye Injuries
- Wearing protective eyewear is especially important if your child only has one functioning eye.
- In addition to sunglasses, protect your kids from the sun by having them wear a wide-brimmed hat, staying out of the sun, especially during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and wearing sunscreen if they are over 6 months old.
- Childproof your home so that your kids don't get into harmful chemicals, cleaners, and other substances that could burn their eyes.
- Remember that fireworks are an important cause of eye injuries in children.
- Have your kids wear goggles in the pool so that the pool water doesn't irritate their eyes.
- Protective eyewear should be made of materials that meet American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.
- The anti-fog coating on some goggle and eyeguard can help prevent them from getting fogged up when your child is playing.
Sources:
Behrman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 17th ed.
American Academy of Ophthalmology. Sport Eye Safety Month Talking Points and Appropriate Protective Eyewear Handout
American Academy of Pediatrics Summer Safety Tips.
Prevent Blindness America Tips for Buying Sports Eye Protectors
