Before you hit the field, make sure you’re wearing the appropriate protective sports glasses. Sports-related eye injuries are more common than people realize, with over 600,000 injuries occurring each year. Approximately one-third of these injuries happen in children. However, only 15 percent of kids report wearing eye protection most or all of the time.

The best way to protect your vision is by wearing protective sports glasses. Don’t worry about looking funny, either. If you suffer an eye injury, you may not be able to play your sport at all! Make good choices and protect your eyes so that you can play your favorite sport for as long as you’d like!

Features to Look For in Protective Sports Glasses

Prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and even industrial safety glasses do not provide enough protection for sports use. You need appropriate, sport-specific protective eyewear that is properly fitted.

Below are some features to look for when picking out sports glasses for you or your child.

• Meets ASTM standards. All sports eyewear should meet the testing standards of the American Standards for Testing and Materials. This ensures the eyewear has been thoroughly tested and proven to minimize or significantly reduce eye injuries.
• Polycarbonate lenses. Protective sports glasses are usually made from polycarbonate materials because they provide the highest level of impact protection. A scratch-resistant coating is typically applied as well to prevent scratches.
• Frame materials. Different sports require different types of frames, which is why it’s best to shop for sport-specific glasses. Most sport frames are made from polycarbonate or impact-resistant plastic and come with rubber padding.
• Proper fit. An optometrist or ophthalmologist can fit you for protective safety goggles. Depending on the sport you play, you may also attach the glasses to your helmet. Other sport styles are contoured and wrap slightly around the face.

Most Eye Injuries are Preventable – Wear Your Safety Glasses!

As many as nine out of ten sports-related eye injuries are preventable with the right eyewear. Don’t take chances with your eyesight! Unfortunately, many states and sports organizations have yet to adopt requirements for sports protective eyewear. It’s up to you to make these decisions.

To discuss the best protective goggles for you or your child, contact your eye specialist. They can recommend the best safety glasses based on your sport and make sure they fit properly over the entire eye socket – not just the eyeball.