The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates there are almost 40,000 eye injuries from sports in the United States each year. But that figure is probably only a fraction of the total, since the CPSC estimate doesn't include data on injures treated in ophthalmologist offices and specialty hospitals.
There is a high risk of eye injuries in sports where there is contact with a ball, stick or another body. For example, an estimated 6 percent of all college varsity athletes sustain some form of eye injury each season, and about one in 10 college basketball players sustains an eye injury each year. Such injuries can be devastating in terms of their total cost: pain, loss of function and long-term disability. But wearing eye protectors can reduce the risk of injury by at least 90 percent.
Athletes with one eye or those who have suffered an eye injury can participate in almost all sports if they use appropriate eye protection. The exceptions are boxing, for which eye protection is not practical, and full-contact martial arts, for which protection is not allowed.
Contact lenses offer no protection; therefore, athletes who wear contact lenses must also wear appropriate eye protection.
Eye-safety standards in the United States are mainly the responsibility of two organizations, the American Society for Testing and Materials and the American National Standards Institute. The ASTM writes standards for sports eyewear. The Protective Eyewear Certification Council ( www.protecteyes.org) certifies protectors complying with ASTM standards.
Proper fit, especially in children, is essential. Because some children have narrow facial features, they may be unable to wear even the smallest sports goggles.
When choosing protective eyewear, take into consideration the athlete's vision and eye history; use only eye protectors that have been certified to national performance standards; and have an experienced ophthalmologist, optometrist or optician help select appropriate protective gear that fits well. Protectors with clear lenses should have polycarbonate lenses, which is the strongest lens material available.
Here is a list of recommended eye protectors for selected sports:
Baseball/softball, youth batter or base runner: Face guards meeting the standard of ASTM F910.
Baseball/softball, fielder: Goggles, ASTM F803
Basketball: Goggles, ASTM F803
Bicycling: Helmet plus streetwear, ANSI Z80; industrial glasses ANSI Z87.1; or goggles, ASTM F803
Football: Polycarbonate eye shield attached to helmet-mounted wire face mask
Paintball: Goggles, ASTM F1776
Racket sports (badminton, tennis, handball, squash, racquetball): Goggles, ASTM F803
Soccer: Goggles, ASTM F803
Track and field: Streetwear/fashion eyewear
Water polo/swimming: Swim goggles with polycarbonate lenses
Alton Thygerson, professor of health sciences at Brigham Young University, is the National Safety Council's first aid and CPR author and technical consultant. For more information, the National Safety Council First Aid Handbook by Thygerson is available in local bookstores.