The Right Protective Eyewear When Playing Sports

• Karuna Sharma
• 2 years ago
• Categories: Eye Care
• Tags: eye doctor, eye expert, eye test

More and more people who are active in sports at the recreational, amateur and professional levels have come to realize the importance of wearing protective eyewear. Putting on a pair of goggles or other similar eye safety gear is your best defense against serious eye injuries. Knowing which type to use before participating in a particular sport is imperative. To help you out, our resident eye doctor at Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic shares more insight.

Why Is Eye Protection Needed?

Regular eyeglasses and contacts aren’t enough to protect your eyes from injuries when playing sports. The risk of eye injury is higher without proper protection, and according to the National Eye Institute, around 90 percent of sports-related eye injuries could have been prevented by wearing the right protective gear. It is for this reason that eye care professionals recommend wearing protective eyewear when playing sports.

Common Types of Eye Safety Gear

Different sports require different types of eye safety gear. Some of the most common eye safety gear that your eye doctor may recommend include:

• Safety Goggles – Whether you’re swimming, surfing or water skiing, safety goggles should be worn for added protection. These should have polycarbonate lenses to prevent water-related eye injuries.

• Sports Goggles – These are slightly different from what’s usually worn when swimming, but these are still better than a naked eye exposed to a direct ball impact which can potentially lead to vision loss. Make sure they’re approved to ASTM F803-19 or the most current sport-specific ASTM standards.

• Polycarbonate Visor Shield – Attached to a faceguard, this is worn when playing football as it offers protection against objects having the potential to penetrate openings in the faceguard grid. They also provide adequate UV protection for the wearer.

• Helmet-Mounted Faceguard/Visor – These are made of polycarbonate that’s thinner and lighter than plastic while also being shatterproof and impact-resistant. These are typically worn when playing baseball, but they must be approved by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE).

If you’re looking for a trusted eye doctor for your eye care needs, visit Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic! Just call (425) 771-8472 if you’re from Lynnwood or (425) 485-0430 if you live in Bothell. You can also set an appointment through our online request form! We serve the areas in and around Kirkland and Redmond, WA.