PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR IS VITAL TO PREVENT SPORTS-RELATED EYE INJURIES
The Michigan Optometric Association warns of risks of avoidable eye injuries related to sports this spring
To prevent injuries to your eyes while playing sports, you need to go pro – as in protective eyewear, advises the Michigan Optometric Association (MOA).
With the arrival of spring and more people heading outside for fun and exercise, the Michigan Optometric Association cautions even casual athletes to protect their sight – and that of teammates – by keeping street eyewear off the playing field and wearing proper protective eyewear instead. Even non-contact sports such as tennis, golf and fishing pose a moderate to high risk of eye injury because of flying objects, such as balls, racquets and hooks.
According to the MOA, conventional frames and lenses do not meet the minimum requirements for impact resistance in most sports, which can turn a small collision into a sight-threatening injury. Sports-protective eyewear is tested to meet rigid standards and some have been independently verified and received the American Optometric Association (AOA) Seal of Acceptance.
“Thousands of children and adults unnecessarily suffer sports-related eye injuries each year,” said Jeffrey Pulk, O.D., MOA member. “Every thirteen minutes, an emergency room in the United States treats a sports related eye injury and nearly all could be prevented by using proper protective eyewear.”
Sports vision goes beyond choosing the correct protective eyewear. Athletic performance can be diminished and physical injuries are more likely when vision problems, like nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism go uncorrected. The MOA recommends an annual eye exam for anyone who participates in sports.
An optometrist with expertise in sports vision can assess a person’s unique visual system – because all sports have different visual demands – and recommend the proper eyeglasses or contact lenses, or design a vision-therapy program to maximize visual skills for a specific sport.
“Eye protection should be of major concern to all athletes, especially in certain high-risk sports,” said Dr. Pulk. “Aside from wearing dress glasses, another problem occurs when athletes take corrective eyewear off to play sports. They sacrifice visual acuity so they can fit a helmet securely or play without risk of damaging their glasses. This occurs very often and can create an unsafe environment for all participants.”
The most common sports vision concerns include:
- Protection: Athletes’ eyes need certified sports protective eyewear that will protect against injury and ultra-violet light.
- Correction: Spectacle wearers require prescription sports protective eyewear, while contact-lens wearers may need a different lens, during sports. For example, skiers spend their time in cold, dry conditions and need a contact lens that will provide more moisture.
- Vision enhancement: Athletes often benefit from activities that enhance their eye coordination, reaction time, and perception of their visual environment.
To locate a Michigan Optometric Association doctor, visit the MOA Web site at www.themoa.org and click on the Find an Optometrist link at the upper right of the homepage.
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[Editor’s note: To schedule an interview with Dr. Jeffrey Pulk, please contact Lauren Weber at (313) 567-5048.]
About the Michigan Optometric Association
The mission of the Michigan Optometric Association is to unite all licensed optometrists and be the representative voice for the profession of optometry in Michigan. The association provides education, information and other member services to assist optometrists in practicing successfully in accordance with the highest standards of patient care; works to advance the quality and accessibility of optometric services throughout the state and seeks to ensure the recognition of optometrists as the primary providers of vision and related eye health care.
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