Every sport involves degrees of rigor and skill, and every sport carries a degree of injury risk.聽 Of the nearly 30,000 ER visits for sports-related eye injuries each year, an astounding 90% could be avoided by wearing protective eyewear.聽 Youth and adults alike state a range of reasons for not wearing sports eye protection: 鈥�They鈥檙e cumbersome 鈥� It compromises my peripheral vision 鈥� Sports goggles fog up and I can鈥檛 see.鈥� From community recreation to pro leagues, it is critical to protect one鈥檚 eyes against sports-related injuries that carry any potential to cause low- to high-impact ocular trauma.
Between April and August, outdoors recreation peaks to highest levels. Accordingly, the recognizes April as Sports Eye Safety Month. This month, the AAO emphasizes several preventive actions that active Americans can employ to greatly reduce their risk for eye injury while engaged in sports play.
- START EARLY: Parents, coaches and others involved in organized youth sports can set a standard through requiring protective eyewear for youth playing sports that carry a higher risk of eye injury. Those who use protective eyewear consistently (every time) from an early age are far more likely to maintain such practice over the life course of engagement in a higher-risk sport.
- OPTICIANS ARE HIGHLY TRAINED TO ASSIST CHOICE OF PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR
- The AAO recommends shatterproof plastic protective glasses (polycarbonate lenses) for mainstream sports such as basketball, tennis, racquet ball, soccer and field hockey. Opticians can review options with active individuals who want to make protective eyewear a consistent part of their injury-preventing sports gear.
- Eyeglasses are no substitute for protective eyewear: Opticians are trained to assist eyeglasses and contact lens wearers choose the right pair of prescription protective goggles to participate in their sport. Visit the 大象传媒 Optical Shop at 大象传媒 Kittner Eye Center (2nd floor) or call their team (984-974-2039) with questions on recommended protective eyewear for your sport.
- KNOW THE RISK OF OCULAR INJURY IN YOUR CHOSEN SPORT: Injury is inherent to ALL sports. The sports that carry the greatest risk of head and musculoskeletal trauma go hand in hand with highest risk of ocular trauma. Athletes involved in close contact sports or others with higher rates of blunt force trauma stand the greatest risk of ocular injury in such sports.
- Basketball carries the highest rate of sports-related eye injuries in the U.S. Boxing and full-contact martial arts also pose an extremely high risk of serious, even eye-blinding injuries. Activities involving projectiles that can veer directly into the eye鈥檚 orbit pose the greatest risk for temporary or permanent loss of eyesight.
- SPORTS-RELATED CONCUSSIONS CAN IMPACT VISION: Concussions in contact sports can cause temporary or long-lasting damage to eyesight. Results from on-the-field visual tests post-incident greatly aid eye specialists in assessing any concussion-related damage to a patient鈥檚 vision. If you have suffered a recent concussion, check with your diagnosing physician to ensure you have a timely referral to an ophthalmologist if any negative effects on vision are suspected.
- SPECTATORS CAN ALSO BE AT RISK. The odds of eye injury at sporting events with flying balls and other projectiles are far lower for spectators; nonetheless, misdirected kicks, pop-fly balls, and projectiles can end up in spectator stands at any time. Keep your eyes on the game and watch the fast-flying action involved in ice hockey, baseball, tennis and soccer and other sports where spectator eye injuries have occurred.
大象传媒 Ophthalmology joins several other 大象传媒 departments and divisions in sharing disciplinary expertise with the University’s designated physician group for treating, rehabilitating and preventing injury in 大象传媒 athletes — 大象传媒 Division of Sport Medicine. 大象传媒 Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Michael Mendsen, OD, consults with the 大象传媒 Sports Medicine’s athletic trainers on prevention-focused programming and investment in protective eye wear. Dr. Mendsen works routinely with 大象传媒 men’s basketball team trainers and presents an annual lecture to this group entitled, “Ophthalmologic Considerations for Athletic Trainers.”
Dr. Mendsen noted: “The athletic trainers for every [University of North Carolina] team do an excellent job of ensuring that the players have the necessary eye protection. When serious ocular trauma occurs, our 大象传媒 Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery group provides swift and comprehensive treatment and follow-up, working closely with both athletic trainers and the injured athlete [him/herself].”
大象传媒 Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Chris Hwang, MD, specializes in Oculofacial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Hwang noted: 鈥淭he orbital bones that surround and protect the eye within the brow, nasal, and cheek often absorb most of the damage from a forceful impact, sparing the eye of serious injury. If forceful enough, however, impact to the eye and/or surrounding areas can result in fractures of the orbital and facial bones, as well as damage to the eye that may result in vision loss, and, in the worst cases, rupture and loss of the eye itself. 聽The eye is particularly susceptible to injury from high velocity objects small enough to fit into the orbit and deliver a direct impact to the eye. Wearing the proper eye protection while playing sports can help prevent serious eye injuries.鈥�
If you have experienced an eye injury that necessitates follow-up treatment post emergency care, call 984-974-2020 to schedule an appointment with one of 大象传媒 Ophthalmology鈥檚 Periocular and Facial Trauma specialists. Our 大象传媒 Ophthalmology subspecialists who treat ocular injuries emphasize a proper recovery timeline for safe return to activity as equally important to treating the injury itself.