Source: preventblindness.org
Each year, more than 40,000 people are treated for eye injuries related to sports activities. Using the right kind of eye protection while playing sports can help prevent serious eye injuries and even blindness.
The following guidelines can help you find a pair of eyeguards right for you
1. If you wear prescription glasses, ask your eye doctor to fit you for prescription eyeguards. If you’re a monocular athlete (a person with only one eye that sees well), ask your eye doctor what sports you can safely participate in. Monocular athletes should always wear sports eyeguards.
2. In order to be assured that your eyes are protected, it is important that any eye guard or sports protective eyewear be labeled as ASTM F803 approved. This eyewear is performance tested to give you the highest levels of protection.
3. Don’t buy sports eyeguards without lenses. Only “lensed” protectors are recommended for sports use. Make sure the lenses either stay in place or pop outward in the event of an accident. Lenses that pop in against your eyes can be very dangerous.
4. Check the packaging to see if the eye protector you select has been tested for sports use. Also check to see that the eye protector is made of polycarbonate material. Polycarbonate eyeguards are the most impact resistant.
5. Sports eyeguards should be padded or cushioned along the brow and bridge of the nose. Padding will prevent the eyeguards from cutting your skin.
6. Try on the eye protector to determine if it’s the right size. Adjust the strap and make sure it’s not too tight or too loose. If you purchased your eyeguards at an optical store, an optical representative can help you adjust the eye protector for a comfortable fit.
Soccer Recommended protection: Sports eyeguards
Injuries prevented:
-Inflamed iris
-Blood spilling into the eye’s anterior chamber
-Swollen retina
For sports use, polycarbonate lenses must be used with protectors that meet or exceed the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Each sport has a specific ASTM code, so look for the ASTM label on the product before making a purchase.
OPINIONES DE LA EXPERTA
MAYLIN LEÓN
PLANET OPTICAL
1 La edad que los niños sufren más lesiones en los ojos es de los 9 hasta los 16 años.
2 Al elegir el marco es importante tener en cuenta el tamaño de la pata, el largo del marco,
la comodidad al usarlo atrás de las orejas y que sea acolchonado en la nariz.
3 Es necesario que el marco sea rap o curvo para que le proteja en caso de accidente.
CONCIENCIA EN LOS PADRES
4 Los padres deben hacer que sus hijos usen lentes al jugar soccer.
5 No es recomendable usar los lentes de contacto en soccer.
6 Es importante que los niños usen los lentes para jugar, aunque no tengan graduación, sino por protección de los rayos UV y porque son contra impactos.