A sports injury can happen in the blink of an eye and have serious consequences. Consider the following: according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), approximately 42,000 people go to the emergency room due to sports-related eye injuries every year.
Professional and recreational athletes alike should to take precautionary steps to prevent eye injuries. Read on as Austin Eye reveals eye-opening statistics regarding sports injuries and how you can minimize your risk.
What the Numbers Say
According to the AAO:
- A sports-related eye injury is treated in an emergency room every 13 minutes.
- Basketball is the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries among individuals between the ages of 15 and 64.
- One in 10 players on U.S. college basketball teams experience an eye injury on the court.
- Face injuries, which include those to the eyes, make up 45 percent of injuries in martial arts.
- Approximately to $175-$200 million is spent to treat emergency-room eye-related injuries every year.
- One in three sports eye injuries involve children.
- 41 percent of emergency room eye injuries among children ages 10 to 14 are sports related.
- Basketball is the most common cause of sports-related eye injuries in children between ages 5 and 14.
90 Percent of Serious Eye Injuries Are Preventable
Now for the good news: approximately 90 percent of serious eye injuries can be prevented by wearing protective eye wear. The right protective eye wear varies depending on the sport. For sports like basketball, soccer, field hockey and racquet sports, protective goggles with shatterproof polycarbonate lenses offer the best protection. If you play baseball, football or ice hockey, wear a helmet with a polycarbonate face mask or wire shield. Be sure to replace damaged or old protective eye gear regularly.
Protect Your Eyes and Enhance Your Performance with LASIK
Prescription eye wear is an asset off the field, but on the field, it can be a serious detriment. Glasses can easily break and injure you (as well as others around you), while debris and dust can get under contact lenses, opening the doors to an infection. Not to mention, prescription eyewear can interfere with your performance level.
Laser vision correction with LASIK is a very appealing option for athletes. LASIK reshapes the cornea, restoring clear eyesight while effectively reducing the need for prescription eyewear. Being glasses-free provides a wide and unobstructed field of vision, which will only improve your performance on the field. Best of all, less dependency on glasses and clearer eyesight allow you to wear the appropriate protective eyewear so you can protect your eyes when it’s game time.
If you would like to learn more about LASIK, schedule a personal consultation with Austin Eye. Contact us by calling our North office at (512) 250-2020 or our Central office at (512) 454-2020.
