More than 12,000 sports-related eye injuries occur yearly among children ages 14 and under, and prescription goggles can make the difference, according to Dr. Michael Caruso, Atlantic Eye Center. Ninety percent of these injuries can be prevented if protective goggles are worn.
“Sports-related eye injuries are quite common, yet most youth sports leagues do not require the use of protective eyewear,” said Dr. Caruso. “We want to educate parents and coaches about the importance of protecting the vision of these young athletes. It’s as simple as getting fit for a pair of prescription goggles.”
Regular eyeglasses may shatter upon impact if worn during athletic play. Prescription goggles are made from polycarbonate lenses that meet or exceed the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) for the specific sport. When compared to other plastics, polycarbonate eyewear is 10-times more resistant to impact.
In addition to a shatterproof design, prescription goggles offer clear vision and protection against wind and debris. Also, there’s the ability to add an anti-fog coating, so the goggles won’t fog in cases of high humidity.
Eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness among children in America, according to the National Eye Institute. Young athletes are especially at risk when playing baseball, basketball, soccer, football and hockey.
During a game or practice, young athletes may experience blunt trauma, a hit to the eye or penetrating injuries that could have serious long-term ramifications. Common injuries include an inflamed iris, traumatic cataract, swollen retina, fracture of the eye socket, scratches on the cornea and blood spilling into the eye’s anterior chamber.
Atlantic Eye Center is located at 207 Stone Harbor Blvd., Court House, NJ 08210. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.DoctorMichaelCaruso.com or call (609) 465-1616. You can also find them on Facebook.
