With the weather changing and getting warmer, spending time outside gets more appealing every day. Whether it’s participating in an organized league, or just playing a pick-up game in the park, contact sports can cause eye injuries for people of all ages. In fact, more than 25,000 people are treated for sports-related eye injuries every year.
No matter your game of choice or your level of expertise, it’s important to make sure you protect your eyes. You should always wear safety goggles when playing sports with racquets and basketball—regular glasses don’t provide enough protection. In games like baseball and hockey, where there are bats and stick as well as flying baseballs and hockey pucks, make sure you are protected with proper-fitting helmets and face shields.
What should you do in an emergency?
For people of any age, children and adults, sports can be a fun way to get some exercise and spend time with family and friends. However, many eye injuries occur each year as a result of participating in sporting events. You may not be planning for an injury, but it’s important to know what to do in case one does occur.
- Protect the eye with a clean cloth or an eye shield, but be careful not to add additional pressure
- Flush the eye with water if there is small debris in the eye, but not if there are any cuts or punctures to the eye
- Don’t rub the eye, as this could cause further damage
- Don’t remove any objects that are stuck in the eye
If an injury to the eye occurs, call our office as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the eye.