The Importance Of Eye Protection In Sports

In sports ranging from soccer to basketball to baseball, protective eye equipment is becoming ubiquitous for players. We're glad to see that more and more sports leagues and players are becoming aware of the importance of eye protection. Eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness among children in the U.S., but wearing the right protective equipment can make a big difference in reducing the risk.

How can you choose the right eye protection for yourself or your child?

What Injuries Are Prevented By Eye Protection?

Which eye injuries are most common depends on the sport, but in general, some of the more common injuries that can be prevented by eye protection include:

• Corneal scratches
• Retinal detachment

Retinal Detachment

When the eye sustains a direct impact, one of the possible consequences is retinal detachment. In this condition, the retina peels away from the underlying layer of the eye. Because much of the retina's blood supply comes from that deeper layer, the retina can rapidly deteriorate under these conditions, and the loss of sight can be sudden and, if untreated, permanent.

Retinal detachment may occur after a direct blow to the eye. Usually, only a small part of the retina detaches at the time of the injury. However, if it's left untreated, then more of the retina can detach.

Symptoms Of Traumatic Retinal Detachment

Some of the possible symptoms that may be experienced after a retinal detachment include:

• A dramatic increase in floaters (small spots that move through the person's field of vision)
• Spots of light, which are short-lived (generally less than a second)
• An area of the visual field where the patient cannot see
• Blurred vision in an area

The symptoms may occur

Treatment For Retinal Detachment

Most retinal detachments can be treated. In some cases, a surgeon