Wear protective eyewear while playing sports to reduce eye injuries

Over 90 percent of sports related eye injuries could be avoided if athletes wore protective eyewear according to the National Eye Institute. The National Society to Prevent Blindness reports that more than 40 percent of reported eye injuries happen to children under the age of 14. While participants of sports such as boxing, hockey and racquetball obviously have a higher risk of eye injury, children 14 and under who play baseball or softball are at an increased risk of eye injury as well. Basketball is the leading cause of eye injuries among children 15 and older. Very few baseball and softball leagues have any regulations about the use of protective eyewear. Protective eyewear advocates acknowledge that requiring every Little League player to wear eye protection is extreme and not likely to happen because of the additional cost. Any protective eyewear that is ASTM rates is a suitable choice for athletes. Elise Ervin Staff Writer