» Kids Sports Eye InjuriesLeading Cause Of Blindness In School-Age Childrencan be avoided through proper sports eye protection
Sports-related Eye Injuries Cost Up to $200 Million a Year Sports can be a beneficial part of growing up, teaching children social skills as well as providing an environment for healthy physical activity. Unfortunately, eye injuries can sideline kids for more than just one season. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in school-aged children. And, most of those injuries are sports-related.
There
are more than 100,000 sports-related eye injuries every year with
42,000 requiring emergency care. In fact, a U.S. emergency room treats
a patient with an eye injury due to sports every 13 minutes. Prevent
Blindness Mid-Atlantic has dedicated September as Sports Eye Health and
Safety Awareness Month to educate the public on how to make sure their
eyes are safe while playing sports.
The
NEI also states that baseball is the sport responsible for the greatest
number of eye injuries in children aged 14 and younger. In fact, The
Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries reports that approximately 1
in 50 Little League players will sustain an eye injury that requires
attention. However, basketball is the leading cause of eye injuries in
those aged
15 to 24.
"We
already know that 72 percent of all sports-related eye injuries are to
those aged 25 and younger. Yet, only 15 percent of children wear eye
protection," said Timothy L. Gresham, President and CEO, Prevent
Blindness Mid-Atlantic. "We strongly support all efforts to ensure that
children use appropriate safety eyewear for every sport in which they
participate."
Common
injuries among athletes who do not wear approved protection include
painful scratches on the cornea, inflamed iris, fracture of the eye
socket, swollen or detached retinas, traumatic cataract and blood
spilling into the eye's anterior chamber. Injuries can range from
temporary to permanent vision loss.
The
financial impact of sports-related eye injuries is also significant,
costing between an estimated $175 to $200 million annually.
Additionally, one in eight victims of severe eye injury due to sports
initiates legal proceedings against parties that are assumed to be
responsible.
Fortunately, 90 percent of all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented just by wearing the proper eye protection. Lenses should be made of polycarbonate and have an American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) label, indicating they meet the standards of the ASTM for the
specific sport. There is no evidence that wearing eye protection hampers athletic performance.
"Through
educating coaches, parents and children we hope to put an end to
unnecessary blindness and vision loss from sports-related injuries,"
added Gresham. "By encouraging our kids, leading by example, and
demanding their safety, we hope to help ensure a lifetime of healthy
vision." » What You Might Not Know...
About Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic
Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic is the only local
volunteer-based nonprofit organization whose sole mission is to
preserve sight and prevent blindness. The primary means of
accomplishing our mission since 1957 is through vision screenings
for both children and adults, providing support groups for seniors,
and supplying public and professional education and information. For
more information, or to contribute to the sight-saving fund, call
toll-free, (888) 790-2020, ext. "0." We also gratefully accept online donations
here at this web site!
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