Every 13 minutes, an emergency room treats a sports-related eye injury. And, 43 percent of sports-related eye injuries are to children ages 14 and younger.

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. And, polycarbonate eyewear is 10 times more impact resistant than other plastics, according to the National Eye Institute.

Take the following steps to protect your child’s eyes from sports injuries. Make sure your child:

• wears proper safety goggles (lensed polycarbonate protectors) for racquet sports or basketball.




• uses batting helmets with polycarbonate face shields for youth baseball.




• Uses helmets and face shields approved by the U.S. Amateur Hockey Association when playing hockey.




• Knows that regular glasses don't provide enough protection.

Tips for buying protective eyewear for your child

Prevent Blindness America recommends that athletes wear sports eyeguards when participating in sports.

Prescription glasses, sunglasses and even occupational safety glasses do not provide adequate protection. Sports eyeguards come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Eyeguards designed for use in racquet sports are now commonly used for basketball and soccer and in combination with helmets in football, hockey and baseball. The eyeguards your child chooses should fit securely and comfortably and allow the use of a helmet if necessary.

The following guidelines can help you find a pair of eyeguards right for your child:

If your child wears prescription glasses, ask your eye doctor to fit your child for prescription eyeguards. If your child is a monocular athlete (a person with only one eye that sees well), ask your eye doctor what sports your child can safely participate in. Monocular athletes should always wear sports eyeguards.

Buy eyeguards at sports specialty stores or optical stores. At the sports store, ask for a sales representative who's familiar with eye protectors to help you.

Don't buy sports eyeguards without lenses. Only "lensed" protectors are recommended for sports use. Make sure the lenses either stay in place or pop outward in the event of an accident. Lenses that pop in against your child's eyes can be very dangerous.

Some eyeguards are available with anti-fog coating. Others have side vents for additional ventilation. Have your child try on different types to determine which is most comfortable.

Check the packaging to see if the eye protector your child selects has been tested for sports use. Also check to see that the eye protector is made of polycarbonate material. Polycarbonate eyeguards are the most impact resistant.

Sports eyeguards should be padded or cushioned along the brow and bridge of the nose. Padding will prevent the eyeguards from cutting your child's skin.

Have your child try on the eye protector to determine if it's the right size. Adjust the strap and make sure it's not too tight or too loose. If you purchased your child's eyeguards at an optical store, an optical representative can help adjust the eye protector for a comfortable fit.

Until your child gets used to wearing a pair of eyeguards, it may feel strange, but bear with it! It's a lot more comfortable than an eye injury.