Roughly 6,000 Americans
each year report eye injuries from basketball, the leading cause of
sports-related eye injuries. 

The best recommendation
for eye injury prevention is certified sports protection eyewear that meets
ASTM F803 standards, (Rec Specs).

 

 

 

Eye injuries vary
depending on the sport, but some of the most common sports-related injuries
include infection, corneal abrasions, blunt trauma, inflamed iris, fracture of
the eye socket (Pirate pitcher A.J. Burnett, Spring 2012), swollen or
detached retina or a traumatic cataract.

The most common
basketball eye injuries are abrasions caused by fingers to the lids and
the conjunctiva (white part of the eye). 

Prevent Blindness
America (PBA) reports water and pool activities (diving, swimming, water
skiing) are the second leading cause of eye injuries overall, followed by guns
(air, gas, spring, and BB). 

It is estimated that
approximately 13,500 legally blinding sports eye injuries occur each year.
According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, 84.6% of children
do not utilize protective eyewear in situations that represent a risk of eye
injury. 

Today Rec Specs are
fashionable, coming in a wide variety of colors and Rec Specs are relatively
inexpensive, especially compared to most sport equipment, and should be
considered mandatory for young athletes.