No one doubts the benefits of sports when it comes to helping kids stay active, healthy, and socially engaged. But there’s also no doubt that playing sports brings a risk of injury, including injury to your child’s eyes.
The team at ABC Children's Eye Specialists is committed to helping kids enjoy their active lifestyles while keeping their eyes and their vision safe. To mark Sports Eye Safety Month, we’re dedicating this post to helping moms and dads learn what they can do to protect their child’s eyes while still enjoying all the benefits of play.
One of the most important things you can do to protect your child’s eyes is to make sure they wear protective eyewear. That includes glasses designed especially for sports and other physical activities.
Regular eyeglasses are great for everyday activities, like reading, schoolwork, or hanging out with friends. But playing sports requires special glasses that have protective features, like wraparound designs and impact-resistant lenses.
Like “regular” glasses, sports eyeglasses and goggles can match your child’s prescription, and we carefully fit the eyewear to their face to prevent it from falling off during play. These benefits protect your child from injury while improving vision for better performance and enjoyment.
In addition to sports eyewear, be sure your child wears the appropriate safety gear for their sport. Helmets, masks, and face shields provide an added layer of protection against impacts from sports like basketball, football, soccer, baseball, and lacrosse.
It might not seem obvious, but even neck protectors and mouth guards can help prevent eye injuries, simply by preventing jarring impacts to your child’s head and face. Evaluate equipment every season to make sure it’s not damaged and still fits your child the way it’s supposed to.
Make sure your child understands the rules of sports safety, particularly as they apply to their sport of choice. Spending time reviewing the rules of their sport and practicing proper technique can reduce accidents, too.
Regular practice is important for helping your child hone their skills, but you also don’t want to let them overdo it. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and stops playing if they’re tired, winded, or if they have any type of pain.
Regular eye exams are important whether your child plays sports or not, but for student athletes, those exams are essential. Playing sports requires good vision, and in fact, having clear eyesight can help your child avoid falls, impacts, and other sports-related accidents.
During your child’s exam, we evaluate their sports eyewear to make sure it still fits properly, or recommend other protective options. And of course, an exam can identify even subtle vision changes that benefit from prompt treatment, so your child can enjoy the clearest vision at every age.
Even a seemingly minor eye injury can lead to long-term vision problems and possibly permanent vision loss. Taking preventive steps and playing a proactive role can protect your child’s eyes and reduce their risk of problems now and in the future.
If your child is due for an eye exam or if you’d like to learn more about how to protect their eyes and their vision, call our offices to request an appointment with the team at ABC Children’s Eye Specialists in Phoenix, Avondale, Sun City, Gilbert, and Mesa, Arizona, today.
