October is Eye Injury Prevention Month. As we have explained in recent weeks, the goal of this month is to spread awareness of the very real threat of eye injuries and the proper methods to prevent those injuries. This week we are going to address one specific segment of eye injuries: Sports Eye Injuries.
Sports Eye Injury Statistics
- Sports are the leading cause of eye injuries.
- Of the 1 million eye injuries that occur every year in the United States, 600,000 are sports related.
- A sports-related eye injury occurs every 13 minutes that requires an emergency room visit.
- Baseball and basketball are two of the most common sports to lead to eye injury. Hockey, boxing, and racquet sports round out the list.
- 85% of children do not wear protective eyewear while playing sports.
- Sports eye injuries are one of the most common causes of childhood blindness.
Don’t let your child become a statistic; make sure they are properly protected. And, if an eye injury does occur, seek medical attention right away. Call your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – immediately to schedule an eye exam. Or, if the injury is severe, visit the emergency room right away. Eye injuries are serious and require prompt medical attention.
Types of Sports Eye Injuries
- Blunt Trauma: Responsible for the majority of sports eye injuries, blunt trauma occurs when an object, such as a ball, bat, puck, stick, or even another player, strikes the eye. Serious injury can result. The most common include: orbital blowout fracture, detached retina, ruptured globe, and traumatic optic neuropathy.
- Corneal Abrasion: Corneal abrasion occurs when dirt or some other foreign object enters the eye and scratches the cornea, leading to tearing, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and the constant feeling of needing to rub the eye.
- Penetrating Injuries: Typically caused by broken glass or fingernails, penetrating injuries are less common, but still possible.
If you have any questions about Sports Eye Injuries and Protective Eyewear, or if you wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!
For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.