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COLUMBUS, OH (August 31, 2011) – The new school year has started with many students and parents purchasing sports uniforms and equipment. Prevent Blindness Ohio recommends that eye protection be part of necessary equipment for safe and successful sports play for every child.
Every year, more than 40,000 athletes suffer an eye injury while playing sports. And, every 13 minutes, an emergency room in the United States treats a sports-related eye injury. Adults and children can protect their vision while playing sports by wearing the proper eye protection. Prevent Blindness Ohio has dedicated September as Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month to encourage everyone to make eye safety part of the game plan.
Polycarbonate lenses must be used with protectors that meet or exceed the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Each sport has a specific ASTM code. Polycarbonate eyewear is 10 times more impact resistant than other plastics, according to the National Eye Institute. There is no evidence that wearing eye protection hampers athletic performance.
Eye injuries can include painful corneal abrasions, blunt trauma and penetrating injuries, inflamed iris, fracture of the eye socket, swollen or detached retinas, traumatic cataract and blood spilling into the eye's anterior chamber. The consequences of eye injury can range from temporary to permanent vision loss.
Any athlete who has poor vision or blindness in one eye should take particular care to protect their remaining vision. Yet, many forgo eye protection. According to a recent survey conducted by researchers at the Ohio State University, only 21 percent of college football programs required the use of a faceshield for those players with poor vision in one eye, while a mere 20 percent recommended faceshields.
“Whether it’s goggles for basketball or faceshields for football players, everyone must make eye protection part of their uniform,” said Sherry Williams , President & CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio. “And we can’t stress enough how important it is for those who have diminished or no vision in one eye to protect their healthy eye while playing sports. An eye accident can happen in a split second yet impact the rest of your life.”
Prevent Blindness Ohio provides the following guidelines for purchasing the best eye protection:
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