8 Tips for Sports Eye Safety Month

By Anna Barden 

Sports Eye Safety Month 

April is Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month. The weather is warming up and spring sports leagues are beginning for kids, teens, and adults. Whether you consider yourself a pro athlete or an amateur, it’s important to keep your vision clear and your eyes protected on the field or court.  

Read on to recognize the most common types of sports eye injuries and get some tips to prevent them. 

Sports and Your Eyes 

Sports have been shown to benefit youth players’ physical health, mental health, and educational success. But with these benefits come the potential for injuries, and some sports come with a higher risk of eye injuries in particular.  

Risk factors include (but are not limited to):  

• Projectiles like pucks, balls, paddles, and other equipment 

• Contact with other players, such as getting hit or poked in the eye by another player’s elbow or fingers 

• Exposure to chemicals like chlorine in swimming pools 

• Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, wind, debris, and other outdoor factors  
  

• Falling onto a piece of equipment 

With these factors in mind, the following sports have a moderate to high risk of eye injury and a greater need for eye protection: 

• Basketball 

• Baseball and softball 

• Hockey 

• Water sports 

• Soccer 

• Tennis 

• Golf 

The protective eyewear you need depends on the sport you’re playing.  

Types of Sports Eye Injuries 

The most common types of sports-related eye injuries include: 

• Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation – This can occur if an athlete does not have proper sun protection.  

• Blunt eye trauma – This can result from a fist, elbow, ball, puck, or other piece of sporting equipment hitting an athlete in the face. 

• Corneal abrasion – A scratched cornea (the front surface of the eye) may happen if an athlete gets poked in the eye by someone else’s finger. 

• Puncture wounds – These can occur if an athlete’s eyeglasses shatter during a game, or if a sharp object enters the eye. 

• Eye infections – These may develop if an athlete is exposed to bacteria or chemicals, especially in water sports. 

• Eye irritation – This can occur if debris comes into contact with the eyes. Sand (found on beach volleyball courts and some baseball fields) can also be an issue. 

Accidents happen and are sometimes inevitable. But most eye injuries can be prevented with the proper protection.  

8 Tips for Sports Eye Safety Month 

You can prevent injuries while playing sports if you take the right precautions and have the right protective gear. Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month is a great time to start practicing these eight eye safety tips: 

1. Make sure you’re wearing the appropriate eye protection for your sport. Consult your eye doctor or coach if you have questions about which safety gear to invest in. 
2. Do not wear your everyday glasses or sunglasses for sports protection — the lenses likely aren’t strong enough to protect your eyes from injury. If you need vision correction, look for a protective eyewear style that can be fitted with prescription lenses.  
3. Ensure your eye protection meets the protective eyewear standards for your specific sport. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F803 rating is the standard for most sports. This type of rating indicates that the eyewear can provide the proper protection required for the sport(s) it’s rated for. 
4. Wear eye protection with 100% UVA-UVB lens protection when playing outdoor sports. 
5. Use a faceguard that attaches to your helmet when batting during a baseball or softball game. 
6. Place a mask over your face when you’re playing goalie, catcher, or a similar position that puts you in direct line with flying balls and pucks.  
7. Wear swim goggles when participating in water sports to protect your eyes from dirty water, bacteria, and pool chemicals. 
8. Take care of any eye injuries or irritation you encounter right away. Whether the incident is minor or requires emergency care, prompt treatment can prevent your condition from getting worse. 

No matter what month it is, you should always make the health and safety of your eyes a top priority. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a youth league or the majors.  

Where to Buy Sport Sunglasses 

If you’re more concerned about UV exposure than flying projectiles, Foster Grant has several styles of sport sunglasses with 100% UVA-UVB lens protection. Our selection includes a variety of shapes, styles, colors, and lens tints so you can look and perform your best during your favorite outdoor activities. 

And if you’re training for your next triathlon, consider a pair of Concoran sunglasses from the Foster Grant® Solar Comfort® collection. With impact-resistant polarized lenses, sleek design features, and a snug wraparound fit, they’ll be with you for every step of the adventure. 

Sources 

1. Benefits of youth sports. Developed by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Science Board. September 2020. 
2. Eye safety basics. All About Vision. June 2022.*  
3. Sports and your eyes. National Eye Institute. June 2022. 
4. Protective eyewear. National Eye Institute. June 2022.  
5. Is it bad to open your eyes in the pool? All About Vision. January 2023.* 
6. Sports and eye safety: Tips for parents and teachers. National Eye Institute. July 2019.  
7. What UV protection do I need for my sunglasses and why? All About Vision. January 2020.* 
8. About protective eyewear. International Sports Vision Association. Accessed March 2024. 

The sources listed here have been provided for informational purposes only. The citation of a particular source does not constitute an endorsement or approval of EssilorLuxottica products, services, or opinions by such source.  

*Like Foster Grant, All About Vision and AAV Media, LLC are affiliates of EssilorLuxottica.