When the weather is great, people of all ages are outdoors living it up. Basketball, soccer, football, baseball, softball, swimming, you name it, Coloradans know how to move. Whatever sport you play, eye protection is one of the best investments you can make in yours or your child’s sport equipment. New pads, shoes, and gloves are important, but while a kid will outgrow their catcher’s mitt, they will need their sense of sight for their entire life. Quality eye protection is critical to improve performance and helping to ensure a lifetime of healthy eyes and great vision.   The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Optometric Association all strongly recommend protective eyewear for all participants in sports in which there is a risk of eye injury.

According to the National Eye Institute, “most eye injuries among kids aged 11 to 14 occur while playing sports.” The most dangerous sports in terms of eye injuries are baseball/softball, ice hockey, racquet sports, basketball, fencing, lacrosse, paintball, and boxing. That list seems to include just about everything out there, so what can be done to prevent these injuries? The answer: protective eyewear.

Protective eyewear can prevent up to 90% of eye related injuries, and the fact is your regular prescription glasses aren’t up to the task. Regular glasses might look nice and sturdy but they are “dress glasses” not designed to hold up under the impacts encountered while playing sports. Protective eyewear should be sport-specific, and Vista Eye Care features a whole line-up of quality eyewear from Liberty Sport. Liberty Sport’s Rec Specs® line are good-looking glasses that enhance vision, fit comfortably, and provide peace of mind to both players and parents.

Good vision and good eye care starts with your annual eye check-up. Regular eye care gives you and your athlete the opportunity to discuss your sport of choice with an eye doctor who can make suggestions for how you can protect your eyes. Furthermore, the National Eye Institute adds that “eye exams can detect pre-existing eye conditions in athletes.” For young children, early diagnosis of refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism) can prevent amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye.” Don’t end up on the sidelines –visit our office today to try on some Rec Specs® and schedule your annual check-up with our optometrists! (303) 450-2020

For more information on how to prevent sports-related injuries:

http://www.sportseyeinjuries.com/

http://www.nei.nih.gov/sports/pdf/SportsRelatedEyeInjuries.pdf