Sports glasses key to preventing eye injury

Although many parents take precautions when their children play sports, one of the most frequently reported sports-related injuries is to the eyes, according to The Vision Council.

The news source reports that 42,000 athletes in the U.S. are taken to the emergency room each year for eye injuries. Despite how common these accidents are, damage to the eye during the course of a sporting event is preventable in 90 percent of cases.

According to doctors from the University of Illinois-Chicago Department of Opthalmology and Visual Science, there are several categories of eye injuries that are most common in sports.

Corneal abrasions, or the scraping of the outer surface of the eye, often occur from an accidental scrape by a fingernail. Blunt force injuries are usually seen when an object, such as a tennis ball or an arrant elbow, comes into contact with the eye. The impact can sometimes cause a black eye or bleeding, and can require a trip an eye care specialist.

Sports glasses can go a long way when it comes to preserving athletes' sight. AllAboutVision.com recommends selecting eyewear with polycarbonate lenses because they are durable and impact-resistant.