New research shows that about 30,000 people in the U.S. go to emergency departments each year with sports-related eye injuries, a substantially higher estimate than previously reported. This April during Sports Eye Safety Month, the California Academy of Eye Physicians and surgeons (CAEPS) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) remind the public that the right protective eyewear is the best defense against eye injury.

Three sports accounted for almost half of all trips to the emergency room: basketball, baseball, and air/paintball guns. Sports-related injuries can range from corneal abrasions and bruises on the lids to more serious, vision-threatening internal injuries, such as a retinal detachment and internal bleeding.

Ophthalmologists — physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care — continue to remind the public that most sports-related eye injuries are avoidable.

Here are some tips for both the professional athlete and the Little League star to stay safe: 

• Athletes should wear sports eye protection that meets requirements set by appropriate organizations.
• Parents should make sure that children wear eye protection. Most often, those who sustain sports-related eye injuries are 18 years old or younger.
• Eye protection can weaken with age and may no longer provide adequate protection. Consider replacing when damaged or yellowed.
• For basketball, racquet sports, soccer and field hockey, wear protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses.
• Athletes who wear contacts or glasses should also wear appropriate protective eyewear. Contacts offer no protection and glasses do not provide enough defense.
• Professional athletes should also wear sports goggles that meet national standards.

“I’ve treated many patients with eye trauma because of an unintentional blow to the face,” said Rahul N Khurana, MD, CAEPS Past President and clinical spokesperson for the AAO. “Athletes often engage in these seemingly safe, yet rugged, high-impact sports with zero awareness about the potential risk factors. This is why eye protection is critical and can greatly reduce the number of emergency room visits treated each year.”

To learn more ways to keep your eyes healthy, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart^® website.