Sports Eye Safety Guide

Guide to Eye Protection for Sports

Select from the list below and find out what eye protection you and your family should be wearing for each sport.

Fitting Guide
for Eye Guards

1.) Always try on the eye guards to determine if it is the right size for you. Adjust the strap and make sure it fits snug, not too loose or too tight. If you are buying eye guards at an optical store ask the optical professional to help you adjust them for a comfortable fit.

2.) Select eyeguards that are padded or cushioned along the brow and ridge of the nose. Padding will prevent the eye guards from cutting or irritating your skin.

If you are ready to purchase proper sports eyewear use our online referral service. Be sure to ask for new RESOLUTION polycarbonate lenses for all your prescription eyewear so that you get the protection and accurate optics you need.

Buying Lenses - Online Lens Referral

Eye Protection – It Isn't Just for "High" Risk Sports

NOTE: This information has been provided with the help of Prevent Blindness Tri-State an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America. Click on the links for information about their programs.

Most people are aware of the need for proper eye protection for sports like Racquetball and Ice Hockey and wear appropriate eye safety goggles or face masks. Unfortunately, each year thousands of people are injured in a variety of other sports. Many of these injuries are entirely preventable with the proper eye protection.

Hospital emergency rooms treat over 40,000 people for sports related injuries each year. Many more go unreported. The number one cause of blindness among young people is eye trauma. Only eyeguards provide protection from sports related eye injuries. Prescription glasses, sunglasses and occupational saftey glasses do not provide adequate protection for sports related eye injuries. Protect your sight and that of your family's by educating yourself about the proper eye protection for each sport.

What Kind of Eye Protection to Buy

Eye guards are multi-functional for different sports. Eyeguards designed for use in raquet sports are now commonly used for basketball and soccer as well. Eye guards in combination with helmets are used for football, hockey and baseball. If you wear prescription glasses, ask your eye doctor to fit you with prescription eyeguards. If you're a monocular (a person with only one functional eye), ask your eye doctor what sports you can safely participate in. It is especailly important that monocular athletes always wear eye guards.

Tips for Buying Eye Guards

Tip 1. For the most protection, buy eyeguards fitted with polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate lenses are the most impact resistant, be sure to check the packaging for the lens material used.

Tip 2. Don't buy sports eyeguards without lenses. Only "lensed" protectors are recommended for sports use. Make sure the lenses either stay inplace or pop outward in the event of an accident. Lenses that pop in against your eyes can be very dangerous.

Tip 3. Buy lenses that have anti-fog properties. Fogging of the lenses can be a propblem when you are active. Some eye guards come with an anti-fog coating, others have side vents for additional ventilation. Try on different models to see what works best for you.

For prescription eyeguards be sure to ask for Optima's new RESOLUTION™ lens the only optically flawless polycarbonate lens so you aren't compromising on how well you'll see while wearing the eye guards.

Where to Buy Eye Guards

Eye guards are available at optical stores or specialty sports stores. At sports stores, be sure to ask for a sales representative who is familiar with fitting eye protectors to assist you.

What You Can Expect to Pay for Eye Guards

Regular eyeguards can be purchase in the range of $20 to $40. Eyeguards with prescription lenses can run $60 and up depending on the lens options.

Eye Guards - Stick With Them!

Eye guards may feel strange at first. Give yourself some time to adjust to them. Remember not wearing eye guards can lead to permanent vision loss and not wearing them can lead to a lifetime of negative consequences.