Prevent Blindness America reports that almost 40,000 sports related eye injuries are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year. This number only reflects those reported and has been estimated to be as high as 100,000 sports related eye injuries per year. Over 90% of eye injuries could have been prevented with the proper use of protective eyewear. Interestingly, about 44% of the reported injuries were to children under the age of 14 and 50% occurred in people 25 or younger.
The rate of injuries to eyes varies depending on which sport you play. In women's lacrosse, catastrophic eye injuries are rare, while in recreational racquetball, a hit to an unprotected eye occurs relatively frequently from the accidental back swing of a racquet. It only takes one serious injury however to damage vision irreversibly.
Properly used protective eyewear may prevent that one rare but serious eye injury. One episode of blunt trauma to the eye or it's surrounding small facial bones, can lead to orbital fractures and double vision, permanent impairment of the vision, retinal detachment, glaucoma, and the potential need for surgery. The proactive step would be to try to prevent this from happening even though the likelihood of it happening is slim.
The following is a list of medical, sports, and non-profit organizations that have endorsed the use of protective eyewear in sport.
- American Optometric Association
- Prevent Blindness America
- National Sports Medicine Association
- US Lacrosse
- US Squash Association
- National Federation of State High School Associations
- National Collegiate Athletic Conference
- US Racquetball Association
- American Paintball League
- National Paintball Association
- US Handball Association
- USA Baseball
- National Youth Sports Safety Foundation
- Hockey Equipment Certification Council
- Optical Laboratories Association
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Protective Eyewear Certification Council
There is a national testing standard known as ASTM 803 that offers a guideline for eye protection in sports. It sets the industry standard for several sports and their particular requirements based on the balls, velocities of the balls, and sticks used. Manufacturers follow these guidelines for testing and certification of products.
Impactz Eyewear, developed by an eye care professional, is designed first and foremost to protect the eye when impact occurs.
Impactz Eyewear is just that... eyewear. Not a helmet, not a mask, and not a piece of equipment. It is designed for today's athlete who demands superior function with a fashion forward look. It's a result of forward thinking technology and offers high quality, performance, distinctive styling, and value.
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