Lansing Optometrist "Protective Eyewear Prevents Sports Related Eye Injuries"

PRLog (Press Release) - Apr. 27, 2010 - Lansing Optometrist Dr. Gregory Popowitz  is notifying the community that with the arrival of spring and more people heading outside for fun and exercise, the MOA cautions even casual athletes to protect their sight - and that of teammates - by keeping street eyewear off the playing field and wearing proper protective eyewear instead. Even non-contact sports such as tennis, golf and fishing pose a moderate to high risk of eye injury because of flying objects, such as balls, racquets and hooks. Visit Dr. Popowitz at: http://www.deltavisionoptical.com

According to the MOA, conventional frames and lenses do not meet the minimum requirements for impact resistance in most sports, which can turn a small collision into a sight-threatening injury. Sports-protective eyewear is tested to meet rigid standards and some have been independently verified and received the American Optometric Association (AOA) Seal of Acceptance.

"Thousands of children and adults unnecessarily suffer sports-related eye injuries each year," said Jeffrey Pulk, O.D., MOA member. "Every thirteen minutes, an emergency room in the United States treats a sports related eye injury and nearly all could be prevented by using proper protective eyewear."

Sports vision goes beyond choosing the correct protective eyewear. Athletic performance can be diminished and physical injuries are more likely when vision problems, like nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism go uncorrected. The MOA recommends an annual eye exam for anyone who participates in sports.

An optometrist can assess a person's unique visual system and recommend the proper eyeglasses or contact lenses for a particular sport, because all sports have different visual demands.   An optometrist who specializes in sports vision  can design a vision-therapy program to maximize visual skills for a specific sport.

"Eye protection should be of major concern to all athletes, especially in certain high-risk sports," said Dr. Pulk. "Aside from wearing dress glasses, another problem occurs when athletes take corrective eyewear off to play sports. They sacrifice visual acuity so they can fit a helmet securely or play without risk of damaging their glasses. This occurs very often and can create an unsafe environment for all participants."

The most common sports vision concerns include:


  1. Protection: Athletes' eyes need certified sports protective eyewear that will protect against injury and ultra-violet light.
  2. Correction: Spectacle wearers require prescription sports protective eyewear, while contact-lens wearers may need a different lens, during sports. For example, skiers spend their time in cold, dry conditions and need a contact lens that will provide more moisture.
  3. Vision enhancement: Athletes often benefit from activities that enhance their eye coordination, reaction time, and perception of their visual environment.


Learn more at:
http://www.deltavisionoptical.com/optometrist/prescriptio...
http://www.deltavisionoptical.com