Baseball Ranks #1 in Sports-Related Eye Injuries for Kids

Vision Institute of Michigan Shares Tips for National Sport Eye Safety Month
By: Vision Institute of Michigan
 
Vision Institute of Michigan
Vision Institute of Michigan
DETROIT - April 13, 2016 - PRLog -- April traditionally marks the start of baseball season, from little league to the Major Leagues.  It is also recognized as National Sport Eye Safety Month, with good reason; baseball has become the leading cause of eye injury for children 14 years of age and younger.

According to the National Eye Institute, eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children in the United States and most injuries occurring in school-aged children are sports-related, with baseball topping that list.  These injuries account for an estimated 100,000 physician and emergency room visits per year at a cost of more than $175 million.

"The sad thing is 90% of the sports-related eye injuries we see could have been prevented with the use of protective eyewear," said Dr. Jay Novetsky, a leading Cataract and Laser Refractive Surgeon at the Vision Institute of Michigan.  "Every sport has regulated equipment that is required to be worn as part of its uniform.  Unfortunately, protective eyewear is not a required piece of that uniform in most youth and adult sports.  Ordinary contact lenses, prescription glasses and sunglasses do not protect against eye injury.  Children and adults need protective eyewear, which is made of ultra-strong polycarbonate.  It's 10 times more impact resistant than other plastics, and does not reduce vision for athletes."
Dr. Novetsky advises parents, coaches, and other adults to insist that all athletes, especially youth baseball and softball players, wear properly-fitted protective eyewear as part of every uniform.  Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards designed to address the potential risks associated with each individual sport. For baseball, Novetsky recommends athletes wear a Polycarbonate face guard or other certified safe protection attached to the helmet for batting and base running, and sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses for fielding.

Dr. Novetsky also cautions adults to remember that wearing ordinary "street wear", like prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses, while playing sports will not only fail to protect against eye injuries, it can actually increase the risk of serious damage to the eyes.

Regular eyeglasses and contacts are not made to resist high-impact collisions and can actually puncture the eye and surrounding tissue if they were to shatter or break on impact.  Most protective eyewear can be made to match prescriptions for those who wear eyeglasses and contacts.

About the Vision Institute Of Michigan

The Surgery Center of Michigan is among the top 10% of eye centers in the world to offer patients the safety, precision and accuracy of the LENSAR Laser System. The LENSAR also makes laser correction of astigmatism now possible with more precise and predictable laser-guided application.

http://www.VIMichigan.com

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Source:Vision Institute of Michigan
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Tags:Vision, Sports Injury, Eye Injury, Eye Safety, Sports Safety, Vision Michigan, Michigan Eye Doctor, Berkowitz
Industry:Business, Consumer, Sports
Location:Detroit - Michigan - United States
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