Sports-related eye injuries are one of the most commonly occurring causes of vision loss in all of North America. These injuries can lead to the development of infections, fractures in the eye socket, a detached retina, abrasions in the lens, which are only some of the eye conditions that eye doctors treat. Young children are especially more vulnerable to injuries, however, even adults should take their eye health while playing sports seriously.
Protecting your eyes while playing sports and preventing sports-related eye injuries from developing will keep your eyes healthy and safe. Check out the most common sports-related eye injuries and how to maintain eye care while being active.
What Eye Injuries Can Occur From Playing Sports?
Corneal Abrasion
A corneal abrasion, otherwise known as a scratched cornea, is one of the most common sports-related eye injuries. It occurs when the surface of the eye is scratched by a poke or scrape. When this occurs, you may notice some acute pain along with redness, sensitivity to light, headaches or blurred vision. If this occurs, seek treatment at Orangeville Optometric Centre.
Traumatic Iritis
The iritis is the inflammation of the iris, which is the part of your eye with colour. This eye condition develops often in only one eye and can cause pain in the eye or the eyebrow area, causing sensitivity to light.
Hyphema Condition
Hyphema often occurs mainly as the result of racquet sports, softball or baseball-related sports. This condition causes a broken blood vessel within the eye that causes blood to build up in the area between the iris and the cornea, which is known as the “anterior chamber.”
Retinal Tear
A retinal tear occurs when the retina is pulled or lifted from its original position at the back of your eye. When this condition is not treated immediately, the retinal tear can form and progress to permanent vision loss.
How To Prevent Eye-Related Injuries Caused By Sports
Taking steps to ensure your eyes are protected and safe while playing sports should become a priority. Try the following tips to protect your eyes while playing sports:
- Wear safety/protective goggles while playing softball, racquet sports and baseball. Eye guards and protective eyewear will keep your eyes safe and you stress-free while you play.
- Schedule eye tests and eye exams to ensure your eye health is in safe, optimal condition to play sports.
- Do not use contact lenses or eyeglasses as an alternative to protective eyewear, as these will not sufficiently protect your eyes while playing sports.
- Always wear batting helmets that are equipped with a face shield when playing baseball or softball to protect your eyes.
Orangeville Optometric Centre provides professional, comprehensive eye care for the entire family. Our Orangeville optometrist specializes vision care of all sorts from laser eye surgery, eye tests and exams along with carrying high-quality eyeglass frames, contact lenses and eyeglasses. Committed to only the highest standard of full-service vision care, we are your vision care clinic. Schedule an appointment with us for an eye exam at https://orangeville.visualbook.ca/.
