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Sports-Related Eye Injuries

Did you know that 100,000 sports-related eye injuries are reported each year? Amazingly, 90% of these injuries can be prevented. Baseball leads statistics with the most eye injuries to children under 14. Hard balls can cause corneal abrasions and torn retinas. Carelessly thrown bats can also cause similar eye damage. Small balls, such as those used in racquet sports and golf, can hurt the unprotected eye since they are the same size as the orbit (socket of the eye).

Since seeing properly enhances athletic performance, athletes with vision problems often wear prescription glasses or contact lenses. However, ordinary eye glasses do not offer adequate protection to the wearer during sports and recreational activities. Sports goggles are an alternative. These recreational eyeglasses use special polycarbonate lenses in a specially designed frame to protect the eyes against high impact sports injuries. Many professional athletes use this type of vision protection. Batting helmets with polycarbonate face shields are an excellent way to protect the eyes and face from the impact of a speeding baseball. Reasonable precautions can reduce the risk of serious eye injury. Make sure that any sports-related eye injuries receive immediate medical attention. If the eye tears profusely or it is red, or if the athlete complains of blurry vision, eye pain, or flashing lights -- he or she should be seen by an ophthalmologist IMMEDIATELY. Delay in treating injuries can result in more severe eye damage.

Emergency first aid for the eye

Do Not Allow the Child to Rub the Eye!

Chemical Burns
(Including injury from spray cans)

  1. Flood the eye with cold water immediately, gently, and continuously. Hold head under faucet or use a clean container. Keep eye open as wide as possible during flooding.
  2. Do not use an eye cup or bandage the eye.
  3. Call your Ophthalmologist or take the child to our local emergency room. Have the substance which burned the child with you.

Specks in the Eye
Unless the child’s own tears wash away the specks immediately, the child should be brought to your Ophthalmologist for immediate attention.

Blows to the eye

  1. Apply cold compressions immediately for 15 minutes.
  2. Call your Ophthalmologist promptly so that any internal damages can be treated.

Cuts and Punctures

  1. Bandage lightly and see your Ophthalmologist at once.
  2. Do not wash eye or attempt to remove any foreign object in or near it.

Call your Ophthalmologist if the following symptoms occur after an eye injury:

  1. Decreased vision or double vision
  2. Eye pain
  3. Cuts or scratches to the eye or eyelid
  4. Light sensitivity
  5. Light flashes
  6. Abnormal redness or blood inside the eye