Avoid the sidelines; add eye protection Here are some tips from Eyes & Optics on how you can take action! Help prevent a child from becoming an eye injury statistic. If you are a parent, guardian, coach or sports program director of young athletes, you are responsible for the safety of their eyes while participating in sports with known eye injury risks. For the children who need corrective prescription lenses, it is important to know that regular eyeglasses and contact lenses provide little or no protection. In fact, regular eyewear may even cause a more sever eye injury. This is why it is important to talk to your eye care professional about protective sports eyewear with your prescription. While no single device can prevent all injuries, sport eye protection that meets stringent ASTM Standards for the sports being played can significantly reduce the risk of sport-related eye injury. Prevent Blindness America estimates that over 90% of all sports related eye injuries are avoidable. Help Kids avoid the sidelines; add eye protection to their game! Here are some facts regarding sports eye injuries: More than 600,000 eye injuries related to sports and recreation occur each year. Over 85% of children do not utilize protective eyewear in situations that represent a risk of eye injury Every 13 minutes a person with a sports related eye injury visits an emergency room. More than 90% of all eye injuries can be prevented with the use of appropriate protective eyewear. Many organizations, researchers, and individuals strongly advise the use of Protective Eyewear: The American Academy of Pediatrics American Academy of Ophthalmology American Optometric Association American Public Health Association The Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries National Eye Institute Prevent Blindness America Sports Eye Protection Buying Tips Use the recommended eye protection table to find the eye protection safety standard for your sport. Ensure that the protector you purchase meets or exceeds that recommended standard. For outdoor sports, insist on 100% UVA & UVB protection. Additionally, photochromic (lenses that change color) or tinted lenses are excellent for sports various light situations. For both indoor and outdoor sports, anti-reflective coatings add comfort by reducing glare. Frames must be used with a sports band or retention strap to ensure the frames stays in place. Recommended Eye Protection Baseball  ASTM (Face Guard Attached to the Helmet) (Batting/Base Running). ASTM for Baseball (ASTM Specifies Age Ranges) (Fielding) Basketball  ASTM for Basketball (ASTM Specifies Age Ranges) Racquetball  ASTM for Racquetball Soccer/Squash  ASTM for Soccer and Squash Football Polycarbonate Eye Shield Attached to Helmet Mounted Wire Face Mask Volleyball  ASTM for Basketball Lacrosse  ASTM for Lacrosse Eyes & Optics NY has very knowledgeable doctors onsite, at every one of our practices. Stop by or check online to schedule an appointment. Its also very easy to schedule a visit online. Simply find a location near you and follow the link to make an appointment; you'll be well on your way to healthy vision for your family. Make a regular eye exam part of your annual health care plan.