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First, have your eyes checked regularly to see that your vision is optimal. If you have a prescription, be sure to have an annual eye exam to have it checked. Less than optimal vision can hamper your athletic performance and increase the risk of sports-related eye injuries.
Next, protect your eyes when you're involved in sports activities. Many athletes don't like to wear eye shields or helmets with eye protection, but they can save your eyes from injury. In many youth sports, eye protection is required, especially sports involving projectile objects (hockey pucks), or sticks (lacrosse). Even professionals may not realize how important eye protection is until they or a teammate lose an eye or suffers a serious injury.
The best available eye protection is made of polycarbonate, a man-made plastic that will withstand tremendous force (even a bullet in some cases!). The material is very strong, and the lenses can have your prescription built in. For some sports, such as baseball, face guards on helmets offer enough protection. However, for most sports, the best protection currently is plastic goggles.
According to board-certified ophthalmologist John Abrams, MD, FACS, about 95 percent of sports-related eye injuries could be prevented with proper eye protection.
When to see a Doctor
- If you notice any problem with your vision from an eye injury, either during an athletic event or afterward, you should have an eye exam. Even if no injury is visible, it's important to be sure no hidden injury is present.
- Any time your eye is injured, especially during a sports activity, you should see a doctor, preferably one who specializes in treating eye injuries. Even a "black eye" can hide other serious injuries within the eyeball.
Trauma to the eye may result in any of the following:
- surface problems, like a scratched cornea
- damage to the inside of the eye
- inflammation or infection
- bleeding inside the eye
- swelling in or around the eye
- detachment of the retina
- injury to the bony structures around the eye
- eyelid lacerations
A careful evaluation by a specialist can rule out these problems or treat any that are apparent. Quick treatment can save your eyesight and often can get you back in the game sooner.
Most primary care physicians don't have specialized equipment and training to evaluate an injured eye completely; however, they often perform the initial exam. If treatment doesn't result in a complete resolution of your problem, be sure to see a specialist. If the injury is severe or very painful, go to the emergency room.
Signs of a serious injury that should be quickly evaluated and treated by an eye specialist include:
- loss of vision
- severe pain
- laceration of eyelids
- Treating eye injuries
Having an eye injury can be very painful. Successfully treating the injury requires a thorough evaluation by a knowledgeable professional. It can be difficult to do a thorough eye exam on the basketball court, baseball field or similar place, although trainers or team doctors can often do an initial evaluation to determine the extent of an injury.
After evaluating the problem, the next priority should be to protect the eye from further damage by placing a protective shield over it. It may be tempting to put your hand firmly over your eye, but the pressure can cause more damage. Metal shields, patches or even a plastic cup can help protect the eye from further damage.
Treatment of the injury requires examining the eyeball and surrounding areas carefully before treating any problems. Some treatments may involve eye drops, patches or in some cases surgery.
Luckily, the eye heals relatively quickly. Most minor injuries, like having an eye poked or scratched, heal within a few days. A "black eye" can take up to two weeks to resolve. More extensive problems that require eye surgery can keep an athlete out for weeks to months.
See things clearly and stay in the game
Protect your vision for a lifetime and take preventive measures including wearing eye protection and having regular eye exams
The American Academy of Ophthalmology | 
