40% of hospital admissions for eye injuries are related to sports. Here’s the scary part: 71% of these injuries happen to people under the age of 25. Teenagers are in the highest risk category for serious eye injuries, especially if you play racquet sports like tennis, badminton, or squash. The good news is that there are simple things you can do to protect your eyes.
Do Goggles Really Help?
Yes. And, goggles and shields do much more than protect your eyes from injury. Many goggles or safety glasses come with tints to reduce sun glare, light-filtering capabilities that make it easier to see certain colours (like yellow tennis balls), and polycarbonate lenses that stand up to sudden, sharp impact.
If You Injure Your Eye
Accidents happen. And because it’s not easy to judge the extent or severity of any eye injury, you should always get immediate, professional medical attention. It’s the best way to safeguard your vision.
The following symptoms may signal serious eye injury:
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Obvious eye pain or vision problem
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Cut or torn eyelid
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One eye that does not move as completely as the other
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One eye that protrudes more than the other
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Abnormal pupil size or shape
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Blood in the white of the eye
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Something embedded in the eye
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Something under the eyelid that cannot be easily removed
Protect Your Eyes from the Sun
Sure, sunglasses look cool. But they also protect your eyes from harmful ultra violet (UV) rays to help prevent long-term damage. Choose sunglasses with both UVA and UVB protection, to block both forms of ultraviolet rays. A hat will help block indirect sun, which can come into the eyes around the edges of sunglasses.