12 Essential Habits for Protecting Your Eyes While Playing Sports

Sports are a beautiful way to stay active and have fun while improving an individual’s overall health. However, they come with the risk of injury. One area many people overlook is eye protection. Whether you’re shooting hoops, playing soccer or tennis, or engaging in more extreme sports, taking every precaution to safeguard your vision is crucial. Here are 12 essential habits to protect your eyes while enjoying sports.

1. Choose the Right Lens Type

Not all goggles are alike. Make sure you choose polycarbonate or another impact-resistant lens for maximum durability against impacts. These lightweight, shatterproof lenses are especially great for contact sports. If you play outdoors, make sure to select anti-glare or UV-blocking lenses. The prescription sunglasses will provide practical vision correction with protection and vision clarity during bright outdoor play environments.

2. Wear Proper Eye Protection

For most sports, protective eyewear is recommended. Sports goggles, face shields, and sports-specific glasses can protect the eyes from the impact of projectiles traveling at high speeds or accidental contact with other players. Recommended eyewear should comply with the regulations of your sport’s governing body, which may have specific requirements for activities like racquetball, ice hockey, or lacrosse. 

In addition to impact protection, eyewear can also shield your eyes from harmful UV rays in outdoor sports. It’s important to ensure the eyewear fits properly to avoid vision obstruction and maximize safety during play.

3. Avoid Contact Lenses in High-Impact Sports

Though contact lenses are an excellent substitute for glasses, they could be dangerous for high-impact sports. In cases of collision or falls, they may become dislodged, causing discomfort or potential injury. Here, sports goggles that go over contacts or prescription eyewear are a safer bet. 

These goggles provide a secure fit, keeping both the lenses in place and the eyes protected from potential impact. Additionally, they can offer better peripheral vision, which is important for anticipating fast-moving objects and players during the game.

4. Use a Helmet with a Face Shield

In contact sports such as football, lacrosse, or hockey, a helmet that has a face shield or visor will help protect your eyes further. Face shields not only protect against physical blows but also keep dust particles out of your eyes during intense play. These shields also help guard against inadvertent eye contact with sticks, pucks, or other equipment. 

Additionally, a visor can reduce glare from bright lights, improving visibility during outdoor or indoor games.

5. Maintain Good Peripheral Vision

Peripheral vision is crucial to picking up on fast-moving players and opponents in many sports. Wearing eyewear that does not limit peripheral vision is important for seeing around you. Ensure your eyewear isn’t so tight that it restricts your peripheral vision.

6. Practice Safe Ball Handling

In sports such as soccer, baseball, and basketball, where the ball is continuously in motion, there’s a high possibility that one may accidentally strike their eye with a ball or even another player’s equipment. Good ball-handling practice can minimize your chance of injury from sudden impact. Additionally, maintaining a safe distance from other players during aggressive maneuvers can help reduce the risk of accidental eye contact. Wearing protective eyewear, such as sports goggles or glasses, further ensures that your eyes are shielded from unexpected hits.

7. Keep Your Eyes Hydrated

Prolonged use of screens or wearing contacts can cause dry eyes. This can be further triggered by the physical exercise engaged in during sports. Keep hydrated before and after playing, and lubricating eye drops may be helpful when needed to maintain comfort and moisture in your eyes. Additionally, wearing moisture-locking contact lenses designed for sports can help prevent dryness. Taking breaks during long practice sessions can also give your eyes a chance to rest and reduce irritation.

8. Be Mindful of the Environment

Some sports are played under conditions where dust, wind, and sunlight prevail as hazards. For instance, playing tennis outdoors or riding a bicycle can expose one’s eyes to direct sunshine and wind. Sunglasses or goggles with UV protection will help protect your eyes against the harmful rays and debris associated with such activities, thereby diminishing the chances of long-term damage. Additionally, wearing eyewear with anti-fog features can ensure clear vision, even in humid or high-intensity conditions. Polarized lenses can also reduce glare, improving visibility and reducing eye strain during outdoor sports.

9. Don’t Ignore Eye Injuries

Even the slightest eye injuries can worsen if mishandled. In cases where you feel something hurts your eye or experience blurred vision and redness, seek medical attention right away since you should stop playing if you are hit in that area. Rubbing may worsen the injury in addition to continuing to play.

10. Be Aware of Players’ Movements

In contact sports, collisions can easily occur, and eyes need to be protected by the elbows, sticks, or fists of other players. Always be aware of your surroundings and anticipate how others will move to help prevent accidents. Being observant prevents many eye injuries caused by sudden or unexpected contact.

11. Ensure Proper Fit of Eyewear

Sports glasses, goggles, and helmets that do not provide an excellent fit will offer poor protection. See that your glasses, goggles, or helmet fits snugly yet is not too tight for the wearer. When your glasses, goggles, or helmet slides or moves during the game, during a collision, your sight may become blurred, in extreme cases, they could leave your eyes unprotected.

12. Get Regular Eye Exams

Just like check-up visits to your physician keep you fit and well, regular optometrist check-ups keep the eyes healthy. You’d detect the early stages of vision defects, like being myopic or astigmatism. It can spoil your game. If wearing glasses or contact lenses is part of your game strategy, go ahead and make inquiries at your optometrist regarding sports eyeglasses.

FAQs

1. Can I wear prescription glasses while playing sports?

The eyeglasses prescription may be worn, but of course, this is advisable with sports-specific eyeglasses that will securely keep fit and withstand potential impacts. Sports glasses probably may not protect adequately. Probably, regular glasses just tend to break. Take the prescription sports goggles or wraparound glasses.

2. Are there any sports where I don’t need eye protection?

In most sports, while it is highly recommended to use eye protection, for less-risky activities, like jogging, cycling, or casual swimming, the individual might not require specialty eyewear. In such sports where there’s more strenuous activity or an impact with flying objects can happen for sure, protective gear will always be in place.

3. How often should I replace my sports eyewear?

The time to replace sports eyewear is when it shows wear and tear, such as scratches, cracks, or loose fit. Check for damage to the lenses at regular intervals that may jeopardize your vision or safety. Replace eyewear every 1-2 years, or sooner if damage is present, for maximum protection.

Conclusion

Protecting your eyes from injury is crucial for both the short-term safety and the long-term health. Adhering to these 12 essential habits will prevent eye injuries and ensure that vision remains clear and sharp, keeping you able to continue the activities you enjoy. Proper safety measures in place, allow you to focus on the game rather than the possible damage to your eyes.