Sports-Related Eye Protection, Children Ages Six to 19 Years

What sports have a risk for eye injury?

Be aware that individual sports have different levels of risk for eye injury:

  • High risk: Baseball, basketball, fencing, hockey, lacrosse, racquetball, and softball
  • Moderate risk: Badminton, football, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and golf
  • Low risk: Bicycling, diving, skiing, swimming, and wrestling
  • Eye safe: Track and field and gymnastics

During which sports should my child wear eye protection?

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Ophthalmology strongly recommend that all individuals who participate in a sport in which there is a risk of eye injury wear protective eyewear.
  • National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations permit field hockey players to wear a face mask, soft protective head covering, or eye protection in the form of plastic goggles.
  • The NCAA Women's Lacrosse Rules and Interpretations states that all players must wear eye protection.
  • Make sure your child wears a helmet with a polycarbonate face mask or wire shield at all times if they play baseball (while batting), ice hockey, and men's lacrosse.

What kind of eye protection should my child wear?

Protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses (a strong, shatterproof, lightweight plastic) should be worn for sports such as basketball, racquet sports, soccer and field hockey. Choose eye protectors that have been tested to meet the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Remember that regular eyeglasses do not provide adequate protection from eye injury while playing sports.

What are some other eye safety tips?

Make sure your child wears appropriate, sports-specific protective eyewear properly fitted by an eye care professional. If your child has functionally lost the use of one eye, make sure they wear appropriate protection (e.g., safety glasses) to protect their other eye during all sports and recreational activities.

Where can I find more information about eye safety?