VIDEO: OD offers tips on keeping patients safe for Sports Eye Safety Month
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Prevent Blindness marked September as Sports Eye Safety Month, highlighting data showing that more than 32,600 sports-related eye injuries were treated in the U.S. in 2023, with the highest rate of injury in pool and water sports.
According to Keith Smithson, OD, founding partner at Sports Vision Pros, director of visual performance for the Washington Nationals and team optometrist for the Washington Wizards, Spirit, Mystics and D.C. United, many eye injuries eventually result in blindness, and 90% of those cases are preventable.
Smithson also notes that providing the appropriate eye wear for a patient’s athletic needs is an important component to eye safety.
“One of the tidbits I have with patients is when they come in and have a helmet sport, to bring their helmet in or bring it back if they need to in the dispensary so they can be fit under their helmet,” he said.
Reference:
- Prevent Blindness raises awareness on the need for eye protection while playing sports. https://preventblindness.org/sports-eye-safety-2024/. Published Aug. 27, 2024. Accessed Aug. 30, 2024.
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