Protective eyewear for young athletes

Abstract

I read with great interest the Joint Policy Statement about protective eyewear for young athletes.1American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Eye Health and Public Information Task ForceProtective eyewear for young athletes.Ophthalmology. 2004; 111: 600-603Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (45) Google Scholar The publication considers mainly racket sports, baseball, basketball, women's lacrosse, and field hockey. The need for protective eyewear in soccer was given far less attention than for these selected sports.2Vinger P.F. Capão Filipe J.A. The mechanism and prevention of soccer eye injuries.Br J Ophthalmol. 2004; 88: 167-168Crossref PubMed Scopus (29) Google Scholar Our study confirmed that the soccer ball causes eye injury by protruding into the orbit. In addition, we concluded that protectors that pass American Society for Testing and Materials Standard F803 and have polycarbonate lenses would prevent orbital intrusion. Therefore, and in agreement with Table 2 of the Policy Statement, we recommended the wearing of eye protectors that comply with the requirements of American Society for Testing and Materials Standard F803 for soccer and the writing of a specific standard for soccer.Soccer ocular injury is an important eye health problem in Europe and South America and, probably, worldwide. Severe ocular injuries with potential long-term effects can be sustained on the soccer field, according to an analysis of soccer-related eye injuries at our sports ophthalmology unit at the University of Porto School of Medicine.3Filipe J.A. Barros H. Castro-Correia J. Sports-related ocular injuries A three-year follow-up study.Ophthalmology. 1997; 104: 313-318Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (45) Google Scholar, 4Capão Filipe J.A. Fernandes V.L. Barros H. et al.Soccer-related ocular injuries.Arch Ophthalmol. 2003; 121: 687-694Crossref PubMed Scopus (35) Google Scholar As a result of these studies, we strongly recommend that soccer protective eyewear be worn, particularly by athletes who require prescription lenses, functionally one-eyed athletes, and those who have had refractive surgical procedures that weaken the eye. Reducing the number of injuries by encouraging players to use readily available protective eyewear that conforms to American Society for Testing and Materials F803 would be in the best interests of public health.5Capão Filipe J.A. Soccer (football) ocular injuries: an important eye health problem.Br J Ophthalmol. 2004; 88: 159-160Crossref PubMed Scopus (18) Google ScholarInjuries are predictable and, for the most part, preventable if all ophthalmologists make an appropriate eye safety prescription part of our routine. I look to the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness and the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Eye Health and Public Information Task Force for guidance on this issue, and I thank them for presenting this important policy statement. I read with great interest the Joint Policy Statement about protective eyewear for young athletes.1American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Eye Health and Public Information Task ForceProtective eyewear for young athletes.Ophthalmology. 2004; 111: 600-603Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (45) Google Scholar The publication considers mainly racket sports, baseball, basketball, women's lacrosse, and field hockey. The need for protective eyewear in soccer was given far less attention than for these selected sports.2Vinger P.F. Capão Filipe J.A. The mechanism and prevention of soccer eye injuries.Br J Ophthalmol. 2004; 88: 167-168Crossref PubMed Scopus (29) Google Scholar Our study confirmed that the soccer ball causes eye injury by protruding into the orbit. In addition, we concluded that protectors that pass American Society for Testing and Materials Standard F803 and have polycarbonate lenses would prevent orbital intrusion. Therefore, and in agreement with Table 2 of the Policy Statement, we recommended the wearing of eye protectors that comply with the requirements of American Society for Testing and Materials Standard F803 for soccer and the writing of a specific standard for soccer. Soccer ocular injury is an important eye health problem in Europe and South America and, probably, worldwide. Severe ocular injuries with potential long-term effects can be sustained on the soccer field, according to an analysis of soccer-related eye injuries at our sports ophthalmology unit at the University of Porto School of Medicine.3Filipe J.A. Barros H. Castro-Correia J. Sports-related ocular injuries A three-year follow-up study.Ophthalmology. 1997; 104: 313-318Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (45) Google Scholar, 4Capão Filipe J.A. Fernandes V.L. Barros H. et al.Soccer-related ocular injuries.Arch Ophthalmol. 2003; 121: 687-694Crossref PubMed Scopus (35) Google Scholar As a result of these studies, we strongly recommend that soccer protective eyewear be worn, particularly by athletes who require prescription lenses, functionally one-eyed athletes, and those who have had refractive surgical procedures that weaken the eye. Reducing the number of injuries by encouraging players to use readily available protective eyewear that conforms to American Society for Testing and Materials F803 would be in the best interests of public health.5Capão Filipe J.A. Soccer (football) ocular injuries: an important eye health problem.Br J Ophthalmol. 2004; 88: 159-160Crossref PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar Injuries are predictable and, for the most part, preventable if all ophthalmologists make an appropriate eye safety prescription part of our routine. I look to the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness and the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Eye Health and Public Information Task Force for guidance on this issue, and I thank them for presenting this important policy statement. Protective eyewear for young athletes OphthalmologyVol. 111Issue 3PreviewAmerican Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Ophthalmology strongly recommend protective eyewear for all participants in sports in which there is risk of eye injury. Protective eyewear should be mandatory for athletes who are functionally one-eyed and for athletes whose ophthalmologists recommend eye protection after eye surgery or trauma. Full-Text PDF