Help patients keep their eyes on the ball—and safe from injury

It’s a relief for parents when cooped-up kids can get outside after a long, cold winter. But spring and summer sports and recreation activities can bring new concerns: a potential for eye injuries. 

More than 42,000 eye injuries related to sports and recreation activities are reported in the United States each year, with about half occurring in children. 

Here’s the good news: It’s estimated that 90% of sports-related eye injuries would be prevented by appropriate eye protection. Eye protection made of polycarbonate lenses can significantly reduce sports-related ocular injuries, according to a 2022 article in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.  

Advise parents of what they can do to protect their children’s vision:

• See your doctor of optometry. A school eye screening is simply not enough. For sports that involve throwing, kicking and catching, kids need a regular, in-person, comprehensive eye exam that focuses on depth perception, contact lens wear, binocularity (how eyes work together as a pair), peripheral vision and more. It's the best way to ensure your child's vision is ready to play.
  
  
• Visit aoa.org to find a doctor of optometry for a comprehensive eye exam to regularly assess vision as well as detect and address potential vision problems. “Be sure to let your doctor know of your hobbies,” says Adam Blacker, O.D., chair of the AOA’s Sports and Performance Vision Committee. “There might be visual or protective solutions that will help you perform better and safer.”
  
  
• Avoid metal frames. For children with glasses, provide a pair without metal frames to avoid potential injuries from getting hit with a ball or falling. “Most everyday glasses are unable to provide the protection that athletes need when they’re competing,” Dr. Blacker says, “so talk to your doctor about protective solutions.”
  
  
• Use sun protection. Sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection are important to protect eyes from sun damage. Wearing a hat or helmet also can provide additional protection. "The importance of sun protection for children is often overlooked," says Karl Citek, O.D., Ph.D., chair of the AOA Commission on Ophthalmic Standards. "The lenses of their eyes are more transparent than those of adults, allowing shorter wavelength light to reach the retina. Because the effects of solar radiation are cumulative, it's important to develop good protection habits early and have infants and children wear proper sunglasses whenever outdoors. If safety eyewear is required, see if it is available with a tint to avoid bright sun and glare issues. If safety eyewear is not required, sunglasses with plastic frames that fit and contour closely to your child's face and head will protect the eyes not only from direct sunlight but also from the side."
  “Polarized glasses can help reduce the glare when that becomes a problem for enjoying your day,” Dr. Blacker says.

Protect your visual advantage 

While sports are great for the development of children and teens, the AOA and doctors of optometry urge parents and coaches to consider the risks of eye injuries. 

A study published in February 2025 in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology found that most sports-related eye injuries were attributed to baseball (38.5%), basketball (16.9%) and soccer (14.9%). Children ages 11 and younger were most often injured playing baseball, while those 12 and older more commonly had soccer- or football-related injuries. 

The most common diagnoses were contusions (82.4%) and hyphemia (8.1%). Orbital fractures were the most common diagnosis requiring surgery (54.5%). Golf and archery caused the most significant visually impairing traumas. 

“Greater emphasis on ocular protection may prevent ocular trauma in young athletes, especially those who participate in baseball,” the study’s authors wrote. “Our study highlights the importance of tracking the [visual acuity] impairment risks involved in youth sports and their influence on ocular trauma outcomes. Parents, educators, and coaches with children involved in sports participation may view these results along with others and weigh the benefits of sport participation with the risk of ocular trauma.”