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Promoting Proper Protection

Sports-related eye injuries are more common than you might think, with around 40,000 Americans seeking medical treatment each year. Thankfully, most of these types of injuries are preventable with proper eye safety and protection. Whether you are a pickleball champion or a recreational racquetball aficionado, it is crucial to protect your eyes when playing sports of any kind.

At Collins Vision, we want to be your first choice if you or a loved one sustains an eye injury of any kind. And since April is Sports Eye Safety Month, we’d like to share some ways you can keep your eyes safe while participating in sports.

Proper Eye Protection, Please

Our experts recommend safety goggles (lensed polycarbonate protectors) for racquet sports like tennis, racketball and pickleball, and also for basketball. Eye guards or sports protective eyewear should be labeled as ASTM F803 approved. This means the eyewear is performance tested to give you the highest levels of protection. If you are uncertain about what all that means, don’t worry, our experienced team can help.

For sports like baseball and softball, players should use batting helmets with polycarbonate face shields. For hockey, helmets and face shields approved by the U.S. Amateur Hockey Association are recommended.

Make Sure Eye Protection Fits Properly

Investing in protective eyewear is money well spent when you consider the potential costs of treatment or even surgery that can result from an injury. 

It is important to make sure your eyewear fits snugly and comfortably and that it meets the standards of the American Society of Testing Materials. Our experienced optical team can help make sure your protective eyewear fits properly. See clearly and stay safe on the court or field after shopping our large collection of sports sunglasses or prescription sports goggles.

A Different Kind of Eye Injury

One thing many people don’t take into consideration is the damage to the eye that can be sustained from the sun’s UV rays. If you participate in any outdoor activities during the day, you should wear shatterproof sunglasses that block out UVA and UVB sun rays. Simple eye protection measures like wearing sunglasses on a regular basis can go a long way toward preventing cataracts and ocular surface cancer, and will help make it easier for you to participate in your chosen activity comfortably.

See the Difference with the Vision your Deserve

At Collins Vision in Fort Myers and Naples, we know that making a decision about eyewear goes beyond good vision. From lens coatings and materials to frames and styles for different purposes, the choices can become overwhelming. Our experienced optical team, led by Mark Schafe, our lead optician with more than 25 years of experience, is ready to help take the guesswork out of the selection process. 

At Collins Vision, we like to say that we do things a little differently, and it’s all about you! From routine eye care, diagnosis and management of eye conditions and diseases, cataract surgery, laser vision correction, dry eye treatment and cosmetic eyelid surgery, Collins Vision is here for you. We can’t wait for you to See the Difference. 

So, this spring, before you tee it up, serve it up or crush that ball, make sure your eyes are properly protected from harm. Our experienced doctors and clinical team are here for you. Schedule a comprehensive eye exam today to make sure your eyes are safe at work…and play.