Liberty Rec Specs Eyewear
Rec Specs has been the leader in the growing national movement promoting eye safety during scholastic and recreational sports. Introduced in 1978 as the first Rx-able protective sports eyewear, today over 20,000 eyecare professionals in the USA and the world, rely on Rec Specs when it comes to providing the best possible protective sports eyewear to both children and adults.
The impact of a ball or other equipment as well as an opponent's hands and elbows pose a threat to an athlete's visual safety. According to a 2001 report by Prevent Blindness of America, there are approximately over 38,000 sports-related eye injuries requiring costly emergency room care. This number could potentially skyrocket when you consider the treatment of eye injuries in a private practitioners office. As sports participation statistics continue to climb, and newly identified "extreme" sports gain in popularity, the number of athletes who fall victim to eye injuries has the potential to grow at alarming rates. School-aged competitors are particularly prone to eye injuries since their athletic skills (hand-eye coordination, balance, reaction time, and speed) are still being developed. However, regardless of an individual's age or skill level, every athlete's eyes are targets for injury. Under most circumstances, at least 90% of sports-related eye injuries are preventable with the proper use of protective sports eyewear.
Will Your Child Be The Next Statistic - By Dr. Paul Berman O.D., F.A.A.O.
Understanding The Risks
The results of a 2001 study by Prevent Blindness America show over 38,000 people experienced a sport related eye injury and needed emergency room treatment and in some cases, even further attention. Some of the highest eye injuries occur in children between the ages of 5 to 14 and are caused by participation in basketball, baseball, softball, football, racquet sports and swimming. Nearly one-half of eye injuries require costly emergency room care. It’s also important to remember that even if an eye injury seems to be minor; it may be serious. Loss of vision, severe pain or tenderness and cuts around the eye require immediate medical attention.
Don’t Be Duped
If your child plays a sport that requires a helmet or faceguard, don’t make the mistake of thinking your child’s eyes are protected from injuries. Your child’s eyes are still exposed to danger from sports equipment, or an opponent’s fingers penetrating the openings of a facemask.
Likewise, if your child wears glasses, everyday fashion eyewear is not held to the same protective standards as re eyewear products labeled as protective eyewear for sports use. The lens in your child’s regular eyeglasses could easily pop out and puncture or cut the eye. A frame mangled from impact could also injure the eyes and ocular region of the face.
You Can Take Action
The good news is that you can help prevent your child from being sidelined because of a serious eye injury. You can make the decision to protect their eyes as well as the rest of their body by adding protective sport goggles to their equipment bag.
While sport goggles provide significant protection, they cannot guarantee too be unbreakable or guard against all foreseeable impacts. However, a quality pair of sport goggles, equipped with polycarbonate lenses, can be sight savers since they help the eyes and surrounding ocular region safe. For kids who need corrective prescription lenses, your eyecare professional can make a pair of prescription lenses that fit into their sports goggle.
Don’t wait for your child to become the next eye injury statistic…add protective sport goggles to their sports gear.
(Paul Berman is a private practice optometrist located in Hackensack, New Jersey. He has been in practice for over 25 years. A past chair of the Sports Vision Section of the AOA, Paul was the 1998 New Jersey Optometrist of the Year and the 2000 Sports Vision Optometrist of the Year. He has been a consultant for Olympic teams and professional organizations including the New Jersey Nets, New York Giants, and currently with the New Jersey Devils. Dr. Berman has been on the faculty of the State University of New York, State College of Optometry and has lectured internationally on sports vision. He is most proud of being the founder and global clinical director of Special Olympics Opening Eyes; a program devoted to making people with mental retardation around the world see better. Recently, Dr. Berman was the recipient of the American Optometric Association’s Sportsvision Optometrist of the Year Award.)
Myth vs. Fact
Myth. Wearing everyday street eyewear or fashion sunwear while participating in sports minimizes the potential for eye injury.
Fact. Regular prescription eyeglasses and fashion sunwear do not provide adequate protection and are not held to the same performance standards as eyewear labeled for protective use-such as Rec Specs. The lens in your child’s frames could pop out and puncture or cut the eye or the frame itself could cause an injury.
Myth. Only children are at a high risk for sports-related eye injuries.
Fact. While school-aged children between the ages of 5 to 14 represent the largest segment of sports-related eye injuries, every athlete’s eyes are targets for an injury. Regardless of an individual’s age or skill level, even advanced athletes may suffer injuries as a result of aggressive play.
Myth. Contact lens wearers do not need eye protection.
Fact. Contact lenses may give you or your child good vision, bur no contact lens, hard or soft can protect against eye injury. Impact to the eye can dislodge the lens or fold over a contact lens putting an adult or child at risk for eye injury.
Myth. Wearing a helmet or faceguard protects your children’s eyes from injuries.
Fact. Your child’s eyes are still exposed to danger from an opponents fingers or parts of the sports equipment that can penetrate the openings of a facemask. The helmet can also be knocked off leaving them completely vulnerable to injury.
Myth. Sport protective eyewear fitted with glass or ordinary plastic lenses provide adequate protection against injury.
Fact. Only polycarbonate lenses are recommended for use in protective sports eyewear. Rec Specs protective sports eyewear require polycarbonate lenses at least 2.0mm thick. Never wear protective eyewear without the appropriate polycarbonate lenses.
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