Healthy Vision Month 2008
Protective Eyewear

Why Jim Gears Up

Jim is 8 years old and has been using protective eyewear for the past 2 years when playing sports or doing projects at home.  Why?  Because his dad, Dr. John Townsend, has seen all kinds of eye injuries in nearly 30 years as an optometrist.

When Jim played hockey, very good equipment was available to protect his face and eyes.  It was part of the gear he was required to wear.  Unfortunately, that’s not the case for most sports.  When Jim played soccer, Dr. Townsend noticed that most of his teammates were not using protective eyewear.  It was not uncommon for kids to get kicked or hit in the head and eyes, and Dr. Townsend wondered why more sports do not require the use of protective eyewear like hockey does.

In a recent interview, Dr. Townsend shared his passion about the importance of using protective eyewear and how it troubles him that it is a subject not often brought to the public’s attention.

“Many kids think that getting hit around the eyes or head is just a normal part of growing up,” Dr. Townsend said.  “No one really told parents about protective eyewear, so they don’t think about it.  In the blink of an eye, their child’s vision can be gone forever.  It doesn’t make a lot of sense that kids don’t wear protective eyewear.”

It’s not just the immediate effects of a sports-related eye injury that are cause for concern—problems may not show up or be detected until many years later.  A hit to the eye can result in traumatic cataracts that a person may not be aware of until detected during an eye exam.  Retinal damage or detachment can also occur many years after the initial injury.

Frequently, it’s only when people are much older or believe they need glasses that they start going for regular eye exams.  Young athletes should see their eye care professional on a regular basis as well.  It is also important to share your history of eye injuries with your eye care provider during the exam.

It’s going to take a lot of effort to educate people about this important issue.  Parents and those who run organized sports are high priority groups for raising awareness about the importance of using protective eyewear.  Dr. Townsend believes that there is also a need to educate youth organizations so they can encourage young athletes to keep their eyes safe.

Sometimes kids worry that they won’t look cool if they use protective eyewear.  But Jim hasn’t had to deal with any negative comments from others since he started wearing it.  When asked how his friends reacted the first time they saw him with his protective eyewear on, Jim said, “They looked at me for a little bit and then we played.”  As simple as that.  Protective eyewear now feels like a regular part of Jim’s sports gear.

It’s important to educate children, parents, and coaches about the need for protective eyewear in all sports-related activities.  You never know when an injury can occur, but you can know how to prevent one from happening.  Join us during Healthy Vision Month to encourage all young athletes to gear up for the game!