A new study shows that while men are more likely than women to have sports-related eye trauma, the type of sport where injuries occur differs between sexes.
In men, basketball is the leading cause of sports-related eye trauma while softball or baseball is the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries in women.
Whatever the sport, the research also shows that appropriate protective eyewear would reduce the incidence of these injuries. The best offense, as they say, is a good defense and that certainly applies to eye injuries. A number of previous studies have shown wearing protective eyewear greatly reduces eye trauma in sports, though few sports leagues require wearing the gear, even when it comes to our children.
Of those injured, approximately 60% or more were under the age of 18 with more than 30,000 cases of eye injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms every year. In cases where eyewear is mandatory, the number of injuries has reduced. Whether mandatory or not, having your kiddo wear protective eyewear while playing is really a no-brainer.