Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Baseball is Leading Cause of Sports-Related Eye Injuries
Baseball is the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries for children who are 5-14 years old, according to the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP). According to AAP statistics, one third of baseball-related eye injuries are from being struck by a pitched ball.
The organization Prevent Blindness America (PBA) works to educate parents and coaches about how to protect children from sports-related injuries. Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is a volunteer eye health and safety organization that educates the public that 40,000 people a year suffer eye injuries while playing sports. The PBA website says that for all age groups, sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently in baseball, basketball and racquet sports.
Statistics:
- 84.6% of children do not utilize protective eyewear in situations that represent a risk of eye injury
- 72% of sports related eye injuries occur in people less than 25 years of age
- 15% of children wear protective eyewear when playing sports
- 38% of children are involved in organized sports
- 24% of children wear prescription eyewear or contact lenses during sports
- 45% of kids have played sports without prescription safety eyewear
- The use of appropriate sports eye protection can reduce the risk of significant eye injury by at least 90%
Recommendations:
- Educate children, coaches, and parents about the importance of wearing appropriate sports eye protection.
- Consult an eye doctor, physician, or athletic trainer for the appropriate protective eyewear and must be appropriate for the particular sport and the child’s size.
- Children should wear sports eye protectors that meet the ASTM and ANSI standards.
- State legislators should adopt legislation requiring the use of protective eyewear.
- Protective eyewear should be mandatory for athletes who are functionally one-eyed.
- Sports eyewear that does not meet ASTM and ANSI standards should be banned.
- Funding should be available for school, community based and organized athletic programs.
- Pay for sports eye protectors for children who cannot afford them.
If You Have Suffered an Eye Injury
If your eye injury was a result of someone else’s negligence or carelessness, the Boston personal injury law firm Kiley Law Group, located in Andover and Boston, Massachusetts, is here to help you get the best compensation you can for your injury.
We offer FREE CONSULTATIONS, and our attorneys take time when speaking with you about your case and will work with you on a contingent basis so there are NO FEES unless our we win your case.
Call now for a FREE evaluation of your case: 1-888-208-1695.
