The FIFA World Cup™ is here! With soccer fans around the world focused on the excitement of the World Cup, it’s a good reminder that protecting your vision is just as important as improving your performance on the field.
Experts estimate up to 90% of sports-related eye injuries can be prevented with proper protective eyewear, making eye protection one of the simplest and most effective pieces of sports safety equipment available.1
Many athletes who need vision correction assume their everyday eyeglasses provide adequate protection. Unfortunately, traditional eyeglasses offer little impact resistance and may actually increase the risk of injury if they break during play.2 Eye health experts strongly advise against using standard prescription eyewear as sports protection.
Whether you’re playing soccer, baseball, lacrosse, field hockey, or another sport involving fast-moving objects and close contact, your eyes are vulnerable to injury. While soccer may not be the first sport that comes to mind when thinking about eye injuries, collisions, elbows, fingers, and high-speed balls can all pose risks to vision. For that reason, eye care professionals recommend polycarbonate protective eyewear for soccer and other sports where eye injuries may occur.2
Even at the highest levels of competition, eye and facial protection are necessary. Tunisian midfielder Ellyes Skhiri has competed while wearing a custom protective face mask following facial fractures, while Polish striker Robert Lewandowski famously wore a protective mask after suffering an eye socket injury. These examples serve as reminders that protecting your vision is important at every level of sport.
Choosing the Right Protective Eyewear
Prescription protective eyewear
- Available through your eye care provider or optical retailer
- Look for the marking Z87-2 on the frame
- High-impact lenses should display the manufacturer’s mark with a “+” symbol
Non-prescription protective eyewear
- Available at many sporting goods retailers
- Look for Z87 (basic impact) or Z87+ (high impact) markings
For maximum protection, choose high-impact-rated eyewear made with polycarbonate lenses and a padded, wraparound design.
Whether you’re competing in a league match, coaching from the sidelines, or cheering on your favorite World Cup team, remember: you only get one pair of eyes. Taking simple precautions today can help protect your vision for years to come.
Sources
- American Optometric Association. “Help Patients Keep Their Eyes on the Ball and Safe from Injury.” https://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/health-and-wellness/help-patients-keep-their-eyes-on-the-ball-and-safe-from-injury
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Eye Safety in Sports.” https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries-sports