Our team at AFC Urgent Care Fountain City wants you to help your athlete keep an eye on the ball while also keep an eye on eye safety this spring. Preventing Eye Injuries in Athletes When gearing our young athletes up for sports season, we usually think of physical performance, healthy eating, getting enough sleep and so on. But did you know that eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children in the United States? And most eye injuries that occur in school-aged children occur during sports. But there are many ways you can help prevent eye injuries in your young athlete by taking precautions. During Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month, let’s take a look at ways you can protect your eyes when playing sports all year long. First, you want to take any physical blow that happens on the field seriously—no matter how minor the incident might seem. Since a black eye and other hidden signs of an eye injury can take longer to detect, it’s vital to have your athlete undergo an eye exam to ensure no serious harm was done. In addition, if eye symptoms after a hit, like heaviness, redness and pain, do not go away or worsen, a doctor’s visit is necessary immediately to help prevent further damage to your young athlete’s eyesight. Second, you need to make sure your athlete has an eye exam completed at least once a year—injury or no injury. Usually a basic eye exam is performed during the necessary sports physical before he or she is even able to step on the field, but if not, an eye appointment is necessary annually. A yearly eye exam can help to make sure your child’s eyesight is being maintained from year to year, as well as recognize any underlying eye or health conditions that may develop. Finally, no matter what condition your young athlete’s eyes are in, always make sure your young athlete wears the appropriate safety eyewear. By using protective eyewear, you increase the chances of avoiding eye injury by 90 percent—and any athlete would like those odds! The type of safety eyewear that’s required varies by the type of sport or activity your athlete is participating in during the season. For example, baseball sunglasses might be worn to help protect a player’s eyes from ultraviolet rays when trying to catch a ball, while sports goggles are often used for basketball or soccer. Support Fountain City Athletes Whether you have a child participating in sports this spring or you are looking for sporting events happening in our community, come out and support our young athletes! Check out the schedule at the Fountain City Ball Park and cheer on your favorite team! Did your child undergo a sports physical before starting team sports this spring? Visit AFC Urgent Care Fountain City today to make sure your child is physically and mentally ready to hit the field.