Teens & Winter Eye Protection

​Being the parent of a teenager can be a balancing act. You try to give your kids more independence, but you still want to protect them and keep them safe.
 
With that in mind, one thing to consider this winter is your teen’s eye safety, as winter can pose certain eye safety concerns. Consider the following suggestions for protecting your teen’s vision.
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Avoiding Eye Injuries From Gifts

Small children are not the only ones who can get an eye injury from gifts. Certain gifts that teenagers may enjoy can also lead to eye injuries. For example, toy guns like airsoft guns and paintball guns can cause eye injuries and even vision loss in severe cases.
 
Although they do not use gunpowder or shoot bullets, airsoft guns can still be dangerous. Air guns and paintball guns use compressed air to propel or drive forward a pellet, BB, or paintball.
 
A study conducted by Stanford University School of Medicine showed eye injuries from air-soft guns increased dramatically since 2010. Injuries can include corneal abrasions and bleeding in the eye, but more serious injuries, such as a detached retina or rupture of the eyeball can also occur.
 
In some cases, the damage from air-soft guns may be long lasting. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, about three out of ten children injured from air guns continued to have vision problems even after treatment.
 
Before buying your teen an air gun or paintball gun, consider their maturity level, as well as the maturity level of their friends. Teens need to have an understanding of the dangers and adhere to all safety precautions, including using proper eye protection.
 
Goggles, such as those worn skiing, are not enough to protect the eyes when using an air gun. Remember, airsoft guns are not toys, and they have to be used with caution. Teens using an airsoft gun or paintball gun should always use proper safety eyewear.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends people who use air-soft guns wear ballistic safety eyewear. Ballistic eyewear is designed for use with weapons, including air guns. Eyewear should wrap around the head and cover the eyes completely. When buying ballistic eyewear, make sure it states it meets military ballistic standards.
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Winter Sports Vision Protection

If your teen participates in certain winter sports, such as hockey, basketball, and wrestling don’t neglect eye safety. Eye injuries from some winter sports are common. Sports that involve close contact or use “sticks’ pose the highest risk. Wearing the correct protective eyewear can greatly reduce the chances of an eye injury. Consider the following precautions for common winter sports:

• Hockey: Hockey can lead to various types of eye injuries. Sticks and pucks to the eyes or face can certainly cause eye injuries, but they can also occur from a fall or a collision with an opponent. Whether your teen enjoys organized league play or a pick-up game on a pond, he or she should wear a helmet with a facemask and eye visor with polycarbonate lenses.
• Basketball: Basketball may not be the first sport that comes to mind when you think of eye injuries, but in fact, basketball is one of the highest-risk sports for eye injuries. Eye-poke injuries are the most common. To avoid an eye injury while playing hoops, encourage your teen to wear sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses.

• Wrestling: Wrestling is another sport that requires close contact, which can easily lead to a poked eye. Sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses can help decrease the chances of an eye injury.

 
If your teenager plays in an organized league, he or she may have to wear to specific safety gear, including eyewear. Even if your teen’s league or school doesn’t require certain safety eyewear, make sure they wear it anyway to protect their vision. While it may not be cool if teammates aren’t wearing protective eyewear, it’s not worth the risk to your child’s vision. Getting cool eyewear that your teen likes and that fits well will certainly help your efforts in making sure protective eyewear is actually worn and doesn’t just sit in the bag or locker.
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Outdoor Winter Recreation Precautions

In addition to sports, other winter activities can also lead to an eye injury. That doesn’t mean your teens should not enjoy the winter weather, but it’s a good idea to keep eye safety in mind.
 
One common winter activity that can lead to an eye injury is snowball fights. Snowball fights can be fun, but they can also go wrong quickly. The biggest danger of a snowball fight is a hidden rock in the snow. Your teen may grab a handful of snow, pack it tightly into a ball, and not realize there is a rock buried. A hard snowball that hits the eye can do a lot of damage.
 
Also, snow is not always clean. The ground is full of a lot of stuff. Snow can have animal droppings, dirt, and bacteria. If dirty snow gets in the eye, it can lead to an infection.
 
Talk to your teenagers about the potential hazards of a snowball fight. Explain when they are roughhousing in the snow, they need to be careful. Teach your teens not to throw snowballs that contain rocks or chunks of ice. They should also never aim for the head or face.
 
If your teen enjoys sledding and snow tubing, encourage him or her to use snow goggles to avoid flying debris as the tube or sled hits the snow. Please be aware that regular sunglasses are not impact resistant. They may shatter if a rock or chunk of ice flies up and hits the lens.
 
Of course, other snow sports such as skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing pose their own risks, such as a fall or impact injury. One of the biggest concerns, however, is snow blindness, caused sun reflecting off of snow. Even on gray days, though, the sun’s UV rays still make it through the clouds and haze, so make sure your teens have appropriate goggles or sun protection if they are going to be outside.
 
Winter is a great time for children of any age, including teenagers. By talking with your teen and taking the precautions above, you can decrease the chances of an eye injury happening. If you have any questions about your teens eye health or safety or  you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists, please call our office at 508-746-8600.
 
We hope you found our winter posts for Safe Toys and Gifts Month helpful. Be sure to check back in January, when we’ll be talking about glaucoma for National Glaucoma Awareness Month.