Protective eyewear is eyewear made of ultra-strong polycarbonate, a type of plastic that’s very impact resistant and also protects eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays. Types of protective eyewear for sports include safety goggles, face guards, and special eyewear designed for specific sports.

Regular eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contacts don’t protect kids from eye injuries — but most protective eyewear can be made to match kids’ glasses or contacts prescriptions. Kids can also wear safety goggles over their regular glasses or contacts.

Whether you're on the basketball court, in chemistry class, or sitting by the pool, wearing protective eyewear is the best way to keep your eyes healthy and injury-free. In fact, the majority of eye injuries can be prevented by wearing the right protective eyewear. Check out the list of activities below to see what you need to protect your eyes.

Kids need to use protective eyewear whenever they are practicing or playing a sport that raises their risk of eye injury. Some sports have a higher risk for eye injuries than others.

Sports with a high risk of eye injury include:

• Baseball and softball
• Basketball
• Fencing
• Hockey
• Mountain biking
• Paintball
• Racquetball and squash

Sports with a moderate risk of eye injury include:

• Badminton
• Golf
• Soccer
• Tackle football
• Tennis

And sports with a low risk of eye injury include:

• Diving
• Gymnastics
• Road biking
• Skiing
• Swimming
• Track and field

Youth sports leagues don’t always require players to use protective eyewear. That’s why it’s important for parents, teachers, and coaches to know the risks and make sure that all young athletes use protective eyewear when they’re at risk for eye injuries.

There are different types of protective eyewear that are best for different sports.

Kids need safety goggles with polycarbonate lenses when playing sports like:

• Baseball and softball (when fielding)
• Basketball
• Mountain biking
• Racquetball and squash

Kids need helmets with attached polycarbonate face guards or face masks when playing sports like:

• Baseball and softball (when batting)
• Hockey
• Tackle football

Kids need swim safety goggles with polycarbonate lenses when playing sports that happen in water, like:

• Surfing
• Water polo
• Water skiing or tubing

Kids may need other types of eye and face protection for sports like fencing, lacrosse, and paintball, and when playing certain positions, like goalie. If you’re not sure what type of protective eyewear your child needs, ask your child’s eye doctor or coach.

Do your kids know how to keep their eyes healthy? Do they know what to do if their eye is injured or they get something in it?

It’s important for kids to learn how to take care of their eyes and know what to do if they’re injured, so they can act fast and get help.

One of the most common eye injuries for kids is getting hit in the eye with an object, like a ball, rock, or an elbow. If that happens, they can place a cold compress on their eye for 15 minutes to help the pain and swelling go down.

Getting something in the eye, like dust or sand, is also common. It can hurt and make kids want to rub their eyes. Instead, wash the eye out with water. Do the same if a chemical splashes into their eye—for at least 10 minutes.

Kids should always tell an adult if they’ve had an eye injury. They may need to go to the doctor.

Good eye health involves eating a well-balanced diet, getting enough physical activity, washing your hands before putting them near your eyes, and wearing protective gear during sports activities or science class.

Do you know what to do if you get sand in your eye? What if someone accidently elbows you in the eye during the game? Here are tips for dealing with some of the most common eye injuries. Remember to act fast and get help from an adult.

• If particles, like sand or dust, get into your eyes, don’t rub! Wash your eyes out with water.

• If you get hit in the eye with a ball, rock, or elbow, gently put a cold compress on your eye for 15 minutes. This should make the swelling go down and relieve the pain. Have an adult take you to the doctor.

• If a chemical from a class experiment, cleaning fluid, or battery acid splashes in your eye, wash your eye out with water for at least 10 minutes. Have an adult take you to the doctor immediately.

• If an object like a stick or pencil gets stuck in your eye, don’t pull it out. This is very serious. Have an adult put a loose bandage on your eye. Don’t put any pressure on the object. Have an adult take you to the doctor immediately.

Most eye injuries can be prevented by wearing protective eyewear.