There’s a certain level of risk associated with nearly any type of sport, though some sports pose more risk than others. In addition to sports-related injuries such as broken bones, sprains or torn tendons and ligaments, eye injuries are also common among athletes.
Blunt trauma and impact injuries, penetrating or piercing injuries and radiation injuries are the most common eye injuries among athletes, depending on the sport they play.
Racquet sports such as racquetball and tennis put players at risk of a blunt trauma or impact eye injury. The good news is that most of these sports-related eye injuries (about 90 percent) can be prevented with protective eyewear.
Blunt Trauma and Impact Eye Injuries
Eye injuries caused by blunt trauma are the most common type of sports-related injuries. These injuries, like black eyes, can be minor, or they can be more serious, including fractures to facial bones or even a ruptured eyeball. Tennis —particularly doubles tennis— puts athletes at a high risk of blunt trauma eye injuries.
Eye injury as the result of blunt force trauma or impact to the eye can result in partial or total blindness. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 42,000 sports-related eye injuries occur every year. If you plan to hit the tennis courts this spring to play tennis, whether recreationally or competitively, be sure you’ve got the right eye protection to keep your eyes safe while you play.
Eye Protection for Tennis Players
If you play tennis, it’s important that you always protect your eyes. Protective eyewear such as goggles or even sunglasses made of polycarbonate protective lenses will help reduce the risk of eye injury. Polycarbonate is shatter-resistant, and lenses made of the material are 10 times stronger than other lenses. They’re better able to withstand direct contact during sports like tennis and racquetball, and are the thinnest, lightest lenses available.
In addition their shatter-resistance, polycarbonate lenses also filter 100 percent of ultraviolet light from the sun. This is an added safety bonus, since UV exposure can also damage eyes.
If you suffer from spring allergies, it’s also important that you avoid playing tennis on days when pollen counts are high to avoid eye irritation from your allergies. Keep your contact lenses clean and wash your hands and hair frequently to limit exposure to allergens as much as possible.
Where to Play Tennis in Dallas
Dallas has a number of public tennis courts available. In North Dallas, try out the Fretz Park Tennis Center or L.B. Houston Tennis Center. In East Dallas, try Samuell Grand Tennis Center, and in the Park Cities area, check out Seay Tennis Center.
