Baseball is the leading cause of eye injury in players 14 and under. Players are contending with a high-speed projectile (the ball) and swinging bats. Due to the velocity of the ball or bat, nothing can guarantee complete injury protection, but sports protective eyewear can greatly lessen the risk of serious injury.
The number of kids playing organized sports is on the rise and so is the number of sports-related injuries. What many players, parents and coaches do not realize is 
that the majority of injuries occur during practice and not during games, making it crucial that kids wear protective equipment for practices and games. More than 90% of all eye injuries can be prevented with the use of appropriate protective eyewear.
If your child plays a sport that requires a helmet or faceguard, don’t make the mistake of thinking he or she is protected from eye injuries. The eyes are still exposed to danger from sports equipment or an opponent’s fingers penetrating the openings of a facemask. Likewise, if your child wears glasses, everyday fashion eyewear is not held to the same protective standards as regulation eyewear products labeled as protective eyewear for sports use. The lens in you child’s regular eyeglasses could easily pop out and puncture or cut the eye. A frame mangled from impact could also injure the eyes and ocular region of the face.
Make the decision to add protective sport goggles to the equipment bag. Many eye injuries are caused by blunt trauma, such as from a ball, stick or elbow. A pair of sport goggles, equipped with polycarbonate lenses, can be sight savers since they help keep the eyes and the surrounding ocular region safe. At Westside Optometry we have all sizes and colors of sports goggles. We can also put prescription lenses into them.