Sports Sunglasses

An article by Lucy    12 Comments

Some sports have documented standards for recommended eye protection. Such standards have been established by the American Society of Testing & Materials (ASTM Standard F803). They currently have standards for the following sports:

• Racket Sports

• Baseball

• Basketball

• Lacrosse

• Field Hockey

If you don’t see your sport listed below, it’s recommended that you choose eyewear certified for racket sports.

Recommended Eye Protection by Sport

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends the following eye protection for these sports. Look for certification labels on eyewear packaging.

• Basketball, Soccer and Tennis

Sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses certified by the Protective Eyewear Council (PECC).

• Baseball or Softball

Polycarbonate or wire face guards on the batter’s helmet and sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses on the field (certified by PECC).

• Field Hockey

A full face mask for the goalie and sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses on the field (certified by PECC).

• Football

A polycarbonate eye shield attached to wire face mask. These should be certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE).

• Ice Hockey

Helmet with full-face protection, this should be certified by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC).

• Men’s Lacrosse

Helmet with full-face protection (certified by NOCSAE).

• Women’s Lacrosse

Full-face protection or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses or wire mesh (certified by PECC).

• Paintball

Full-face protection (certified by PECC).

• Racket Sports

Sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses that are certified by the PECC or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

• Skiing

High-impact resistant eye protection or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses (certified by PECC). They should also filter UV and excessive sunlight.

Eyewear Not Recommended for Sports

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the following types of eyewear do not offer adequate eye protection during sports:

• Fashion Sunglasses

• Regular Eyeglasses

• Contact Lenses

• Industrial Safety Glasses

Recommendations for Sports Sunglasses

Sunglasses should protect from UV light and protect the eyes from impact injury. For the best sports protection, select sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses by visiting http://www.shadesemporium.com. To filter out bright light, neutral gray or amber lenses are a good choice. To avoid glare on water or snow, look for polarized lenses on http://www.shadesemporium.com/.

Good polycarbonate sunglasses are not necessarily expensive. Look for the PECC seal when buying your next pair of glasses so you are sure that your choice is a wise one.