If you are like me, a soccer mum.  You have just reenrolled your child to play soccer for another year.

If your child wears glasses, you might be wondering if they can wear them playing soccer.  Or if there is another better option?

In many states of Australia, children that wear prescription glasses are required to wear Sports goggles on the soccer field.  This is due to the increased protection provided by these devices.  The chance of impact injury in a ball sport is high and the fact that standard spectacles are not the best protection, should your child get fingers, elbows or a ball to the face.

How standard spectacles differ from sports goggles includes, not having the special firm rubber backing on the wrap around frame with thick impact resistant lenses that the sports goggles have.  Sports goggles have an adjustable elastic strap to make the goggle difficult to knock off the face, due to their close proximity.  They also completely cover the eye socket, providing protection to the rim of the bones that surround the eye.

Statistics indicate that soccer is the fifth highest sport, requiring a visit to the hospital with an eye injury.  Due to body contact and the use of a ball.  Soccer is behind Squash, lacrosse, basketball and rugby.  All of these sports have resulted in people visiting the accident and emergency at the hospital with an eye injury that could have lead to permanent vision damage.

So how do we avoid these possible outcomes?  By wearing the correct eye protection for the sport that your child plays.  For Soccer the correct eye protection as approved by the Soccer Federation in most states of Australia is Sports Goggles.  These have no sides going over the ears just elastic that goes down the side of the head.  This elastic is adjustable and the sports goggles themselves are available in many colours and sizes.  They come with impact resistant lenses as standard and can have prescription lenses fitted.  Should your child require this, please make sure your Optometrist uses high impact lenses like those used in safety glasses (polycarbonate, phoenix, trivet or trilogy material).

As both my children have worn sports goggles, I can also give you a tip.  Which is buy the guards to fit on the back of the sports goggles, as the foam makes them much more comfortable to wear and your child will be much happier to wear them.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me info@childrenssafetyglasses.com.au