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According to the National Society to Prevent Blindness, almost 7,000
injuries were found to be related to playing basketball. This only
represents the injuries that were reported, so the number can be
even more than that. Typically, the injury is sustained from a
finger poking the eye. Injuries can be prevented through the use of
sport goggles. These goggles not only provide protection from
injury, but can also be fit with your prescription in them. Even if
you need a slight vision correction, it will help you see the ball
one second sooner, or help your aim by a fraction of an inch. Look
for the following when selecting the right type of goggle:
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Polycarbonate Lenses: This is the most important
property of all protective goggles. Good
polycarb is virtually
unbreakable, and will sustain the impact of a ball or finger. 3mm
polycarbonate
is what is recommended for the
ASTM safety standard. But
there are also quality issues with polycarbonate. Low end
polycarbonate will have a lot of distortion in the lens which may
reduce reaction time. Look for higher quality, high end
polycarbonate lenses to minimize distortion.
Trivex
or NXT based
products can also be considered.
Trivex
has better impact resistance than CR-39 plastic (but not as high as
polycarbonate) but has minimal distortion. In prescription,
this is a great option.
-
Durable Frame Design: The frame must also be able to
withstand the impact of a ball . Therefore, a frame made out of
polycarbonate is the the best choice. Frames rated with
ASTM F803 standard is the best option. This is a government sports
safety standard that encompasses all ball/stick sports. This
rating also ensures lenses are 3mm thick polycarbonate for the best
impact resistance. A popular choice for basketball is
also a shield design where the whole front of the frame is a lens
made out of polycarbonate, with temples made of plastic or some other
material. However,
most shields do not meet the ASTM safety rating. Look for at
least ANSI (military safety rating) standard for shields to ensure
better impact resistance than just standard sunglass frames.
- Coverage:
The frame must cover the entire eye socket, not only the eyeball
itself. Impact to any of the "soft" parts of the eye can cause
serious damage. Look for a frame that sits closely to the face, as a
finger can easily make its way through any gap. Shields can easily
become dislodged so a finger can penetrate underneath. Be careful if
choosing this option.
-
Padding: The frame should have padding at the temple
points and bridge points to "cushion the blow". Padding will absorb
some of the shock to lessen the overall impact, and to help prevent
injury to the bone structure.
-
Sports Band:
The frame should be secured by an elasticized band, not temple
pieces. You want something that will be secured tight to the head so
that it won't fall off. A frame with temples will not hold tight
enough, and a jab from a finger could lift the frame off, and make
its way to the eye. If temple pieces are used, strap should be
used. But goggles with strap only are more secure than ones with
temple pieces and then straps.
- Lens Color:
A clear lens provides the best visual acuity indoors. An
anti-reflective coating can also be placed on the lens to absorb
additional glare off the stadium lighting. A regular lens reflects
8% of incidental light, while an
anti-reflective coating applied to the lens will allow 99% of
the light to pass through the lens, giving the best visual acuity.
The only downside to Anti-reflective coatings are they have to be
kept fairly clean. This may inconvenient in a sports environment.
A yellow lens can also be used to cut the glare of overhead
lighting. However, the lens color will reduce visual acuity slowing
down reaction times.
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Prescription Lenses:
Polycarbonate
or
Trivex
lenses are the only materials that should be used for prescription
lenses for safety reasons. Fogging is the most
common problem associated with prescription lenses. Select a
goggle that has good ventilation to control fogging. An
Anti-Fog
coating can also be added to prescription lenses only. This
will help control fogging better than just spray or gel solutions do
(although this is a less expensive option for those less prone to
fogging).
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Recommended Styles:
Rec Specs
and Hilco Sports
goggles--meet all of the above requirements including the ASTM Sports
safety rating, and can be fit with a
prescription lens. Shields type designs these are not the safest type of
frame as they can be easily dislodged and do not provide the same
protection. Other good shields are from Numa,
Rudy Project (tactical products) and
Wiley-X and most of these can be fit with prescriptions as well.
These at least meet the ANSI safety standard.
Secure the frame with a strap.
Shop all Basketball Glasses Now!
To Improve Your Game: Check
out our vision training products including the Bat-Rac
here.
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Look For
-Polycarbonate
lenses
-Durable
Frame Design
-Coverage
-Padding
-Lens
Color
-Sports
Band
-Prescription
Capability
Recommended Styles
Safety Rated for Sports:
-Rec-Specs
Sports Goggles
-Hilco Sports Goggles
Not Safety Rated for sports:
-Bolle
Vigillante or Parole
-Rudy Project Rydon,
Kerosene
Safety rated for
Occupational use, not sports:
-Wiley-X PT-1 or PT-2
Prescription Information
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are available with a
prescription lens. 
