But a serious eye injury from sports or recreational activities can hinder much more than your time on the court or in the gym. Of the 2.5 million eye injuries that occur every year in the United States, around 10 percent are sports or recreation-related, according to the Prevent Blindness America organization. Also, a child's physical development and athletic immaturity, coupled with their fearless abandon when playing, tends to put them at greater risk for an eye injury. Most eye injuries occur in basketball, partly because so many people play this particular sport.
Injuries occur more from flying elbows or fingers than the ball itself.
However, a finger or elbow to the eye can distort the shape of the eye significantly. Blood vessels get stretched and can break, causing bleeding. Retinal detachment is also a concern. Protective eye wear is a good idea for many sports and recreational activities, particularly if you've had an eye injury before. That depends on the nature of the sport you're playing and the health of your eyes.