Prescribing for contact sports.

Abstract

Polycarbonate lenses should be prescribed for wear by participants of contact sports during athletic activities. Frames that meet the specifications of American Society for Testing and Materials F803-88a should be prescribed for sports in which there is a significant risk of eye injury. Because of the high-energy collisions in some sports, helmets are also essential for both face and eye protection. Functionally one-eyed athletes should not participate in sports in which adequate eye protection is not available. It is inadvisable to recommend radial keratotomy to athletes who will participate in contact sports.