Basketball is a game of quick cuts, elbows and flying hands, which makes it one of the hardest sports for people who wear glasses or contacts. Frames slip and fog, a contact pops out mid-game, or someone takes an elbow to the face. Many of the players I see want two things: to see clearly without fussing with lenses, and to protect their eyes.
Basketball leads the list of sports eye injuries
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) reports that nearly 30,000 sports-related eye injuries are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year. One study cited by the AAO found basketball was the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries in the United States, followed by baseball, softball, airsoft and pellet guns, racquetball and hockey.
What those injuries look like
The AAO lists injuries ranging from corneal scratches and bruised eyelids to retinal detachment, traumatic cataract, bleeding inside the eye, fractures around the eye and damage to the optic nerve. Most serious eye injuries could be prevented with appropriate protective eyewear.
Regular glasses are not protection
The AAO warns that regular eyeglasses do not offer proper protection and can make an injury worse if they shatter. For basketball, it recommends protective sports glasses with shatterproof polycarbonate lenses, tested to ASTM standards.
Where vision correction fits
For the right candidate, SMILE Pro, SMILE or LASIK can mean clear vision on the court with nothing to slide, fog or fall out. The AAO notes that SMILE does not create a corneal flap, which is why it may suit people with very active lifestyles; the AAO also lists a minimum age of 22 for SMILE, and SMILE Pro at our practice is for patients 22 and older. LASIK remains an excellent choice for many prescriptions. Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe to return to play after surgery.
Here is the honest part: vision correction does not replace protective eyewear. A player who no longer needs glasses can wear plain polycarbonate sports goggles that fit better and fog less than prescription frames ever did.
If you take a hit
Pain, blurred vision, new floaters or flashes, a shadow in your vision, or blood in the eye after a blow are reasons to be seen promptly, even if the injury seems minor.
Players with dry, irritated eyes after long practices can learn about eyelid and tear film care on this dry eye and eyelid blog.
Wondering if you are a candidate before next season? Start with a free VIP consult. Call our Westlake Village office at (805) 230-2126.
Source: Sports Eye Safety (American Academy of Ophthalmology, 3/11/2025). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.