When it comes to sport eyewear, we must consult the American Society for Testing and Materials. Founded in 1898, the ASTM is responsible for testing and developing safety standards for numerous product groups, including sport and safety eyewear. The standard that specifically relates to eye protection for most sports is ASTM F803. Sports that fall under this standard are baseball, softball, basketball, field hockey, women's lacrosse, squash, racquetball, soccer, tennis, volleyball and badminton. Other applicable standards include the ASTM F1776, which covers the sport of paintball.

The ASTM standard specifies what level of impact resistance that eyewear has to surpass in order to be certified as safety eyewear for each sport. The primary requirement for safety eyewear of all kinds is that it be fit with polycarbonate lenses. As you would expect, the ASTM F803 standard covers impact resistance, but it also sets standards for cleanability, optical clarity and peripheral vision. It even specifies the frame material's resistance to sweat and oils, which could compromise the materials over time.

Each frame to be tested is mounted on a head form to simulate the athlete. A thin layer of pressure-sensitive paste is applied to the eyes and upper and lower eyelids. A ball from each sport is propelled at varying velocities at the head form, which is then rotated to test impacts at six different angles, headon, side impacts at 90 degrees and at 45 degrees. For example, the testing requires a baseball (for ages 9 to 14 years old) to be accelerated to 55 mph and a racquetball at 90 mph. After each test, the frame is examined for breakdowns in the materials as well as inspecting the paste for signs of impact. A frame that passes all the requirements of the ASTM F803 standard can be marked with the ASTM certification.

When looking for protective eyewear for particular sports, they should specifically say they meet or exceed this standard. It's best to let the moms and dads know when they do or do not.

Fits Like a Glove
Manufacturing to standards is not the only thing that insures protective sport eyewear will work properly. It is important that the eyewear fits properly. When looking to protect an eye from impact injury, there are four areas to consider:

1. When there is direct contact with the eyeball, such as corneal abrasions from finger pokes.
2. Contact between the eyes.
3. Contact at the cheekbone.
4. Contact at the sides of the head near the temples.

Protecting the eye means the frame must fit securely around the natural protective home of the eye, the bony orbit. The bony orbit consists of seven bones: frontal, zygoma, maxilla, lacrimal, ethmoid, sphenoid and palatine. A direct impact can fracture any one of these bones surrounding the eye, causing a blowout fracture. This severe type of injury can cause the muscles of the eye to become entrapped in the bone, which often leads to serious and sometimes permanent vision loss. Therefore, when you put the sport eyewear on your patient, look at not just the front, but also the sides. A well-fitting pair of sport eyewear should cover the entire bony orbit, above the eyebrows, down over the cheekbones and fit securely around the sides of the head.

It is important to look closely at the frame during the initial fitting. Do you see areas where fingers can get in? Is there space between the frame and the sides of the head? If so, the frame is too large. Does the frame cover the brow bone (the frontal bone) and rest securely back on the nose? If not, then you need to consider adjusting or even trying a completely different style.

Sport eyewear should also be comfortable, so don't be afraid to ask, "How do they feel?" Testing them out promotes confidence right away. We have a portable basketball net right in the parking lot outside our office and encourage our little patients to try them out. Basically, the glasses should feel like they are a part of them—they should fit like a glove.

To take the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) certified test related to this topic, please click here.

Danielle Crull, ABOM, owns A Child's Eyes, an independent optical store specializing in pediatrics in south central Pennsylvania. She became a Master Certified Optician in 1997, and her thesis topic concerned the differences between dispensing to children and adults. She lives in Dillsburg, Pa., with her husband and three children, all of whom work in her business.