CHICAGO--Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has dubbed September “Sports Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month” to educate consumers on how to make sure their eyes are safe while playing sports.

Up to 90 percent of all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented just by wearing the proper eye protection, according to PBA, which recommends that eyeglass lenses should be made of polycarbonate and have an American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) label, indicating they meet the standards of the ASTM for the specific sport being played .

A PBA announcement noted that this year New Jersey passed a bill to protect children’s eyes in sports. The state law now requires that any child who wears corrective glasses and participates in any school, community or government-sponsored sports programs must wear protective eyewear meeting ASTM standards. The law also provides grants to low-income families to help offset the costs of purchasing the equipment.