Pexels
Injuries are part and parcel of a contact sport like football. A study on football players’ injury rates in the NFL reveals that over 4,000 injuries were recorded over five seasons. This means that, on average, there are almost 35 injuries for every 1,000 athletic exposures (AE).
Consequently, this is also why league leaders often have to meet to discuss safety measures. For instance, just this year, NFL owners agreed to ban hip-drop tackles. According to their analysis, this type of tackle was used more than 230 times last season, resulting in 15 players missing critical playing time. Over time, repeated injuries can cause mobility and cognitive issues.
Unfortunately, while efforts are being made to safeguard critical areas of the body, such as the head, neck, and limbs, little is being done for the eyes. This is despite evidence that directly links ocular well-being to player safety and performance.
Eye safety in the NFL
While the standard football kit includes a helmet, multiple layers of padding, and a mouthguard, among other items, dedicated eye protection is not included. This leaves many players and team managers to make their own calls regarding how to protect their eyes. For example, the American Academy of Opthalmology (AAO) reports that a growing number of football players are taking the initiative to wear visors. These are attached to a player’s helmet and act as a shade and shield for their eyes. According to a study of 32 NFL teams, up to 41% of defensive players and 24% of offensive players have worn shields as a means to protect against career-ending accidents. It’s important to note that the same study discovered that 16 NFL players across five seasons sustained eye-related injuries, ranging from corneal and eyelid scratches to eye gouges and orbital bone fractures.
Today, brands like Nike and Adidas readily offer visors, so players do have options should they choose to wear them.
Away from competitive games, even the most basic drills are done outdoors, so players are exposed to direct sun exposure. This is worrisome because UV damage can begin in as little as one minute and often doesn’t present itself until serious problems have taken root. Instead, it would be beneficial for team leaders to promote the consistent use of sun-protective eyewear, such as men’s sunglasses, any time players are on the field. In particular, they can look to performance brands like Oakley that prioritize optical innovation. For instance, their EV Radar shades are designed with proprietary polarized lens technology to cut out glare and improve visual acuity. At the same time, the lightweight yet durable frame can withstand above-average wear-and-tear so that the shades can keep up with intensive training sessions under the sun.
While these may not be suitable for matches or skirmishes, they can enhance sun safety while on the field. Often, when players are seen wearing sunglasses, it’s more so when they’re on the sidelines or during their downtime. For instance, former player Johnny Manziel and his then-partner were spotted sporting couple’s sunnies from Ray-Ban several years ago. That being said, since Oakley is already an NFL sponsor, it’s only a matter of implementing regular eyewear use so that players can safeguard their eyes.
Next steps in player eye health
At the end of the day, NFL execs set the tone for how eye care should be approached. Although some may think that implementing additional measures just for the eyes is unnecessary or potentially costly, it’s worth noting that vision problems can also impair how well a game goes or a player performs. Research has linked ocular abnormalities in football players with poor depth perception, tracking, peripheral awareness, and hand-eye coordination. Therefore, investing in better eye health will not only improve player safety but also overall industry quality.
