If you’re playing sports in prescription glasses or sunglasses, you’re courting an accident that could ruin your eyes for life. “Thousands of children and adults unnecessarily suffer sports-related eye injuries each year. Every 13 minutes an emergency room in the U.S. treats a sports-related eye injury, and nearly all could be prevented by using proper protective eyewear,” says Paul Berman, MD, a board-certified optometrist and sports vision specialist. Conventional frames and lenses don’t protect your eyes under impact, turning any collision into a sight-threatening injury, says the American Optometric Association. When buying protective eyewear, follow their advice for the best protection:

Seek max protection. Wear lenses in regular or sports frames that are impact resistant and provide 100% UVA/UVB protection.

Get the right format. Your glasses prescription may be all you need for some sports, but consider the conditions of your play. You may need more durable frames for high-contact sports, and contact wearers may need lenses that add moisture for skiing in dry climates at high altitudes, for example.

Enhance performance. Specialty lenses aid sight in different kinds of light. Go for both clarity and depth perception based on when and where you will spend time playing or competing.