Sparring with no headgear?

[Banderivets]

What headgear will prevent is getting your eyebrow slashed open when some new guy rushes in with his head, or getting your eardrum popped from a hook. If you don't like four weeks of dull pain and constant ringing in one year, wear headgear.

What he said.

I got a stitches around my brow and a punctured ear drum from not wearing headgear.

[PainfromUkraine]

Safe bet to wear a headguard but it does impact on vision somewhat...before I fixed up I was always getting hit with hooks around the side because I simply couldn't see them coming...and obviously they hurt that bit more. But, it protects you from cuts, lesions and things that have been mentioned like ear damage, so best to wear one. Also, interestingly I guess you could liken the vision problems with having a cut or swelling in a fight. That experience of having a smaller field of vision could help you cope with unforeseen situations down the line, perhaps.