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44% of Eye Injuries Occur in the Home: The Importance of Protective Eyewear

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With the Fourth of July in our rearview mirror, we at the Anne Arundel Eye Center started to think about eye injuries. Did you know that 2.5 million eye injuries occur each and every year and 50,000 of those injuries result in complete or partial vision loss? More astonishingly, according to experts, 44% of Eye Injuries Occur in the Home and more than 90% of these injuries could have been prevented with proper protective eyewear. Every year, thousands of people suffer eye injuries in and around the home performing everyday tasks like mowing the lawn and frying bacon.

Eye Injury

The Importance of Protective Eyewear

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT) recommend having AT LEAST one pair of protective eyewear in the home and to use the eyewear often.

“Protective eyewear could prevent most home eye injuries, but you have to have the eyewear in the home to use them,” said AAO spokesman Andrew Iwach.

Everyday household items, like bungee cords, frying pans, and lawn and household chemicals, present risks of eye injuries, risks that are often overlooked until it is too late. In fact, a survey conducted by AAO/ASOT revealed that most people underestimate their at-home risks. Most respondents ranked eye disease to be a more significant threat to their vision than injury.

“Slipping on a pair of safety glasses is quick and easy,” ASOT President Ferenc Kuhn, MD, PhD, says in a news statement. “Unfortunately, compared to other commonsense safety steps such as wearing seatbelts, using protective eyewear does not happen frequently enough.”

In fact, two-thirds of survey respondents admitted to owning protective eyewear, yet 30% said they did not consistently use the eyewear when doing home repairs or projects.

If you have any questions about our blog, “44% of Eye Injuries Occur in the Home: The Importance of Protective Eyewear,” or wish to schedule an appointment, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at the Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Source:

Nearly Half of Eye Injuries Occur at Home

 

Memorial Day and Eye Injuries: Be Aware and be Prepared

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With Memorial Day right around the corner, we thought now was the perfect time to address the very serious subject of Eye Injuries. Did you know that 2.5 million eye injuries occur each and every year and 50,000 of those injuries result in complete or partial vision loss? And nearly half (44%) of these occur in or around the home while performing simple, everyday tasks, like mowing or even frying some bacon. Scary, isn’t it? Fortunately, 90% or more of these eye injuries could have been prevented with proper protective eyewear, according to experts!

“Slipping on a pair of safety glasses is quick and easy,” said American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT) President Ferenc Kuhn, MD, PhD. “Unfortunately, compared to other commonsense safety steps such as wearing seatbelts, using protective eyewear does not happen frequently enough.”

So why do so few people wear proper eyewear? Well, according to a survey released by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and ASOT, “most people underestimate their at-home risks.” While 66% of survey respondents said they owned protective eyewear, 30% admitted that they did not consistently use the eyewear.

“Protective eyewear could prevent most home eye injuries,” said AAO spokesman Andrew Iwach, MD.

Memorial Day and Eye Injuries: Be Aware and be Prepared

Every year, nearly 10,000 Americans are treated in emergency rooms for fireworks related injuries. And next to injury to the hands, eye injuries are the most common reason for fireworks-related hospital ER visits, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Nearly half of all eye injuries from fireworks occur in children, with 25% resulting in permanent vision loss.

“No one should go from a backyard celebration to the emergency room with firework-related injuries,” said CPSC acting chairman Nancy Nord. “Using only legal fireworks and using them correctly is an important step toward celebrating safely.”

Fireworks Safety Tips from the CPSC

  1. Keep young children at a safe distance and never allow them to ignite fireworks.
  2. Make sure the fireworks you purchase are legal for your area and always follow the safety instructions on the packaging.
  3. Never have any portion of your body directly over the fireworks when lighting the fuse.
  4. Never use homemade fireworks.
  5. If fireworks do not ignite, never attempt to re-light.
  6. Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  7. Keep a bucket of water, a hose, or a fire extinguisher handy in case of emergency.
  8. Wear protective eyewear.

To learn more about Memorial Day and Eye Injuries, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Source:

  1. Nearly Half of Eye Injuries Occur at Home WebMD
  2. News release, American Academy of Ophthalmology/American Society of Ocular Trauma.
  3. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: “Fireworks Continue to be Dangerous Part of Fourth of July Festivities,” June 25, 2008.
  4. AAO Eye Injury Snapshot 2008.
  5. Andrew Iwach, MD, executive director, Glaucoma Center of San Francisco; spokesman, American Academy of Ophthalmology.
  6. Ferenc Kuhn, MD, PhD, president, American Society of Ocular Trauma.
  7. Nancy A. Nord, acting chairman, Consumer Products Safety Commission.

 

April is Sports Eye Safety Month: Eye Injuries & Protective Eyewear

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Spring has finally sprung, which means one thing. No, not spring cleaning. It means that countless individuals, like yourself, will return to the sports and hobbies they love. And while this may seem like great news, the truth is that it puts you at risk of eye injury.

Each and every year, tens of thousands of people suffer sports- or recreation-related eye injuries that. Fortunately, most of these eye injuries are preventable. In fact, 90% of serious eye injuries are preventable!

April is Sports Eye Safety Month, so what better time than now to address the topic? The hope is that organizations will help spread awareness and individuals will begin to take the necessary precautions – wearing protective eyewear – when performing tasks that have any likelihood of eye-related injury, injuries that could lead to more serious medical conditions like red eye, traumatic cataract or traumatic glaucoma.

Risk of Eye Injuries

High risk sports include:

  1. Baseball
  2. Basketball
  3. Racquetball
  4. Ice Hockey

High risk hobbies and activities include:

  1. Yard Work
  2. Home Repairs
  3. Cleaning
  4. Cooking

More than 40% of patients treated for eye injuries sustained at home were involved in one of the above activities.

Protective Eyewear

Before taking part in any sport or activity, consider the risk of flying debris. If there is ANY risk, be sure to wear protective eyewear. And remember, eyeglasses are not sufficient protection.

  1. For sports like baseball, ice hockey and men’s lacrosse, be sure to wear a helmet equipped with a polycarbonate facemask or wire shield.
  2. For other sports, such as basketball, soccer, field hockey, or racquetball, wear protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses.

If an eye injury occurs, see your ophthalmologist or go to the emergency room right away. Any delay medical attention could result in permanent vision loss or even blindness.

To learn more about Sports Eye Safety Month, Eye Injuries, & Protective Eyewear, please contact Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Source:

Eye Health in Sports and Recreation

Early Treatment of Ocular Hypertension

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Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of vision loss in the United States.

Currently, 4-7% of the United States population over the age of 40 is suffering from ocular hypertension, one of the leading risk factors of Glaucoma. However, early treatment of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) can greatly reduce the risk for the development of glaucoma. This is especially true for individuals at the highest risk, including:

• Elevated Eye Pressure: Normal eye pressure is 12-21 mm Hg. anything above 21 is considered elevated.

•  African Americans: Glaucoma is at least times more common in African Americans than in Caucasians.

•  People over the age of 60: The risk of glaucoma rises by as much as six times after the ago of 60.

•  Family History of Glaucoma: POAG may be hereditary. Positive family history increases the risk of glaucoma up to nine times.

•  Hispanics: Recent studies indicate that the risk for Hispanic populations is about halfway between Caucasians and African Americans.

•  Asians: People of Asian decent are at a higher risk for narrow angle or acute angle-closure glaucoma.

•  Steroid Use: A 1997 study reported in the Journal of American Medical Association demonstrated a 40% increase in the incidence of ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma in adults who require approximately 14 to 35 puffs of steroid inhaler to control asthma.

•  Eye Injuries: Injury to the eye may cause secondary open-angle glaucoma.

The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) Group recently conducted a study comparing the safety and efficiency of earlier and later treatment of ocular hypertension in reducing the risk for POAG. The study examined 1,636 individuals with increased IOP ranging from 24 to 32 mm Hg in 1 eye and 21 to 32 mm Hg in the other eye. The participants were then randomly assigned to observation or to receive topical ocular hypotensive medication.

Medication group: Median duration of treatment was 13.0 years.

Observation group: Median duration of 7.5 years without treatment and then received medication for a median of 5.5 years.

Researchers then compared the cumulative proportion of participants who went on to have POAG in both observation group and in the medication group at a median follow-up of 13 years.

The Results of the Study

•  The proportion was 0.22 in the original observation group (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19 – 0.25)

• The proportion was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.13 – 0.19) in the original medication group (P =. 009), or a 27% reduction in glaucoma risk associated with early treatment.

•  The cumulative proportion of participants who went on to have POAG was 0.40 (95% CI, 0.33 – 0.46) and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.22 – 0.34), respectivelcCy.

Still, each patient and each instance of elevated IOP or ocular hypertension must be treated on a case-by-case basis. It is up to the physician to determine whom to treat and whom to observe.

“I try to only begin treatment on someone that truly needs preventative therapy, while not over treating anyone that we can simply monitor and keep safe without treatment,” said board certified ophthalmologist Sam Boles.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about Early Treatment of Ocular Hypertension, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Cast your vote now for Anne Arundel Eye Center, Dr. Boles and Dr. Frank in Chesapeake Family Magazine’s Favorite Docs 2012! Voting ends on March 15th.

Dr. Boles and everyone else at the Anne Arundel Eye Center proudly support the efforts of The Polakoff Foundation and their role in the ongoing fight against glaucoma. Click here to purchase tickets online for the Polakoff Foundation’s Mardi Gras Celebration to help raise money to aid the fight against blindness.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

Glaucoma and Cataracts may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter,Google+, and YouTube as well!

Cataracts: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

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A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. That crystal clear lens slowly clouds over time as part of the natural aging process. We should all be so lucky to develop cataracts in our lifetime, as this would mean we have lived a long and healthy life.

Cataracts will gradually worsen over time and will eventually interfere with normal vision. This can make every day tasks, like driving (especially at night) and reading, incredibly difficult.

Causes of Cataracts

There are several causes of cataracts. They develop primarily because of normal aging, but also due to eye injuries and genetic disorders. These varying causes lead to different types of cataracts, which include:

• Nuclear Cataracts: This refers to cataracts that affect the center of the eyes lens.

•  Cortical Cataracts: This refers to cataracts that affect the edges of the lens.

• Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts: This refers to cataracts that affect the back of the lens.

•  Congenital Cataracts: This refers to cataracts you were born with.

For additional information on any specific form of cataracts, consult your eye doctor.

Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts

•  Blurred or blurry vision

•  Yellowing or clouding of the lens

•  Difficulty with night vision

•  Sensitivity to light and glare

•  Seeing “halos” around lights

•  Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription

•  Fading or yellowing of colors

•  Double vision in a single eye

If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible. Any sudden change in your vision is a serious medical condition that requires prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Cataracts Treatment

While better lighting and stronger eyeglasses can help you deal with cataracts in the short term, cataract surgery is the only truly effective treatment option available.

Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a new artificial lens. The procedure is fairly safe, but carries a risk of infection and bleeding. Surgery also increases the risk of retinal detachment.

However, if your cataracts begin to affect your quality of life, inhibiting you from performing normal daily tasks, cataract surgery is usually the best choice for trying to regain your sight. So if you feel it may be time to consider cataract surgery, contact your eye doctor to discuss your options. You can also turn to Anne Arundel Eye Center for additional information.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about cataracts, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Led by Dr. Boles, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Cataract MedicinePlus

Cataracts MayoClinic.com

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