eye protection

Last week, in honor of Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month, we discussed vision problems in children. This week, we are going to address the other aspect of this month: safety and eye protection.

“One pair, no spare,” says pediatric ophthalmologist John Avallone, MD.

You only have one set of eyes. It is important to take care of them starting at a young age. So make sure your kids use great care, practice prevention, and wear activity-appropriate eyewear – such as goggles, facemasks, glasses, sunglasses, etc. – in all sporting activities.

Pediatric Eye Injury Facts and Statistics

Approximately 33% of the estimated 2.4 million eye injuries that occur annually in the United States are in people age 17 and younger.
Eyes can be damaged by sun exposure, not just chemicals, dust or objects.
44.7% of all eye injuries occur in the home.
13% of all eye injuries are sports related.
Between the ages of five and 14, most sports-related injuries in the U.S. occur while playing baseball.
Every year, around 11,000 eye injuries sustained by children are caused by toys or home playground equipment
More than 90% of all eye injuries can be prevented with protective eyewear.

In the Event of a Pediatric Eye Injury you should…

If your child sustains an eye injury, you should contact your ophthalmologist as soon as possible, even if the injury seems minor. Serious injuries are not always immediately obvious and delaying medical attention could result in permanent vision loss or even blindness. So it is better to be safe than sorry.

Administering First Aid while waiting for Medical Help

Gently cover a cut or puncture wound.
DO NOT apply pressure, touch, or rub the eye.
DO NOT apply any sort of medication.
If an object is stuck in the eye, DO NOT attempts to remove it.
Flush the eye with water ONLY in the event of chemical exposure.

To learn more about Children’s Eye Protection and Eye Injuries, 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.

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.
Vision problems 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!

Sources:
Children’s Eye Injuries: Prevention and Care

Sunlight is just one of the many types of energy that the sun releases. Heat is another and Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a third. And while many know that UV rays can cause skin damage, such as sun burn or skin cancer, few people realize that UV rays can also damage vision.

UV rays can attribute to several different eye problems, including:

Macular Degeneration: The leading cause of vision loss for older Americans, macular degeneration affects the part of the retina (the macula) responsible for the sharp, central vision.
Cataracts: UV rays may also contribute to some kinds of cataracts, which is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens.
Pterygium: Another UV-related problem, pterygium is a growth on the white of the eye that can eventually block vision.
Corneal Sunburn: Photokeratitis, better known as corneal sunburn, can be extremely painful. It is the result of high short-term exposure to UV-B rays.
Skin Cancer: Prolonged exposure to UV rays can result in skin cancer around the eyelids.

Protecting your Eyes from Harmful UV Rays

Eye Protection: Wear sunglasses, prescription glasses, and other eyewear that absorb UV rays.
Wide Brimmed Hat: Wearing a wide-brimmed hat will help block at least half of UV rays, which can come from many directions, reflected off the ground, water, snow, sand and more.
Cloudy Days are still dangerous: UV rays can still damage your eyes on cloudy days, so be sure to wear sunglasses whenever you are outside.
Regular Checkups with your Eye Doctor: One of the best ways you can protect your vision is to schedule regular checkups with your eye doctor – Ophthalmologist or Optometrist. Your eye doctor will not only evaluate your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, but he/she will also inspect your eyes for common eye diseases and other problems that could lead to vision loss.

Please be safe this summer and be sure to protect your eyes!

To learn more about UV Safety Month and Proper Eye Health, 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.

Vision problems 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!

Sources:

Protect Your Eyes from the Sun Prevent Blindness America