proper eye protection

As we explained in one of our previous blog posts – July is UV Safety Month :: Protect your Eyes from the Sun this Summer – proper eye protection is crucial, especially during the summer months when the sun’s rays are noticeably strong. Still, year round protection is crucial, even on bright winter days.

Exposure to UV rays can lead to several different eye problems, including macular degeneration, cataracts, pterygium, corneal sunburn, and skin cancer of the eyelids. So what is the easiest way to keep your eyes protected? Sunglasses!

“A substantial proportion of people still do not understand that UV exposure is harmful to the eyes as well as the skin,” says Paul Michelson, MD, chairman of the Better Vision Institute, the medical advisory arm to The Vision Council. “Even those who do understand, few understand it is the cumulative exposure that can be damaging.”

Because it is the cumulative effect of UV exposure that can be damaging, it is important to ALWAYS wear sunglasses. Still, many Americans fail to adhere to these safety recommendations.

Facts & Statistics about Sunglasses use in America

The Vision Council polled 10,000 adults from across the nation.

27% of people NEVER wear sunglasses
Only 58% of parents encourage their children to wear sunglasses
More than 50% of people either lose or break their sunglasses every year
Only 16% or people that do wear sunglasses admitted they did so for eye health reasons
Astonishingly, about 20% of people don’t believe their eyes are at risk from UV exposure

Remember, not only is it never too early to start wearing sunglasses, it is never too late to begin wearing them, either!

To learn more about Eye Protection, Harmful UV Rays, or 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.

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:

More People – Even Kids – Need to Wear Sunglasses

Eye injuries in the workplace are much more common than you may think. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports about 2,000 job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment every day. That is just in the United States, alone. And of those 2,000 occupational eye injuries, eye doctors believe that an incredible 90% could have been prevented with the use of proper eye protection. Because of this, the Occupational and Health Administration (OSHA) requires the use of protective eyewear – goggles, face shields, safety glasses, or full-face respirators – whenever there is a reasonable probability of eye injury.

Proper eye protection differs depending on the specific situation and eye hazards present.

• Safety glasses with side shields should be worn in situations where foreign objects – dust, dirt, sawdust, etc. – will be flying around.

• Goggles should be worn whenever you are working with chemicals

• Specially made safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets should be worn near hazardous radiation

If you have any questions about eyewear, consult your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist. They should be able to help you determine what type of eye protection you need. You should always wear appropriate eye protection wherever and whenever there is any sort of threat of eye injury, especially at work.

High-risk occupations for eye injuries include:

• Construction

• Manufacturing

• Carpentry

• Auto Repair

• Electrical Work

• Plumbing

• Welding

• Maintenance

If you experience any eye injury, even if it seems minor, call your eye doctor immediately to schedule an eye exam or have a friend or family member drive you to the emergency room. Eye injuries are serious and require prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, 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:

Protecting Your Eyes at Work