April 2019 Newsletter
About Sports Eye Injury and Protective Eyewear
Parents and coaches play an important role in making sure young athletes protect their eyes and properly gear up for the game. Protective eyewear should be part of any uniform because it plays such an important role in reducing sports-related eye injury.
Eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children in the United States, and most injuries occurring in school-aged children are sports-related. These injuries account for an estimated 100,000 physician visits per year at a cost of more than $175 million.
Ninety percent of sports-related eye injuries can be avoided with the use of protective eyewear. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses, goggles, safety shields, and eye guards designed for a particular sport. Ordinary prescription glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses do not protect against eye injuries. Safety goggles should be worn over them.
Currently, most youth sports leagues do not require the use of eye protection. Parents and coaches should insist that children wear safety glasses or goggles whenever they play.
Protective eyewear, which is made of ultra-strong polycarbonate, is 10 times more impact resistant than other plastics, and does not reduce vision. All children who play sports should use protective eyewear – not just those who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. For children who do wear glasses or contact lenses, most protective eyewear can be made to match their prescriptions. It is especially important for student athletes who have vision in only one eye or a history of eye injury or eye surgery to use protective eyewear.
Whether you are a parent, teacher, or coach, you can encourage schools to adopt a policy on protective eyewear. Meanwhile, parents and coaches should insist that children wear protective eyewear whenever they play sports and be good role models and wear it themselves.
At the Eye Centers of Northwest Ohio we have a large range of sports eyewear to choose from. Visit either office during our normal business hours.
Why Focus on Women’s Eye Health?
Two-thirds of blindness and visual impairment occurs in women. Women are at greater risk because they: live longer, are at greater risk for autoimmune diseases, are more likely to undergo cancer treatments that may affect vision, and experience normal age-related hormonal changes that may affect their eyes.
A “Prevent Blindness” survey conducted last year by Harris Poll found that:
Less than 10 percent of American women realize that women are at a greater risk of suffering permanent vision loss than men.
86 percent incorrectly believe that men and women are at equal risk.
5 percent believe that men are at greater risk.
Prevent Blindness has designated April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month in an effort to educate women about the steps they can take today to help preserve vision in the future.
The group also created the program, See Jane See: Women’s Healthy Eyes Now, to provide free education and resources on everything from eye disease to cosmetic safety to vision changes during pregnancy. Valuable information and new data on a range of topics related to women’s vision health at every life stage can be found at SeeJaneSee.org. In addition, the site also features a section written by leading experts on topics ranging from the importance of eye exams to the effects of smoking on vision.
April is both Sports Eye Safety Month & Women’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month
In This Issue
About Sports Eye Injury & Protective Eyewear
Why Focus on Women’s Eye Health?
5 Steps to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
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Ohio 44830
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The American Academy of Opthalmology
Courtesy: Prevent Blindness
5 Steps to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
· Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
· Use protective eyewear during sports and other recreational activities.
· Know your family’s eye health history.
· Wear sunglasses that block out 99-100% of UVA/UVB rays.
· Live a healthy lifestyle:
o Maintain a healthy weight
o Eat healthy foods
o Don’t smoke
o Manage chronic health conditions
