December 2019 Newsletter

Happy Holidays!!!

Make Sure Protective Eyewear is on Your Christmas Shopping List

IIn the beloved holiday movie, A Christmas Story, Ralphie attempts to convince his parents and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect Christmas gift. They all reject his pleas with the same warning: "You'll shoot your eye out." While you may not literally shoot your eye out, a new study in Ophthalmology Retina – a journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology – shows that BB and pellet guns do blind children every year.

The number of eye injuries related to such non-powder guns are increasing at an alarming rate. Another study published earlier this year showed an increase of almost 170 percent over the last 23 years. If toy guns are on your shopping list, we at the Eye Centers of Northwest Ohio and the American Academy of Ophthalmology urge you to also give the gift of protective eyewear. Protective eyewear and proper guidance make BB, pellet and paintball gun activities safer for children.

To prevent eye injuries we suggest the following:

Buy the proper eye protection. Always wear eye protection that meets appropriate national standards when using non-powder guns.

Get a target. Have children shoot BB and pellet guns at paper or gel targets with a backstop to trap BBs or pellets.
Educate children. Teach them proper safety precautions for handling and using non-powder guns.
Be present. Ensure that there is always appropriate adult supervision.
Know what to do (and what not to) if an eye injury occurs. Seek immediate medical attention from an eye doctor. As you wait for medical help, make sure you don’t touch, rub, apply pressure, or try to remove any object stuck in the eye.

“Ophthalmologists see firsthand the devastating damage toy guns can inflict on the eyes; children are blinded,” said Dianna Seldomridge, M.D., MBA, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “The good news is, most of these injuries are avoidable. Protective eyewear and adult supervision make non-powder gun activities much safer for children. If you can’t resist the Ralphies in your life, buy protective eyewear.”

Holiday Closing

Fremont Office:

Tuesday, December 24th – Office Closes at Noon
Wednesday, December 25th – Office Closed
Tuesday, December 31st – Office Closes at Noon
Wednesday, January 1st – Office Closed

Fostoria Office:

Tuesday, December 24th – Office Closed
Wednesday, December 25th – Office Closed
Friday, December 27th – Office Closed PM Only
Tuesday, December 31st – Office Closed
Wednesday, January 1st – Office Closed