OE Patients

Tag: protective eyewear

  • Protect Your Precious Eyes from Injury

    Protect Your Precious Eyes from Injury

    As spring kicks off, let’s be mindful about taking steps to prevent accidental injury to eyes. Accidents happen in an instant, but 90% can be avoided with the proper protective eyewear. It may also surprise you to learn that nearly half of eye injuries occur at home and are caused by household repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. Pay attention and don’t take risks. Protect yourself and those around you. Enhance your awareness and avoid a regrettable situation. If an injury occurs, get medical attention immediately.

    People with visual impairments are at risk in particular, because they may be unable to see objects coming at them. For this reason, the use of personal protective eyewear is highly recommended, during all activity indoors and out, to avoid accidental damage to an eye. Choose polycarbonate lenses for all glasses, they are shatterproof and offer 100% UV protection from the sun.

    Image shows clear multi-purpose protective eyewear
    Image shows clear multi-purpose protective eyewear

    Indoors

    • Wear protective glasses or goggles when using chemicals, cleaners, aerosols and sprays.
    • Everyday household items like Knives, forks, scissors, paper clips and wire hangers can accidentally cause injury. Handle with care.
    • When cooking food that splatters always wear protective eyewear and use a grease shield.
    • Attend to hazards that can cause falls. Secure rugs and eliminate clutter. Improve contrast and lighting. Be aware of sharp edges. More about this on the OE Patients Podcast Episode 2: Don’t Take the Fall, Prevent it
    Image shows kids wearing protective sports glasses and helmets
    Image shows kids wearing protective sports glasses
    and helmets

    Outdoors

    • Take precautions when outdoors on windy days by wearing wraparound sunglasses to shield your eyes from flying debris, dust and particles.
    • Protect eyes while gardening, mowing the lawn or using a leaf blower.
    • Do not give children sharp objects, or toys with projectiles or toy guns that fire.
    • Choose ASTM approved protective eyewear, not sunglasses, for sports, particularly sports with balls, bats, racquets, pucks or sticks.
    • Even opening champagne bottles can be hazardous to eyes and should be handled with caution. Point the bottle away from your face, and the faces of others. Do not shake the bottle and cover the cork with a towel so it doesn’t fly.
    Image shows pairs of wraparound dark sunglasses
    Image shows pairs of wraparound dark sunglasses

    Under the Sun

    Don’t overlook the damage UV rays will do to eyes. More about this on OE: Keep the Sun Out of Your Eyes and Put Sunglasses on Your Kids, the Benefits are Long Term to avoid the serious damage caused to eyes by UVA and UVB rays.

    Image shows brightly colored fireworks display
    Image shows brightly colored fireworks display

    Fireworks

    Stay away from do-it-yourself pyrotechnics — leave the fireworks to the professionals. Not even sparklers are a good idea, unless wearing protective goggles. The nation’s ophthalmologists issue advisories for July 4th in anticipation of increased fireworks related injury, especially to bystanders and children.

    Post first published Jun 30, 2022 and updated Mar 16, 2023.

  • Celebrate National Sunglasses Day

    Celebrate National Sunglasses Day

    If you have not already developed the habit of protecting your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun, today is the day to start practicing.  Learn to take the steps on a daily basis, that will preserve your precious sight.  This is extremely important, not just in the summer, but every day of the year.

    It’s National Sunglasses Day, a great excuse to buy yourself a fabulous new pair or get one for someone you love.  We encourage everyone to express their personal style and to be sure the glasses they select are qualified for the job.  The American Optometric Association recommends lenses that block out at least 99 percent of UVB and UVA rays and screen 75 to 90 percent of visible light.

    There is no shortage of options for shielding eyes during all outdoor activities.  Be certain your shades provide maximum protection, good coverage, fit well and look great.  Choose the lens type and color that best suits your needs.

    Sun is damaging to young and old eyes alike.  Light eyes are at greater risk because they contain less of the melanin that protects darker eyes.  All eyes are susceptible to damage over time, including the development of cataracts, macular degeneration and both ocular and skin cancers. Excessive exposure to sun rays can also burn the cornea.

    Protective lenses are a must for snow sports.  UV is more intense at higher altitudes and snow reflects about 80 percent of the suns rays, which is like getting hit twice.  The same goes for water and sand.

    Obviously, sunglasses are far more than a fashion accessory.  They should be worn even on cloudy days and in shaded areas.  A brimmed hat is another great way to further minimize exposure.  And please don’t forget sunscreen on uncovered skin.  It’s much smarter to be safe now, than sorry later.

    This isn’t our first reminder about protecting your eyes from the sun.  Here’s another post we shared on the subject:

    “Keep The Sun Out of Your Eyes”

     

    Group of people all wearing sunglasses
    Group of people wearing sunglasses outside.

    This article was originally posted on Jun 26, 2018 and resurfaced Jun 27, 2021.