April is Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month and protecting your eyes is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. You may be aware of the possible risks of eye injuries, but are you taking the necessary steps to prevent these injuries?
According to a national survey by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only 35 percent of respondents said they always wear protective eyewear when performing home repairs or maintenance; even fewer do so while playing sports.
Every year 100,000 Americans suffer eye injuries during sports and recreation; 42,000 requiring emergency room treatment. The good news is 90% of these injuries could be prevented with the use of the protective eyewear.
Even though most eye injuries are preventable, most sports organizations do not require participants to wear eye protection. For example, a sport like Racquet Ball, in which the ball used is very hard, can easily cause damage to the eye if the proper eyewear is not worn. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the participant, parent, or coach to require the players to wear the appropriate eye protection.
One common mistake is assuming regular eyeglasses can serve as protective eyewear. Regular eyeglasses can increase the risk of serious damage to the eyes, and if broken can actually puncture the eye and surrounding tissue. It is important to have eyewear that is designed specifically for sports. Our optical Boutique can create eyewear designed just for sports like Golf and Skiing using your prescription.
As mentioned above, ninety percent of sports related eye injuries can be prevented with the use of protective eyewear including, safety glasses and goggles, but it is up to the participant to take the necessary precautions. Do yourself a favor, and remember to always have protective eyewear on hand for any activities that could harm your vision!
April is Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month spread the word and help others take the necessary steps to protect their vision! Visit Scottsdale Eye Optical Boutique, located in our office, to get information about prescription eye protection or call 480-994-1872 to make an appointment!