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Columbia Eye Clinic

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Sports Eye Protection Prevents Injury

As you prepare your kids to go back to school, don’t overlook adding protective eyewear for sports to their supply list. The information below also applies for adults.

Protective eyewear is not just for kids or adults who wear glasses or contacts. Most sport frames can accommodate both prescription and nonprescription lenses. Likewise, regular eyeglasses do not provide proper eye protection and in some cases can make an injury worse if they shatter.

Different sports pose different levels of risk for eye injury.  Make sure that you’re using the right kind of eye protection for each activity. Sports eye protectors with polycarbonate (shatterproof plastic) lenses should be used for baseball, basketball, football, racquet sports, soccer, hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, and paintball. In baseball, ice hockey and men’s lacrosse, a helmet with a face mask or wire shield that includes polycarbonate, should be worn, too. Choose eye protectors that have been tested to meet the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.

Sport goggles should be properly fitted to the individual wearer. If the frames are too large and don’t fit properly, the amount of protection they provide will be compromised, increasing the risk of eye injury. Frames that are too small can be just as dangerous. Review the fit of your child’s sport goggles each year to ensure that they are still providing proper protection. Make sure the padding inside the sides of the goggle rests flush with the face and the eyes are centered both horizontally and vertically in the lens area. Eye protection should be replaced when damaged or yellowed with age.

If you have an eye injury seek medical care immediately. Delaying medical attention can result in permanent vision loss or blindness.

Ask about sports eye protection for kids and adults in the Optical Shops at any of our three convenient locations.

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Protect Your Eyes from Sun Damage

We all know to put sunscreen on our skin to protect from the sun’s damaging UV rays, but don’t forget your eyes when it comes to protecting yourself from the sun this summer.

Excess sun exposure can put people at risk of short-term and long-term eye problems. If eyes are exposed to strong sunlight for too long without protection, UV rays can burn the cornea. Long-term sun exposure has also been linked to an increased risk of cataracts and cancerous growths on or near the eye.

Here are five things people can do to cut their risk of eye damage from the sun:

  • Wear the right sunglasses – Look for those labeled “UV400” or “100 percent UV protection” when buying sunglasses. Darkness or color doesn’t indicate strength of UV protection. UV rays can go through clouds, so wear sunglasses even on overcast days. Adding polarization can reduce glare coming off of reflective surfaces like water or pavement. It can provide clearer vision for activities like driving or being on the water. And while contacts may offer some benefit, they cannot protect the entire eye area from burning rays.
  • Check your medication labels – One in three adults uses medication that could make the eyes more vulnerable to UV ray damage according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. These include certain antibiotics and birth control pills. Check the labels on your prescriptions to see if they cause photosensitivity. If so, make sure to protect your skin and eyes or avoid sun exposure when possible.
  • Put a lid on it – In addition to shades, consider wearing a hat with broad brim. They have been shown to significantly cut exposure to harmful rays. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
  • Don’t drive without UV eye protection – Don’t assume that car windows are protecting you from UV light. A recent study found that side windows blocked only 71 percent of rays, compared to 96 percent in the windshield. Only 14 percent of side windows provided a high enough level of protection, the researchers found. So when you buckle up, make sure you are wearing glasses or sunglasses with the right UV protection.
  • Don’t stare at the sun – Sun worshippers take note: directly gazing at the sun can burn the retina, the light-sensitive layer of cells in the back of the eye needed for central vision. This condition is called solar retinopathy. While rare, the damage is irreversible.

An associate in our Optical Departments can give you more information about how you can protect your eyes from excess sun exposure.

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