protective eyewear – TP Mechanical Blog

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by HORAN

Eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children, and most eye injuries incurred by those ages 11 to 14 happen while they are playing sports. Every 13 minutes, an emergency room in the United States treats a sports-related eye injury. Of the estimated 2 million Americans who sustain eye injuries each year, approximately 40,000 will go on to be considered legally blind in the injured eye.

August is “Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month.” This is not only a good time to get your child’s eyes checked before school starts, but it is also a good time to ensure that they are protecting their eyes while playing sports.

Many youth sports teams don’t require eye protection, so parents should insist that their children wear safety glasses or goggles when playing. Parents can also set a good example by wearing protective eyewear themselves. The following graphic shows the type of protective eyewear that should be worn while playing popular sports.

Eyewear_Gear

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by HORAN

February is Low Vision Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of taking care of your eyes and catching problems before you lose vision. Aside from annual eye exams, you can protect your eyes on a daily basis with a few healthy choices.

Eat right. Eating a healthy diet is as important for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. A few foods that are especially good for eye health include vegetables such as spinach, kale and collard greens, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and tuna.

Put on protective eyewear. Protect your eyes from the glare of the sun with sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB radiation, and wear protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses when engaging in activities that could harm your eyes, such as when using power tools or chemicals or when playing certain sports.

Rest your eyes. Reading, looking at an electronic screen or focusing at a short distance for an extended period can cause eyestrain. Avoid eye fatigue by glancing away from your work at least every 20 minutes.