Eyes are so easy to injure … but the good news is that they are also so easy to protect.
While April is Sports Eye Safety Month, it’s a good time to remind all of us (sports enthusiasts or not) it doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult to prevent injuries to your eyes.
Just keep in mind four of our favorite, everyday eye-safety tips.
- Wear eye protection.
Whether you are on the job or in the elements, your delicate eyes need protection from environmental conditions. At the job site, wear rugged safety goggles to keep flying dust, debris and contaminants from causing irritation and injury.
Eye damage doesn’t only happen at the workplace, though. Overexposure to harmful ultraviolet light is no day at the beach either. In the short term intense sunlight, laser lights and other bright lights directly in the eyes can lead to a temporary but painful condition called photokeratitis. Photokeratitis is characterized by pain, redness, tearing, blurry vision, light sensitivity and sometimes temporary blindness.
To protect your eyes from day-to-day UV damage, wear dark, UV-blocking sunglasses for all outdoor time, even in winter. This not only prevents short-term discomfort but reduces the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration over time.
- Do not rub!
Rubbing is one of the worst things you can do to your eyes – and one of the easiest habits to fall into. Eye-rubbing can easily cause microscopic damage to the delicate tissues of the eye, which can lead to blurry vision and, sometimes, more serious injury. When you rub your eyes, you can also inadvertently introduce contaminants and contagions that can lead to dangerous infections.
To reduce your urge to rub, keep your eyes comfortable with soothing eye drops to relieve dryness or itchiness. When necessary, use a warm, wet washcloth as a compress to ease the irritation that would normally cause you to rub your eyes.
- Wear only prescription eyewear … and use it properly.
It is important not to put anything in your eyes that wasn’t prescribed or approved by an eye doctor who is familiar with your visual history. Additionally, only use contact lenses as directed by your eye doctor and the manufacturer. Change daily lenses daily, toss weekly contacts weekly, etc., and use ophthalmologist-approved cleaning solutions and supplies as directed.
- Catch dangerous eye diseases early.
Many people who develop potentially sight-stealing eye diseases are unaware of the condition until it’s too late to prevent damage. One of the most effective ways to reduce your own risk of irreparable vision loss is by screening for them in an annual eye examination.
The doctors and technicians at Eye Specialty Group use state-of-the-art imaging technology to identify the earliest, pre-symptomatic signs of eye diseases while they are still treatable:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
Has it been a while since you have had an eye exam? Call Eye Specialty Group at (901) 685-2200 or request an appointment online to get the care you need.
ABOUT EYE SPECIALTY GROUP
Eye Specialty Group offers patients a wide range of vision services, from specialized glaucoma treatment, laser cataract surgery and retina surgery to LASIK and eye reconstructive surgery. Vision correction procedures include Blade-Free iLASIK, PRK, Implantable Contact Lenses, Clear Lens Exchange and Blade-Free Laser Cataract surgery with Lifestyle IOLs. Our dedicated and caring professionals are here to provide the best possible care to you and your family. Contact us at (901) 685-2200 or visit us online at EyeSpecialtyGroup.com.
