Eye Care Tips

Buckle Up!
Car accidents can cause eye injuries when occupants are hurled forward, hitting the dashboard or windshield.

Check Them Out!
Regular eye exams are very important. More than half of all Americans and nearly three-fourths of all adults need some form of vision correction. Even if you don't notice any change in your vision, you need a regular eye exam to ensure the health of your eyes. It is recommended that children have their first eye exam as early as 3 years of age (unless visual problems are detected earlier, e.g., lack of hand/eye coordination) and every year after that until the age of 16. Adults 16-60 should have an eye exam every 2 years and annually after age 60.

Eat Right!
Did you know that if you eat your vegetables and take a multi-vitamin with anti-oxidants you could protect your vision? A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association states that people whose diet is high in carotenoids, an anti-oxidant found in yellow, orange, and green leafy vegetables, had a 43 percent lower risk of developing advanced stages of age-related macular degeneration. In the same study, researchers found that taking a multi-vitamin may help lower the risk of developing cataracts. Although not all research proves that anti-oxidant-rich vegetables and vitamins prevent certain diseases and vision problems, eating right is not only good for your eyes, but for your overall health. So what do you have to lose?

Flush First!
If your eyes are accidentally splashed with a chemical, flush them immediately then consult an eye doctor. If you are treating yourself, flush them under the shower or with a garden hose. Always use low pressure! If you are assisting someone else, have him/her lie down and, with a clean container, gently pour warm water over the injured eye.

Play Smart!
Severe trauma or injury to the eyes can cause many visual problems, including the development of cataracts and even blindness. People of all ages suffer eye injuries playing sports, ranging from racquetball and tennis to hockey and baseball. Ninety percent of all sports-related eye injuries are avoidable if people would wear safety glasses. So protect your most precious sense, consult your eye doctor today and have him/her prescribe protective eyewear to best suit your needs.

Shade Your Eyes!
Protecting your eyes from UVA and UVB rays is an important year-round commitment. Your exposure to UV Radiation is the greatest between 10AM and 3PM. Your exposure is also influenced by what is around you. Sunlight reflecting off grass will increase UV exposure by 3-5 percent, reflections from water add 3-13 percent, and when there is snow covering the ground, UV exposure is increased by 88-95 percent(ECB,1998). Sunglasses can help protect your eyes. When a person puts on 'dark' sunglasses in very bright light, their pupils become larger. This lets more light into the eye and with it more UV Radiation. As a result, the FDA has mandated standards for UV protective sunglasses. To be FDA approved, lenses must not permit more than 5% UVA and 1% UVB to reach the wearer's eyes. So look for sunglasses that are FDA-approved.

Take A Break!
The growing use of computers has created a new problem: eyestrain. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, more than 60 million Americans suffer from computer-related eyestrain. One of the country's top workplace complaints, computer-related eyestrain causes fatigued and dry eyes, headaches, sinus pain, and blurred or double vision. To help ease the strain, take a break from the computer -- look away for 10 seconds every 10 minutes. Your optometrist can also prescribe computer glasses that will provide relief. A computer-correcting prescription is specific to the distance you sit from your computer. This prescription can be different from your regular lens or contact lens prescription. It will keep your eyes focused comfortably on the computer screen, thus helping to prevent eyestrain.

Wear Protective Eyewear!
People often injure their eyes while performing household chores. More than 6,000 people in 1996, for instance, required emergency treatment for splashing bleach into their eyes. About 13,000 suffered eye injuries while mowing the grass or performing other lawn maintenance chores. Don't risk your eyesight! Wear protective eyewear.