October is Eye Injury Prevention Month, Lake Nona Eye Care and the American Academy of Ophthalmology want to bring awareness of the importance of protecting your eyes. According to a recent national survey, only 35% said of the people polled routinely wear protective eye wear when making home repairs and even few protect their eyes when playing sports. The fact is, 90% of eye injuries could have been avoided just by wearing protective eyewear.
If you have suffered from an eye injury, even if it seems minor, it is vital to see a doctor as soon as possible. You only get one set of eyes, it is worth protecting them and taking good care of them.
Eye Injury Facts and Myths from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Men are more likely to sustain an eye injury than women.
Most people believe that eye injuries are most common on the job — especially in the course of work at factories and construction sites. But, in fact, nearly half (44.7 percent) of all eye injuries occurred in the home, as reported during the fifth-annual Eye Injury Snapshot (conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma).
More than 40 percent of eye injuries reported in the Eye Injury Snapshot were caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. More than a third (34.2 percent) of injuries in the home occurred in living areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living or family room.
More than 40 percent of eye injuries every year are related to sports or recreational activities.
Eyes can be damaged by sun exposure, not just chemicals, dust or objects.
Among all eye injuries reported in the Eye Injury Snapshot, more than 78 percent of people were not wearing eyewear at the time of injury. Of those reported to be wearing eyewear of some sort at the time of injury (including glasses or contact lenses), only 5.3 percent were wearing safety or sports glasses.
When it comes to your vision, the best approach is to be proactive. Protecting your eyes is vital to healthy eyes, so is having annual eye exams, they can also reveal much more than just vision issues, such as high blood pressure, infections, inflammations, diabetes and much more.
Catching issues early is an important key to everyone’s long-term vision health. Dr. Ward and the Vision Team at Lake Nona Eye Care provides a comprehensive eye examination in a positive, relaxed environment for children and adults, ages 5 and up.