Who doesn’t want healthy vision? Who isn’t wearing protective eyewear? More and more Minnesotans, at work and play, are wearing goofy-looking eyewear to prevent eye injuries and protect their eyes.
Experts say protective eyewear can prevent 90 percent of eye injuries.
“The risk of eye injury can vary depending on the activity. Make sure the level of eye protection you or others in your family use is appropriate for the type of activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection,” said Richard Johnston, M.D., president of the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology.
Facts about eye injuries
People believe eye injuries are most common on the job. But, in fact, nearly half of all eye injuries occur in the home, reports the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma.
More than 40 percent of eye injuries are caused by activities like home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. (Think protective eyewear.)
The injuries aren’t confined to the yard and garage. More than a third of injuries in the home occurred in living areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living or family room.
As you might expect, more than 40 percent of eye injuries are related to sports or recreational activities. (Think protective eyewear.)
Men are more likely to sustain an eye injury than women.
Eyes can be damaged by sun exposure, not just chemicals, dust or objects. (Again, protective eyewear)
Among all eye injuries reported, more than 78 percent of people were not wearing eyewear at the time of injury. Of those reported to be wearing eyewear, only 5.3 percent were wearing safety or sports glasses.
If you or someone you know is injured in the eye, have an ophthalmologist or other medical doctor examine the eye as soon as possible, even if the injury seems minor. A serious eye injury is not always immediately obvious. Delaying medical attention can cause the damaged areas to worsen and could result in permanent vision loss or blindness.
In addition to eye exams, consumers are encouraged to learn more about eye health and eye disease. The Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology invites Minnesotans to visitwww.MNEyeMD.org for accurate eye health information.