Protect Your Vision this Summer with Simple Eye Safety Tips
June 3, 2009 (Louisville, KY) - Summer is here and we all know about the damage the sun can cause to our skin but it can be equally harmful to our eyes. It is important that you protect your eyes while enjoying the outdoors whether you’re at the pool, working in the yard or out playing golf.
Following these helpful tips from Dr. Randall Noblitt of the John-Kenyon American Eye Institute will keep your eyes safe and healthy when taking part in any summer activity.
Protect Your Eyes from the Sun – Ultra-violet light produced by the sun can damage the cornea, lens and retina. Wearing sunglasses can protect you from these harmful rays. Make sure your sunglasses have both UVA and UVB protection before going out in the sun. This will help prevent eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration – both of which can cause a loss of vision.
What to look for when shopping for sunglasses:
- UVA & UVB Protection
- Wrap around styles – keep debris and wind from reaching the eyes.
- Polarized Lenses - reduce glare from the water or large flat surfaces.
- Brown or amber colored lenses - have been shown to reduce deep blue light that is believed to be a cause of macular degeneration.
Wear Protective Glasses in Your Lawn & Garden – When working in your lawn or garden it is especially important to protect your eyes. Throughout the summer the number of patients with injuries, ranging from people poking themselves in the eyes with plant branches to rocks thrown by lawn mowers and weed eaters, increases. Anytime you are working around power lawn-equipment, whether you are the operator or not, you should wear eye protection. You can purchase protective glasses at hardware stores or home improvement centers.
Wear Protective Eyewear When Playing Sports – Sports related eye injuries increase during the summer months. Small objects traveling at a high rate of speed (like baseballs, golf balls, tennis balls, etc.) can cause severe damage to the eye. Although not mandatory for many sports, protective eyewear is recommended. Most high-quality sunglasses provide enough protection when taking part in summertime sports activities.
Dr. Randall L. Noblitt is an accomplished optometrist specializing in comprehensive eye care. He has practiced for more than 20 years and is also actively involved in optometric education. Dr. Noblitt supervises students from Southern College of Optometry, Indiana University School of Optometry, Waterloo School of Optometry and the Pacific University School of Optometry.
In 1987, Dr. Noblitt completed a fellowship at Omni Eye Services becoming one of less than 10 percent of ODs to complete a post-graduate fellowship. He is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Optometry, performed internships with Omni Eye Services in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Omaha, Neb., and is a member of the Indiana, Kentucky and American Optometric Associations. Dr. Noblitt is past president of the Southeast Society of the Indiana Optometric Association.