Protecting Your Eyes Protecting your eyes from injury is one of the most basic things you can do to keep your vision healthy throughout your life, according to experts at Mercy Medical Center—Sioux City. You may be somewhat aware of the possible risks of eye injuries, but are you taking the easiest step of all to prevent 90 percent of those injuries: wearing the proper protective eyewear? If you are not taking this step, you are not alone. According to a recent national survey by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only 35 percent of respondents said they always wear protective eyewear when performing home repairs or maintenance; even fewer do so while playing sports. Eye Injury Facts and Myths • Men are more likely to sustain an eye injury than women and most of those surveyed by the American Academy of Ophthalmology got this right. • Perceptions were off on where most eye injuries occur, however. The persistent belief was that eye injuries are most common on the job and especially in the course of work at factories and construction sites. In fact, nearly half (44.7 percent) of all eye injuries reported during the fifth-annual Eye Injury Snapshot (conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma) occurred in the home. • More than 40 percent of the injuries reported were caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, yardwork, 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 spectacles. For more information about protecting your vision, or for the latest info on other health topics, visit the Mercy Medical Center web site at www.mercysiouxcity.com. Click to Download Protecting your eyes from Mercy Medical

5 tips to keep the eyes healthy 1. Protect your eyes from ultra-violet radiation a. Ultra-violet (UV) radiation damages the eyes by producing free radicals that harm the ocular tissues. i. Yellow spots on the whites of the eyes called Pinguecula or pterygium ii. Red eyes (wind and sun) iii. Cataracts iv. Macular degeneration (age related macular degeneration or ARMD) v. Wrinkles vi. Eye/skin cancer b. Ultra-violet protection prevents the UV radiation from reaching the ocular tissues 2. Eat Healthy a. Diets High in antioxidant vitamins i. Green leafy vegetables (sautéed spinach) ii. Reduce or slow the progression of cataracts and macular degeneration iii. Vitamin C, E, Lutein, zeazanthin, zinc, copper, beta-carotene (vitamin A) 3. Don’t smoke or stop smoking a. Second hand smoke also is a factor b. Increase speed of developing cataracts c. Increased risk of ARMD d. Should not consume beta-carotene due to increased risk of lung cancer 4. Have a yearly physical a. Diabetes, HTN, high-cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, etc… b. Can have blinding effects on the eyes 5. Have your eyes examined yearly a. There are many ocular problems with few symptoms that can cause loss of vision b. If caught early many may be prevented or at least slowed c. Glaucoma, age related macular degeneration, retinal detachments, retinal holes, diabetic retinopathy, tumors, hypertensive retinopathy, etc… Click to Download 5 Tips to keep the Eyes Healthy from Xact Eye Care

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