Sports, Hobbies, and Eye Safety
Experts agree that up to 90 percent of eye injuries could be prevented if everyone wore the proper protective eyewear during sports, at work and whenever eye safety could be compromised.
If you have astigmatism, you probably already wear eyeglasses. If so, protecting your eyes during sports, hobbies and work is as simple as getting a second pair of glasses: prescription safety glasses made with your current eyeglasses prescription.
If you wear contact lenses for astigmatism for sports and recreational activities, then you should invest in protective, nonprescription sports eyewear to wear over your contacts during outdoor and sporting activities.
It doesn't matter if you are a professional athlete or an amateur "weekend warrior," anyone can sustain a sports-related eye injury. Depending on your sport or activity, your eye care professional might recommend wraparound-style sports eyeglasses or safety goggles for extra eye protection.
For skiing and snowboarding, protective ski goggles are available with interchangeable lenses with different tints to maximize visibility in changing weather and ambient lighting. This way, you can take spare lenses with you and change them on the slopes for maximum visibility when conditions change.
Many sports glasses also are available with photochromic lenses that have tints that adjust automatically to changing lighting conditions.
For hunting and target practice, special shooting glasses are available with protective polycarbonate lenses that have yellow or amber lenses to improve contrast and visibility.
When working with power tools on the job or at home — including for yard work — safety glasses or safety goggles are essential to protect your eyes from flying debris.
If you experience sudden eye pain when working with power tools, it's likely an airborne particle of some sort has caused an abrasion to the front surface of your eye or the particle has become embedded in your cornea. See your eye doctor immediately, because a corneal foreign body that is not removed promptly can cause a serious eye infection or even a corneal ulcer.
Taking care of your eyes by wearing the proper protective eyewear is one of the best things you can do to insure a lifetime of good vision — and avoid unnecessary trips to your local hospital emergency room!
For more information about eyewear and eye care, visit AllAboutVision.com.