Published: 18 November 2024

If you were to do a Google news search for sports-related eye injuries today, chances are you'd find multiple recent stories about some pretty scary eye injuries. Whether they are professionals, high school or college athletes, or kids in community sports programs, no one is immune to the increased danger sports brings to the eyes. Here are some facts about sports-related eye injuries: Eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children in the United States and most injuries occurring in school-aged children are sports-related. One-third of the victims of sports-related eye injuries are children. Every 13 minutes, an emergency room in the United States treats a sports-related eye injury. These injuries account for an estimated 100,000 physician visits per year at a cost of more than $175 million. Ninety percent of sports-related eye injuries could be avoided with the use of protective eyewear. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards designed for individual sports. Protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate or Trivex. Ordinary prescription glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses do not protect against eye injuries. Safety goggles should be worn over them. The highest risk sports are: Paintball Baseball Basketball Racquet Sports Boxing and Martial Arts The most common injuries associated with sports are: Abrasions and contusions Detached retinas Corneal lacerations and abrasions Cataracts Hemorrhages Eye loss Protect your vision--or that of your young sports star. Make an appointment with your eye doctor today to discuss protective eyewear for your young athlete! Article contributed by Dr. Brian Wnorowski, M.D.

Published: 10 November 2024

We sometimes get asked, "Why do I need an eye exam when I can see great?" An eye exam doesn't just check your visual acuity--we are also looking for a number of treatable eye diseases that have few or no visual symptoms in their early stages. In fact, the three leading causes of legal blindness in the United States all start with almost no visual symptoms detectable by the person with the disease. These three diseases are macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Each of these diseases gets more prevalent as people age. That is why regular eye exams are recommended to become more frequent as adults get older. Macular Degeneration: The leading cause of legal blindness in the United States is a treatable--but not curable--disease. Early detection and treatment can significantly improve the long-term outcome. In the earliest stages, often when people are unaware that they have a problem, treating the disease with a very specific vitamin regimen called AREDS 2 can help. These vitamins have been shown to slow the progression of the disease and to improve long-term outcomes. When the disease becomes more advanced there is the possibility of bleeding in the retina. If left untreated, that almost always results in severe visual loss. There are now several medications that, when injected into the bleeding eye, can arrest the bleeding and potentially improve vision. Glaucoma: The second leading cause of legal blindness in the United States is often called "the silent thief of sight." With glaucoma, there can be severe damage to the optic nerve before a person recognizes he is having a problem. Usually by the time a person notices symptoms, 70% of the optic nerve is destroyed. As of now, once that damage has occurred it cannot be reversed. This makes early diagnosis absolutely critical to saving your sight. In most cases (but not all) early detection and treatment can preserve functional vision throughout your lifetime. Diabetic Retinopathy: This is another leading cause of legal blindness that has no visual symptoms until the disease is in its advanced stages. Every diabetic should have an annual eye exam to check for signs of retinal disease. If detected and treated in its early stages, the disease can usually be controlled and the vision preserved. As you can see, there are very strong reasons to have your eyes examined regularly in order to keep good visual health and function throughout your lifetime. Article contributed by Dr. Brian Wnorowski, M.D.