Coronavirus: How eyes may play a role in its spread

Our eyes might play an important role in the spread and prevention of the coronavirus outbreak seen throughout the world. To cut your personal risk of contracting the coronavirus, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. The mucous membranes that line various cavities in the body are most susceptible to transmission of the virus. Patients who have contracted the coronavirus may have ocular symptoms including Conjunctivitis – an inflammation of the membrane covering the eyeball. This is often referred to as “pink eye” and often presents as an infected/red, “wet and weepy” eye. Conjunctivitis is very contagious,…

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May is Ultraviolet Awareness Month

Exposure to UV rays can burn delicate eye tissue and raise the risk of developing cataracts and eye cancer. Sunglasses help. Ultraviolet Awareness The sun releases energy (radiation) in many forms. The sunlight we see is one form. The heat we feel from the sun is another. Ultraviolet (UV) rays, a third type, are also invisible to the eye. UV rays cause sunburn. They can also damage your eyes and hurt your vision. There are two types of UV rays: UV-A and UV-B. Over time, the effects of UV rays may help cause a number of eye problems. UV-A can…

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Focus on Sports Eye Safety

Parents, Teachers and Coaches Can Help Prevent Sports-Related Eye Injuries Parents and coaches play an important role in making sure young athletes protect their eyes and properly gear up for the game. Protective eyewear should be part of any uniform because it plays such an important role in reducing sports-related eye injury. 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. 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 can be…

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Protect Your Eyes at Work

Protect Your Vision in the Workplace to Keep Eyes Healthy As more people of all ages increase the amount of screen time, through computers, tablet devices, smartphones, etc., the risk of digital eye strain also increases. According to a recent report from the Vision Council, “Eyes Overexposed: The Digital Device Dilemma,” nearly nine in 10 adults spend more than two hours each day using a digital device, with one in 10 people spending at least three-fourths of their waking hours on a digital device. Digital Eye Strain is defined as “physical discomfort felt after prolonged exposure to digital screens.” Symptoms…

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What You Need to Know About Toy-related Injuries

Report Shows Increase in Toy-related Injuries Treated in U.S. Emergency Rooms In 2013, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated that hospital emergency rooms across the country treated 265,700 toy-related injuries, compared to 265,000 the year before. And 73 percent of those injuries were to children under the age of 15. In fact, approximately 83,700 were to those under 5 years of age. As with previous years, the most commonly injured part of the body is the head and face area, with the most common injuries being lacerations, contusions, or abrasions. The top three specifically identified toys associated with…

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Avoiding Eye Injuries at Home

Eye Injuries at Home Send Thousands of Adults and Children to the Emergency Room Every Year Most Eye Injures Can Be Prevented Through Safety Practices and the Use of Proper Eye Protection In 2014, more than 193,000 adults and children were treated in hospital emergency rooms in the United States for eye injuries sustained in the home, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Many of the items that were involved in injuries are commonly used in and around the home — cleaning supplies, lawn equipment and power tools. In a recent study, “Age and…

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Children’s Vision & Electronic Devices

Digital Eye Safety Leader Healthe Joins Prevent Blindness to Help Save Children’s Vision Prevent Blindness, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, is pleased to announce the support of Healthe and their EyeSafe™ technologies. Through this new partnership, Healthe will donate a portion of the sales of its EyeSafe products, including protective covers for digital phones, tablets and computer monitors that reduce exposure to harmful digital UV and High-Energy Visible (HEV) blue light emitted from such devices, to Prevent Blindness in support of its children’s eye health programs and resources. According to a recent study, children’s eyes absorb…

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