Make Sure Protective Eyewear is on Your Holiday Shopping List: Use FSA Funds before they expire!
In the beloved holiday movie, A Christmas Story, Ralphie attempts to convince his parents and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect Christmas gift. They all reject his pleas with the same warning: "You'll shoot your eye out." While you may not literally shoot your eye out, a new study in Ophthalmology Retina – a journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology – shows that BB and pellet guns do blind children every year.
And, the number of eye injuries related to such non-powder guns are increasing at an alarming rate. Another study published earlier this year showed an increase of almost 170 percent over the last 23 years. If toy guns are on your shopping list, Regional Eye Associates and the American Academy of Ophthalmology urge you to also give the gift of protective eyewear. Protective eyewear and proper guidance make BB, pellet and paintball gun activities safer for children.
To prevent eye injuries, ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – share the following tips.
-
Know what to do (and what not to) if an eye injury occurs. Seek immediate medical attention from an ophthalmologist. As you wait for medical help, make sure to never to touch, rub, apply pressure, or try to remove any object stuck in the eye. If an eye injury occurs, follow these important care and treatment guidelines.
“Ophthalmologists see firsthand the devastating damage toy guns can inflict on the eyes; children are blinded,” said Dianna Seldomridge, M.D., MBA, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “The good news is, most of these injuries are avoidable. Protective eyewear and adult supervision make non-powder gun activities much safer for children. If you can’t resist the Ralphies in your life, buy protective eyewear.”
To learn more ways to keep your eyes healthy, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart® website.
Dr. Miano and Dr. Goel are board-certified comprehensive ophthalmologists. Dr. Miano and Dr. Goel are available to evaluate overall eye health and discuss treatment options for common ophthalmic conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, and dry eye.
Call 856-795-8787 to schedule an office visit or telemedicine consultation.
Use FSA Funds before they expire!
Don’t let your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) dollars go to waste! Use them on prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses and more.
Our Optical Shop is also open by appointment. Call 856-795-8564 to schedule a time with our opticians.
The photos in our newsletter are from aao.org and Unsplash. With thanks to Jamie Coupaud (Happy Holidays), wilson montoya (safety glasses), Kolby Milton (nerf toy), David Travis (eyechart), and CHUTTERSNAP (glasses).
|
