​  Focus  of  the  Month
July:  eye  injury  prevention  month!

July is Eye injury Prevention Month!
Of the approximately one million eye injuries in the United States each year, health experts say that 90% are preventable. The leading causes of eye injury are sports accidents, fireworks, yard and workshop debris and household chemicals. Lawn mowers, weed trimmers and leaf blowers can throw dust and debris into the eye causing injury. Household chemicals such as drain cleaners, bleach, and oven cleaners can splash into the eye. Believe it or not, you can even get a sunburn on your eyes!

To prevent these injuries it is important to wear the appropriate safety equipment.

Safety goggles should be worn when you are working with chemicals, playing sports, working in a garage, or when doing outdoor chores.  Many safety glasses come with side shields to help prevent injury coming from the sides as well.
Sunglasses should be worn any time you step outside. Polarized sunglasses are the best choice, and styles that wrap around the temples will give you more protection from the sun. Studies show that exposure to bright sunlight may increase the risk of developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and growths on the eye, including cancer.