Topic of the Month

September is Sports Safety Month 

Shin guards for soccer. Shoulder pads for football. Batting helmets for baseball and softball. Almost every sport has its own unique safety equipment. But according Dr. Ryan Nelson, Therapeutic Optometrist, most participants in sports forget to protect one of the most important parts of the body: the eyes.

"Every year, more than 40,000 people suffer injuries to the eyes while playing sports," Dr. Nelson said.  "Most of these could be avoided by wearing proper eye protection.”

“Protective sports eyewear can help prevent injuries such as fracture of the eye socket, scratched corneas, swollen retinas and even cataracts caused by trauma to the eye,” Dr. Nelson said. Parents of children who participate in sports should consider protective eyewear as essential as the faceguard on a football or baseball helmet.

"September is Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month," Dr. Nelson said. "And we encourage anyone who participates in sports – children and adults alike – to remember to outfit the eyes for safety. Today's protective eyewear is lightweight, comfortable and available with our without vision correction."

Make an appointment at Iowa EyeCare today to find out how we can help keep your eyes safe.

Dr. Nelson is member of Vision Source, the nation's number one network of private practice optometrists. Founded in 1991, The Vision Source network includes more than 1,800 offices in all 50 states and in Canada.