June Newsletter

This Month

Sunglasses look cool, but did you know they also offer essential UV protection for your eyes?

Eye Conditions which may develop due to too much UV exposure include:

Corneal damage, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye problems.
Cancers, including eyelid cancers and ocular melanoma.
Pinguecula, which is a yellow bump on the white of the eye.
Pterygium, or “surfer’s eye,” a benign growth that appears in the inner corner of the eye and can grow to cover the cornea.
Photokeratitis, which is like a sunburn on your eye.

That said, not all sunglasses are created equal. Our article offers tips on how to select the right pair to protect your vision during bright summer days.

WELLNESS

Play It Safe: Keeping Eyes Healthy during Sports

Regular exercise is good for your eyes, but sports can come with risks. Remember to wear sunglasses, goggles, or other protective eye wear, and know the signs of eye injury.

Floaters Vs. Flashes: When They’re Normal and When They’re Not

You’ve probably seen little squiggles or dots drifting through your vision when looking at a blank page or up into a clear sky. Our article covers what they mean.

Stay Safe for July 4th

Keep the summer fun.

Eye safety doesn’t set with the sun. Summer nights are often full of fireworks and sparklers, with activity peaking during the weekend of July 4th. For as beautiful as they can be, they also come with their own hazards. Here are our tips for anyone planning to light off a firework or two in the coming months

Wear eye protection.
Keep a bucket of water on hand.
If a firework doesn’t go off, or only partially goes off, soak it thoroughly in water and dispose of it.
Set off fireworks far away from anything flammable.
Make sure any other people and pets are at a safe distance and are paying attention (or, in the case of pets, are under control).
Never light a firework inside a container.

As for sparklers, make sure kids know to handle them carefully. They can cause burns in seconds, and should never be waved around where they might accidentally hit someone.