Are you still squeezing out the last few days of summer? No matter what summer has looked like for your family during COVID-19, the thought that it is ending soon may not be welcome news. There’s still more time to get in that last lake visit or finish that project in your kid’s room, right? Well, no matter what is left on your list for the summer, it’s imperative that you stay focused on your eye safety and protection. We’ve pulled together a few fun activities that are on our team’s minds this summer and explained why eye safety should be a part of the plan.
Perhaps one of the greatest summertime advancements in recent history is the water balloon tool that fills dozens of water balloons at a time. A close second may be the slew of rapid-fire foam dart weapons on the market. No matter what your family’s favorite battle arena may include, be sure your equipment includes protective eyewear. Water balloons and those small foam darts are notorious for causing unintended, but sometimes permanent damage to the eyes.
Whether you’re hoping to get a distanced day at the pool or a getaway to a nearby lake, throw those goggles in the bag. Goggles are just for the kids though, right? No way! Even though us grown-ups may tough it out and open our eyes underwater for that game of “sharks and minnows,” we shouldn’t. The right pair of goggles can protect your eyes from chemicals in a pool, bacteria in a natural body of water, and the sun’s ultraviolet rays. If you have a prescription, there are even fantastic prescription swim goggle options on the market. Goggles aren’t just for kids any more.
In some parts of the country, sports have started to resume. While it may feel good to you or your child to be back on the field (or pitch or court), remember that there are 100,000 sports-related eye injuries a year in North America. Getting back out there for the first time in a while may be exciting, but bringing your protective eyewear will help keep you on the field throughout the season. If you wear prescription eyewear already, don’t let that give you a false sense of security. Wearing your regular eyewear is actually more likely to lead to injury than wearing nothing in many cases. True protective eyewear must meet rigorous impact standards that regular eyewear doesn’t have to meet.
Get your family ready for end of summer and back to school by scheduling an annual comprehensive eye exam and talk to your eye doctor about all your activities to make sure you have the best eyewear handy to minimize your risk of eye injury.