Updates

It’s back to school time, and many vision educational campaigns are looking at vision issues that affect school-aged children.

Safe Vision Texas is dedicating the month of August to looking at several issues on the minds of parents and their children.

Every year, people suffer serious eye injuries from backyard fireworks displays. Most of the victims are children and bystanders located nowhere near the pyrotechnics. As Independence Day nears, Safe Vision Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are working to dispel the myths that put people at risk of blindness.

If you’re like most Americans surveyed in a recent Harris Poll, you probably thought you would notice a change in your vision if you had an eye disease. The fact is some of the leading causes of blindness—such as glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy—can begin without any symptoms. That’s why Safe Vision Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology urge all healthy adults to get an eye exam at age 40, even if their vision seems fine. Early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to happen at this age.

Nearly 30,000 people suffer sports-related eye injuries every year. An astounding 90 percent of these ER visits could have been avoided if the athlete had worn protective eyewear. Even the most low intensity sports activities pose some risk for eye injuries. From basketball to racquetball, from youth leagues to the pros, players need to protect their eyes. As kids begin to resume their favorite sports, Safe Vision Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are reminding the public that the best defense against potentially blinding sports-related injuries is wearing protective eyewear.

Americans are spending more time than ever staring at screens. In honor of March’s designation as Workplace Eye Wellness Month, Safe Vision Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are sharing tips on how to create a comfortable work environment at home and in the office to avoid digital eye strain.

Ophthalmologists. Optometrists. Opticians. Osteopaths. Orthopaedists. Otolaryngologists. Obstetricians. The terms can get confusing, and you could say: “It’s all Greek to me.” (No pun intended.)

But what exactly is an ophthalmologist?

Both supermodel Christie Brinkley and Bono, the lead singer of U2, were diagnosed with glaucoma during routine eye exams. Both were also surprised by the diagnosis since they weren’t experiencing problems with their vision. That’s the sinister nature of glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide: People with glaucoma can lose most of their vision before they experience symptoms. Once vision is lost, it cannot be regained. That’s why Safe Vision Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are urging people over age 40 to get regular eye screenings to protect their good vision.

Ophthalmologists have long cautioned against purchasing toys that pose a danger to children’s eyes. This year, we’re adding digital devices to our usual list of BB guns, Nerf guns and slingshots. That’s because evidence is mounting that too much screen time and not enough time outside may be behind the recent rise in nearsightedness in children. We know reducing screen time has been especially challenging for parents during the pandemic. To help, Safe Vision Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology released a screen-free holiday gift guide focused on healthy kids and healthy eyes. 

Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the United States among adults aged 20 to 74 and is the fifth most common cause of preventable blindness globally. Among the 30 million Americans with diabetes, about one-third have diabetic retinopathy, the potentially blinding complication of diabetes.