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Professionals in Eye Care marked its 25th anniversary in September. Pictured from left are Optometrist Dr. Melissa Ball, Administrative Assistant Mindy McIntyre, Ophthalmic Tech Cassidy Reed, and Lab Tech Cami Parman. | PHOTO BY MADISON NANTZ
serious ordeal.”
Long-term consequences are a reality for many patients. Ball frequently sees recurrent corneal erosion, a condition where an old scratch never fully heals and can reopen years later. Blunt trauma can silently raise the risk of glaucoma for life. Even patients who recover from fireworks accidents or sports injuries are often left more vulnerable to complications down the road.
The good news is that eye protection is simple and affordable. ANSI-certified safety glasses, labeled to meet national standards, can cost as little as $ 7 at a hardware store and still provide excellent protection. For high-risk tasks such as grinding metal, sealed eyewear is best to eliminate gaps.
When it comes to sunglasses, Ball stresses that even inexpensive pairs can be effective if they clearly state 100 % UVA and UVB protection.
“ One of the most common things I see is people working in their yard or on a car without wearing safety glasses. It happens all the time, and it’ s preventable.”
“ You don’ t have to spend a fortune,” she said.“ Even dollar-store glasses can give you good UV protection if they’ re labeled correctly.”
However, while cheaper options can block ultraviolet( UV) radiation, more expensive ones often provide better optics and clarity. Ultraviolet can damage the eye’ s surface tissues, cornea, and lens, as the radiation“ burns” the corneal epithelium, and can cause degenerative changes and even cancer over time.
Sun exposure itself is a long-term threat to vision. Cataracts, which Ball describes as so common she considers them normal, are strongly linked to UV rays.
“ Almost everybody eventually gets cataracts, and one of the main causes is UV exposure,” she said.“ Unfortunately, most of the worst exposure happens before the age of 12. By the time we’ re smart enough to be thinking about it, a lot of the damage has already been done. Parents really need to get their kids into sunglasses early.”
As Eye Injury Prevention Month approaches in October, Ball hopes people will pause to consider how easily vision can be lost, and how simple steps can protect it. A pair of safety glasses, properly chosen sports eyewear, or sunglasses for a child may seem like small choices, but they can mean the difference between healthy sight and a lifetime of complications.