Vision & Voice
Why should eye care
professionals promote the use
of protective eyewear for
sports and activities?
“As primary eye care
providers, optometrists need to
be constant advocates for their
patients, and this includes
promoting the best options for
protective eyewear for sports
and activities. Maintaining
healthy eyes and clear vision is
the goal at all times. Whether
it be during a fast-paced badminton game,
working in the garage shop or lying poolside,
there is an eyewear solution to keep eyes
healthy and safe.”
Dr. Kirsten North, Canadian Association of
Optometrists, Policy Consultant.
“Eye care professionals should promote the use of
protective eyewear for sports and activities because
they are the trusted eye experts. Patients look to
their eye care provider for guidance on how to best
protect their eyes. Eye care providers can help convey
the importance of protective eyewear during their
patients’ annual comprehensive eye exam, making
sure to note that the protection comes not only from
shielding the eyes from physical injury, but also
from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays for outdoor
activities.”
“As eye care professionals, our job first and
foremost is the promotion and education of eye
health and safety. Eye injuries related to sports
Dr. Justin Bazan, Optometrist and Medical Adviser
are very common and protective eyewear is the
to The Vision Council.
best prevention of these injuries. As eye
care professionals, not only are we in
the ideal position to promote protective
“Especially in the case of fishing and other water sports where
eye care use, we would be negligent
the reflection of light is magnified, enthusiasts should look for
in not strongly recommending them
sunglasses that absorb harmful shortwave high-energy blue
for any sport or activity with a risk
light to provide the best eye protection from ocular diseases.
of injury from blunt force trauma,
Additionally, sunglass lenses may have additional features
corneal abrasion among others.”
that improve performance.”
Sandi Williamson, RO, Alberta
John Sanchez, Vice President of Product Development, Costa.
College and Association of Opticians.
8 Optical Prism | April 2019