Eye HealthLifestyle Topics
EyeSmart Tips
No Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of developing cataracts – quit or avoid smoking to help keep your eyes healthy.
Know Your History
Those with a family history of eye disease are at a greater risk for developing eye diseases or conditions themselves.
Water & Contacts Don’t Mix
To help prevent eye infections, contact lenses should be removed before going swimming or in a hot tub.
It's Not OK to Skip a Day
To control glaucoma, take eye drops exactly as prescribed by your ophthalmologist—your sight depends on it.
Give your Eyes a Break
To prevent computer eyestrain, follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Know Your Eye Care Team
Make sure you are seeing the right eye care provider for your condition or treatment.
Are You Fit at 40?
A baseline eye exam is recommended at age 40, when the signs of disease and change in vision may start to occur.
Follow Us
Eye M.D.s Urge You to Leave Fireworks to the Professionals
Follow these tips for a safe and fun July 4th
The Fourth of July is a favorite American holiday. Yet mishaps with fireworks can make the holiday memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Each July 4th, thousands of Americans are injured using fireworks, and 1,300 people injure their eyes. Eye injuries from fireworks include cuts, burns, abrasions, retinal detachment, optic nerve damage, rupture of the eyeball, and complete blindness. This damage is often permanent.
Young children and teenagers account for more than half of all fireworks injuries in the United States. In one case, a six-year-old boy in San Diego found an M-80 firework in his home and lit it with a barbeque lighter. The explosion resulted in a traumatic injury that impacted the boy's throat, face and eyes. He called 911 for help (mp3 audio) and his eye injuries required an immediate cornea transplant and lens replacement, and he has undergone several additional eye surgeries since then.
"Our eyes are very delicate, so a fireworks accident can be truly devastating," said Dr. Monica Monica, a clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "Unfortunately, many Americans get caught up in the excitement of July 4th, and forget that fireworks are also dangerous explosives. Children are particularly vulnerable to fireworks hazards."
For a safe and fun July 4th celebration, follow these five tips:
- Never let children play with fireworks of any type.
- View fireworks from at least 500 feet away.
- Leave the lighting of fireworks to trained professionals.
- Respect safety barriers that allow pyrotechnicians to do their job safely.
- If you find unexploded fireworks, do not touch them. Immediately contact your local fire or police departments.
If you do experience an eye injury during a fireworks accident, seek immediate medical help.
Be EyeSmart. Enjoy the holiday festivities without putting your loved ones in harm’s way. Find a local July 4th fireworks show in your area. If you cannot attend a fireworks show in your area, consider watching a fireworks video in celebration of Independence Day.
Learn more by watching EyeSmart's fireworks video and listening to a fireworks radio message (mp3 audio). Also available en Espanol (mp3 audio).
