June: Cataract Awareness Month & Fireworks Eye Safety
June is widely recognized as Cataract Awareness Month, dedicated to educating the public on the leading cause of treatable vision loss. It highlights the importance of comprehensive eye exams for detecting cataracts, which affect over 25 million Americans age 40 and older. Additionally, June focuses on fireworks eye safety and overall vision health.
* Key Focus Areas for Cataract:
Cataract Awareness: June aims to educate on the symptoms of cataracts—cloudy, blurry vision, or poor night vision—which affect over 50% of Americans by age 80.
Preventative Eye Care: Early detection through regular eye exams is emphasized as the primary way to manage cataract development.
Diet and Lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy diet rich in vitamins (such as vitamin C) is recommended to slow the progression of cataracts.
* Safety and Protection: The Fourth of July celebration is coming. June is also used to promote eye safety regarding fireworks and to encourage the use of protective eyewear to prevent injuries.
Recommended Protective Eyewear: Standard sunglasses or prescription glasses are not enough to protect against high-speed shrapnel or intense heat. You should look for eyewear that meets ANSI Z87.1 standards for impact resistance.
Fireworks Eye Safety Tips
Keep Your Distance: Spectators should stay at least 500 feet away from professional displays. For consumer fireworks, maintain a distance of at least 50 feet.
Skip the Sparklers: Though often given to children, sparklers burn at nearly 2,000°F, which is hot enough to melt glass and cause third-degree burns.
Don't Relight Duds: If a firework fails to ignite, do not approach it. Wait 20 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water before disposal.
Supervise Bystanders: Approximately 65% of those injured by fireworks are innocent bystanders, not the people lighting them.
First Aid for Eye Injuries
If an injury occurs, treat it as a medical emergency and seek immediate care at an ER or from an eye specialist.
DO NOT rub or rinse the eye.
DO NOT apply pressure or ointments.
DO NOT remove any objects stuck in the eye.
DO gently protect the eye by covering it with a rigid shield, like the bottom of a paper cup, until you reach a doctor.
Please download below an information sheet for “Fireworks Safety” from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
