You can purchase approved solar filters at:
https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters

On Monday, August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will span the United States. The moon will cover at least part of the sun for 2 to 3 hours, with some areas experiencing totality (or complete blockage) for up to 2 minutes 40 seconds. The 2017 Great American Eclipse is noteworthy for its path that makes it visible from most Americans’ backyards; 500 million people across North America will see at least a partial eclipse, yet only about 12 million live within the “path of a totality”. That means it’s especially important for Americans to clearly understand how to safely view the eclipse depending on their location.

“Looking at the sun, even for a short period, without proper protection can cause irreparable eye damage, even permanent eye vision loss,” advises Dr. David P. Nelson, Madison area optometrist and current President of the Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA). “Since Wisconsin is not an area that will experience complete coverage, wearing glasses specifically designed for eclipse viewing is critical.”

Standard sunglasses, regardless of ultraviolet markings, including UVA and UVB, will not provide enough protection for eclipse viewing due to the intensity of the rays.

The sun’s rays may be partially blocked during an eclipse, but the remaining visible rays are still intense enough to cause serious eye damage or even loss of vision. “Eclipse glasses” should have an ISO 12312-2 marking on them to be considered safe for looking at the sun. These glasses should be closely inspected prior to use to ensure the solar filters are free of any scratches or damages. If imperfections are found, the glasses should be discarded. Binoculars, cameras and telescopes should not be used when viewing the eclipse, even if wearing eclipse glasses during use, as these devices can magnify the sun’s rays and negate the effectiveness of the protective eyewear.

“Children should be closely monitored during the eclipse,” explains Dr. Nelson. “Unlike the mature lens found in an adult eye, a child’s lens cannot filter out UV rays as easily, causing damage to the child’s retina. When children play outside, they are often excited and may remove their glasses or their glasses may fall off during activities.”

Overexposure to the sun rays can cause damage to both the front surface of the eye (photokeratitis) and the inside or back of the eye (solar retinopathy).

Symptoms include eye pain, burning or red eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision, difficulty in recognizing shapes, objects’ appearing distorted, headaches, watery eyes, and/or swelling around the eye or eyelid.

“If experiencing any post-exposure symptoms, medical attention should be sought immediately, especially if the condition is worsening with time,” says Dr. Nelson. “Just as with a sunburn, delayed symptoms can also occur several hours after overexposure.”

The best way to monitor eye health, maintain good vision, and keep up-to-date on the latest in developments in vision protection is by scheduling yearly comprehensive eye exams for you and your family.

Purchase approved solar filters online:  https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters

About the Wisconsin Optometric Association

The Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) is a nonprofit affiliation of licensed doctors of optometry and associated businesses dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the vision welfare of the people of Wisconsin. The WOA accomplishes its goals through: education and dissemination of information, organized governmental activity, legislation and regulation, mediation with consumer and public interest groups, and provision of collective benefits to its members. Approximately 640 doctors of optometry are currently members of the WOA, located in nearly every county in the state. All members must be licensed to practice optometry by the State of Wisconsin. For more information, visit WOA’s website at www.woa-eyes.org

Healio (8/2, Sutton) reports a new retrospective study of 275 pediatric patients in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s subspecialty concussion program published in Optometry and Vision Science “determined that the Post Concussion Symptom Scale may be limited in identifying pediatric patients with vision problems after concussion.” In light of their conclusions, researchers said doctors caring for children suffering from a concussion should recognize near point of convergence as a “diagnostic entity and understand its implications for return-to-learn to best support children as they re-enter the academic setting after a concussion.”

Near point of convergence, or NPC, is part of a comprehensive pediatric eye exam.  Remember to share any new or previous eye trauma or head injury information with your eye doctor.  Don’t wait until your annual eye exam to have this looked at!  An immediate dilated pupil exam is recommended after any eye or head injury to not only measure vision function, but also to ensure that internal eye injuries, such as a retinal tear, haven’t occurred.  If you or your child has suffered from an injury and a reduced NPC is found, further evaluation and treatment can be done.

Wear your sports glasses!  Protective impact resistant sports eye wear can reduce the incidence of eye injuries by 90%.  Fashion frames can break on impact and allow injuries to the eye.  Ask your optometrist or optician for eye wear recommendations for your sports and activity level, because polycarbonate lenses alone do not prevent all injuries.

Everyone knows that wearing sports glasses can prevent eye injury.  Sports eyewear can be made with your prescription, or without, like for over contact lenses.  More and more eyewear wore by active people now have impact resistant lenses (polycarbonate or Trivex) to protect their eyes from the effects of shattering lens particles.  Fortunately, it’s been years since actual glass material has been used in eyeglasses because, on impact, glass lenses have caused devastating eye injuries, permanent loss of vision, and loss of entire eyes.

A recent study shows a surprising find related to wearing glasses while playing sports.  Although, as an industry, optometrists are doing a great job getting people into safer lenses, the wearers’ eyeglass frames are now the main cause of injury from eyewear.

When impact resistant lenses are placed into standard eyewear frames, it’s the frames that poke, cut, and bruise our eyes and skin around the eyes.  Medium to high-impact energies exerted from collision with another player, ball, racquet, or bat were cited as the main cause of eye damage.  The best way to protect the eye and the surrounding ocular structures is to couple impact resistant sports goggles with impact resistant lenses.

Play it safe!  Ask your eye doctor or optician to help you find the best-fitting wrap sports eyewear for your lifestyle to protect your precious eyes.

SOURCE: Hoskin AK, Philip S, Dain SJ, Mackey DA. Spectacle-related eye injuries, spectacle-impact performance and eye protection. Clin Exp Optom. 2015;98(3):203-9.

This device has the potential for magnifying central visual acuity and holds promise for people with macular degeneration, as well as for other eye diseases which can result in decreased central vision. Low vision specialists and optometrists will be watching and following this interesting device for progress.

For more information check out:

http://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/new-tech-holds-promise-for-low-vision-patients?sso=y

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/289504.php

Every year, thousands of Americans suffer an eye injury related to playing sports, according to new data from Prevent Blindness.  To help educate the public on the importance of proper eye protection while playing sports, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin has declared September as Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month.

Learn more

By blocking specific color wave intersections as they pass through the lens, ChromaPop is able to eliminate color confusion, so your brain can recognize truer color, faster.  Petrou Eye Care invites you to see the water and the outside world with an unparalleled level of vibrance through Smith Optics sports lenses.  Available in prescription glasses and nonprescription lenses.