Don’t Overlook Eye Safety for Kids and Teens When It Comes to Fall Sports

Lexington, KY, October 07, 2013 --(PR.com)-- You wouldn’t let your son or daughter play soccer without cleats and shin guards. But, did you know sports eyewear is also essential? The National Eye Institute reports that eye injuries are a leading cause of blindness in children. On a positive note: 90% of those eye injuries are totally avoidable (Source: National Eye Institute).

“Sports eyewear is not limited to huge goggles! As a mom and doctor, I want all parents to know about the many eye safety options for kids who play fall sports,” says Dawn Stratton, O.D. and founder of Stratton Eyes. “We work with hundreds of children in our Lexington office and love recommending eyewear options to help them have a safe, winning sports season.”

With a decade in Lexington, Stratton Eyes serves patients in all areas from annual checkups, vision screenings, contact lens fittings and evaluations, to allergy treatments, eye disease care, and pre- and post-surgery procedures. To keep kids safe on the field this fall, Doctors Stratton and Heechung Ko, also a mom, put together this handy guide for parents:

1. Which sports are most common for eye injuries? Sports involving projectiles, sticks or rackets, and close proximity (meaning a child could easily be poked in the eye by another player) tend to be the most dangerous.

2. What are the types of eye injuries that can happen during sports? Corneal abrasions, broken bones and retinal detachments are the most common injuries, all of which can be sight-threatening.

3. What are the protective eyewear options for sports? Choose protective eyewear with wrap-around frames to protect the eyes from all sides. Regular eyeglasses and sunglasses are not strong enough to withstand flying objects and hard blows. Sports frames are constructed of highly impact-resistant plastic and most come with rubber padding to cushion the frame where it comes in contact with the face and nose area.

4. How do I make sure the glasses fit? The normal temptation as a parent is to purchase a larger frame or goggle so that your child has “room to grow.” If the frames are too large and don’t fit properly, the amount of protection they provide will be compromised; increasing the risk of eye injury. Review the fit each year to make sure the padding inside the frame rests flush with your child’s face and the eyes are centered both horizontally and vertically in the lens area.

5. My child was hit in the eye. Should I take them to the emergency room or call an eye doctor? Your eye doctor, if available, is a great first point of contact. In most cases, your eye doctor can treat the injury at the office. If your eye doctor is not able to treat you, they can make arrangements for the appropriate specialist to take care of the injury.

6. How about contact lenses? Should they be worn during sports? At what age can children begin wearing contacts? Contact lenses are a great option for sports. In fact, many times contacts can provide sharper vision than glasses. However, it is still recommended that protective eyewear is worn over the contacts to prevent injuries to the eye. According to a study published by The Ohio State University, children can safely wear contact lenses beginning as early as eight years of age.

Stratton Eyes is the only eye care practice in Central Kentucky that is owned and led by a female doctor. Customers can look forward to:

· 30-minute appointments and no wait time
· Two-year warranty on all frames
· Two-year warranty on lenses with scratch resistant coating
· 30-day prescription accuracy guarantee
· Wide selection of frames that are not found anywhere else in Central Kentucky and the latest, high-tech lenses.

Stratton Eyes is open Mon.-Thurs.: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Appointments may be made by calling 859.245.2020 or emailing office@strattoneyes.com.

About Stratton Eyes: Based in Lexington, Ky., the team at Stratton Eyes strives for excellence in every aspect of the practice from state-of-the-art equipment and quality products to knowledgeable, helpful staff members. With a new location on Wellington Way, more details may be found on www.StrattonEyes.com, by calling 859.245.2020, emailing office@strattoneyes.com, on Facebook.com/StrattonEyes, and on Twitter @StrattonEyes.