Grant provides students with safety eyeglasses

November 4, 2009

The Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), the Ohio Ophthalmological Society, and the Ohio Department of Health Save Our Sight Fund have worked together to provide safety eyeglasses and accompanying instructions to students and teachers at Ohio schools, The Coshocton Tribune reports.

The safety eyeglasses will be used in Building Trades, Electronics, Natural Resources, Automotive Technology and Health Careers programs at the school, though the program strives to be an advocate for eye safety in all settings.

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), thousands of Americans of all ages suffer sports-related eye injures every year because they were not wearing protective eyewear.

"Eye protection should be of major concern to all athletes, especially in certain high-risk sports," said Dr. Paul Berman, AOA optometrist and Sports Vision Specialist. "Every thirteen minutes an emergency room in the United States treats a sports related eye injury and nearly all could be prevented by using the proper protective eyewear."

The AOA recommends that athletes wear shatter-proof eyewear that will both guard against injuries and ultra-violet light. Athletes might also benefit from lenses that enhance their depth perception.

Those who wear contact lenses should look for safety eyeglasses that offer relief from extreme weather conditions such as cold, dry conditions or extreme heat and glare.