Protect Yourself and Your Family: Fireworks Eye Safety
The numbers are clear: Fireworks are dangerous and July 4 is an especially risky time for eye injuries.
Fireworks caused 9 deaths and 11,500 injuries in 2021, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s most recent annual fireworks injury report (PDF). Most fireworks injuries happen between mid-June and mid-July.
Fireworks are advertised like toys around the Fourth of July. You may think you know how to handle them safely. But playing with fireworks can blind you or your loved ones, so leave fireworks to the professionals. All users and bystanders should wear eye protection that meets the criteria set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Learn more from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
June is Cataract Awareness Month
A cataract is when your eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. Proteins in your lens break down and cause things to look blurry, hazy or less colorful.
Inside our eyes, we have a natural lens. The lens bends (refracts) light rays that come into the eye to help us see. The lens should be clear, like the top lens in the illustration.
Vision Problems with Cataracts
If you have a cataract, your lens has become cloudy, like the bottom lens in the illustration. It is like looking through a foggy or dusty car windshield. Things look blurry, hazy or less colorful with a cataract.
Cataract Symptoms
Here are some vision changes you may notice if you have a cataract:
- Having blurry vision
- Seeing double or a ghosted image out of the eye with cataract
- Being extra sensitive to light (especially with oncoming headlights at night)
- Having trouble seeing well at night, or needing more light when you read
- Seeing bright colors as faded or yellow instead
If you notice any of these cataract symptoms, call Bedminster Eye & Laser for an appointment: 908-718-2020
Learn more from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Click arrow below to learn “What Is a Cataract?”
Celebrate National Sunglasses Day: How to Pick the Perfect Pair of Sunglasses
June 27 is National Sunglasses Day! Celebrate by picking out the perfect pair of sunglasses:
1. Pick sunglasses with strong UV and light protection
The primary purpose of sunglasses is protecting your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. That means, it’s important to prioritize UV protection in your lenses. Look for lenses with a label that says “100% protection against UVA and UVB” or “UV 400.” For glare reduction on ultra-bright beach and lake days, invest in some polarized sunglasses. These reduce light reflection making it easier to see in bright, shiny environments.
2 Trends are fun, but invest in a pair you’ll wear for more than one season
Maybe don’t splurge on those itty bitty sunglasses all over TikTok, or the giant, plastic ’80s style sunglasses you’ll wear once on the slopes. Get well-fitted sunglasses in a classic style with optical-quality lenses that you will enjoy wearing all year long.
3. Size matters
When it comes to sunglasses, the larger the frame, the more protection you’ll get. “The bigger the better because it offers more protection for the sensitive structures of your eyes as well as on your lids,” says Dr. Le. Small, narrow frames don’t offer as much protection from the sun’s harmful rays as, say, a large aviator. Protect your precious peepers (and eyelids, which can get burnt!), and go a size up.
4. Choose frames that suit your face shape
Your face shape is created by the lines and angles of your key features, like your forehead, cheeks, and chin. This overall shape can play into how your sunglasses fit and look, so take this into account before purchasing.
- Round face: Add some contrast with a frame that has clear, defined angles, like square-shaped sunglasses or a vintage cat-eye frame.
- Square face: Pick sunglass frames that soften your face’s angles, like a ’90s-inspired round shape or a classic aviator.
- Heart-shaped face: Choose a frame that mimics the shape of your face with a wider top and a narrower bottom, such as cat-eye sunglasses or frames with a thick, prominent brow.
- Oval face: You’re in luck. An oval shaped face gets along with just about any frame, so take your pick.
Come to The Optical Shoppe and we’ll ensure your sunglasses are perfect for you!
Call 908-719-2020
Connect with The Optical Shoppe
(908) 719-2020
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Valid through July 31st, 2023
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