Score Big on Safety

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As a parent you do your best to protect your children. They eat their veggies, get plenty of rest and wear a helmet when they ride their bicycle. But what about protecting their eyes?

Now that your kids are out of school for the summer, they will be taking part in a wide range of sports and outdoor activities. Eye injuries can be devastating. Basketball, for instance, is one of the leading causes of injuries because of blows from fingers and elbows.

As well as abrasions of the cornea, sports injuries can include internal bleeding and retinal detachments which can lead to serious vision loss. Patients who have sustained eye injuries are also at a greater risk for developing glaucoma at some point in their life.

Student athletes of all ages need to wear sport-specific protective eye wear that’s been properly fitted by an eye care professional.

Eyeglass lenses made from polycarbonate materials provide the greatest level of impact protection and can withstand shattering or cracking when hit by a ball or other projectile traveling at high speeds.  

Properly fitted protective eye wear won’t hurt athletic performance and may save your child’s sight. Even if the school or sports league doesn’t require eye protection, parents need to ensure their children wear eye protection at all times.

Parents – don’t slow your children down. Instead, help them understand the importance of eye safety while they dribble, pitch, swing, kick or spike. They can have fun and stay safe!

Summer time, any time

Summer break is the perfect time to bring your children in for a thorough eye examination. It’s never too early. Even if your child doesn’t display any signs of vision trouble, the Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends infants have their first eye exam by the end of their first year, and toddlers by age three. Early diagnosis of a vision development disorder will allow for early intervention.

 

Book your annual eye exam with a Doctor of Optometry at
eye-bar optical in Sherwood Park Today. 

This article is courtesy of Eye Recommend: eye-bar optometrists, opticians & eyewear specialists is a member of Eye Recommend, Canada's Vision Care Professionals, helping doctors help their patients since 1997. We are proud to be able to help Canadians attain optimal eye health.

Is vision impacting your athletic performance?

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"Watch your man!""Keep your eye on the ball!"

Sound familiar?  That’s because so much of your success at sports can be attributed to your ability to see and react quickly to objects or people coming your way. A large percentage of athletes have an undetected refractive error (i.e. nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism). By correcting even small amounts of blur, you can maximize your performance on the sports field. Even slight visual blur decreases performance by up to 25 percent.

Could your eyewear sustain a hard hit?
 Eyeglasses made for street or office wear are not made to the same protective standards as safety eyewear and will probably not hold up under impact. Eyeglass lenses that are not safety-rated could shatter, causing serious eye injuries.

Get the vision you need to perform. Optometrists at eye-bar will help you correct blur, reduce glare, enhance depth perception, and protect your eyes from injury. Our opticians will set you up with all the protective lenses or safety eyewear you need, too.

*Images found here and here.

Motorcycle Approved Eyewear

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eye-bar carries and has access to the complete line of motorcycle approved sunglasses and goggles by Wiley-X. Wiley-X specializes in ballistic grade eyewear and clothing and is a leading supplier of motorcycle eyewear. The Wiley-X lenses and frames are made from impact resistant materials that meet the ANSI Z87.1 and Z80.3 optical standards. The Wiley-X brand is trusted in the safety eyewear industry and is used extensively by Suncor Energy in its Fort-McMurray operations to protect the vision of its employees. Many Wiley-X styles include a wrap around design, with replaceable foam gasket inserts. These replaceable gaskets help to reduce irritation from wind, dust, debris and peripheral glare. Many of the Wiley-X motorcycle collection eyewear pieces are available in both prescription and non-prescription styles.

To experience the Wiley-X high velocity protection eyewear collection visit eye-bar in Sherwood Park. While you’re there, you can also book your next eye exam or contact lens fitting with one of our eye-bar optometrists, to ensure that you see all the potholes and obstacles on the road this motorcycle season. 

Cracked Windshield?

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Over time our cars windshield can become pitted, scratched, and cracked (most Albertans know this first hand). We all know that a cracked windshield on our car can compromise the structural integrity and can potentially jeopardize our safety in the case of an accident.

But you might be surprised to know that a scratch or a crack on your safety eyewear can also compromises their structural integrity. Scratches on the surface of your lenses act like score lines, and reduce the overall ability of the lenses to protect your eyes. Scratch, cracked or pitted lenses also reduce your vision, further increasing the chance of an eye injury. So similar to your cars windshield, your safety eyewear needs to be inspected regularly for subtle wear and tear signs.

To fix or replace your cars windshield please visit one of Sherwood Parks local auto glass stores. To fix or replace your safety eyeglasses, please visit one of the expert opticians at eye-bar.

eye-bar stocks a large selection of safety eyewear from UVEX, On-Guard and the all new Wiley-X.

eye-bar optometry in Sherwood Park - Eye Exams, Contact Lenses, Emergency Visits & Ophthalmology Referrals

Safety Glasses

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If you work with power tools of any kind, from saws to sanders, you need protective eyewear. Even when using a hammer, it’s a good idea to wear safety glasses for the odd time when a glancing blow sends a nail flying. Ideally, your safety eyewear should include side shields to prevent debris from hitting your eyes from the side.

Protective eyewear can be as simple and inexpensive as a pair of goggles or shields that fit over your own glasses. These can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement store. However, if you work with power tools a lot, you may wish to invest in a pair of specially fitted safety glasses made with polycarbonate lenses. These can be made by your eye care professional. They can even incorporate your own prescription to give you clear, comfortable vision as well as safety.

To qualify as true safety glasses, the frame and lenses must pass a strict set of criteria set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) known as ANSI standards or the Canadian CSA Z94.3 safety standard. The frames must be sturdier than standard “dress” eyeglass frames and the lenses must pass a “drop ball” test. In this test, a small metal ball is dropped onto the lens from a specified height. The lens must survive impact without any chipping or cracking.

If your work requires using power tools or machinery, or if you work in an area with any kind airborne particles or noxious chemicals, your employer needs to provide safety eyewear for you. They may even provide prescription safety glasses for you, so be sure to check with your employer. But no matter what type of protective eyewear you choose, the most important thing is that you wear it!

 

eye-bar optical - eyeglasses, sunglasses and safety eyewear