by Robert Haverly | Jun 23, 2024 | Blog, Eye Health, News
Fireworks pose significant dangers, despite their thrilling and spectacular displays. Many fireworks are advertised as toys, but they can cause serious harm, including blindness. In 2022, the U.S. alone saw 11 deaths and over 10,200 serious injuries due to fireworks, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Keeping your eyes safe around fireworks is very important.
Most injures occur to bystanders
Shockingly, 65% of those injured were bystanders, not directly handling fireworks. The risks peak during summer, with most injuries occurring from mid-June to mid-July.
To stay safe, it’s a good idea to leave fireworks to professionals this year. For those attending shows, wearing eye protection that meets ANSI standards is crucial. This way, you can enjoy the fireworks without risking your eyesight and keeping your eyes safe around fireworks.
Legal fireworks can be dangerous
Even legal fireworks can be hazardous, often containing modified fuses or banned chemicals. Sparklers, which are thought to be safe, burn at over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and were responsible for 600 injuries in the latest report. Children are particularly vulnerable, with those under 15 comprising a third of all injuries. It’s important to supervise children closely around any type of fireworks.
Fireworks mishaps can lead to severe eye injuries, necessitating immediate medical attention. Despite precautions, equipment flaws and misfires contribute to injuries and fatalities annually. If a firework does not go off as expected, never attempt to relight it. Keeping your eyes safe around fireworks means staying alert and cautious.
Safety Tips
To ensure safety, experts recommend attending professional shows rather than handling fireworks at home. For those opting to use consumer fireworks where legal, strict adherence to safety guidelines is essential. These include keeping children away, using fireworks outdoors, and never attempting to relight malfunctioning fireworks. Always have a bucket of water or a hose nearby in case of emergencies.
Fireworks injuries are preventable with caution and proper safety measures, ensuring celebrations remain joyful without tragic consequences. Keeping your eyes safe around fireworks is a big part of this. Wearing protective eyewear, staying at a safe distance, and leaving the big displays to the professionals can help everyone have a fun and safe holiday.
By following these safety tips, you can enjoy the beauty of fireworks while keeping yourself and others safe. Remember, safety first ensures a happy celebration for all!
https://www.erielasereye.com/preventing-eye-injuries-around-fireworks/
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/fireworks-aerial-sparkler-accident-eye-injury
by Robert Haverly | May 3, 2024 | News
Listen to Dr. Haverly on Erie Talk radio discuss LASIK and cataract surgery live (recording). Interviewed by Joel Natalie on the Joel Natalie Show.
Some of the key points discussed regarding LASIK and cataract surgery on Erie Talk radio are listed below:
https://www.facebook.com/talkerie/videos/41314672487234
https://www.erielasereye.com/our-services-lasik-eye-surgery/lasik-prk-eye-surgery/
by Robert Haverly | Apr 9, 2024 | News
Pickleball Is Super Popular!
The number of people playing has gone up a lot, by more than 150% in just three years. I really like playing pickleball, but more people getting into it means more injuries are happening. Usually, people think of getting hurt with twisted ankles or broken bones in pickleball. But now, there’s another worry: eye injuries are becoming more common.
Pickleball is a mix of table tennis, tennis, and badminton. You play on a smaller court with paddles and a plastic ball with holes in it. You usually play with four people, two on each team.
Risk of Injury
Because the game moves fast and the ball is small, there’s a bigger chance of hurting your eyes. The ball can fly really fast, and since players are so close together, accidents can happen. With newer and better paddles, the balls can fly up to 90 miles per hour. Sometimes, paddles hit the ball into someone’s face, or players bump into each other, making it more likely to hurt someone’s eyes.
Big-name people like Michelle Pfeiffer and Savannah Guthrie have talked about getting hurt playing pickleball, which shows how serious it can be. Even though we don’t have a lot of official data on eye injuries from pickleball yet, doctors are starting to talk about it more. They’re seeing all kinds of eye problems, from small scratches to serious stuff like detached retinas.
Eye Safety
It’s surprising that there aren’t rules about wearing special glasses to protect your eyes in pickleball. But soon, it might become necessary, just like it is in racquetball. Especially since many older folks play pickleball, and they might already have eye problems. So, it’s really important for everyone playing pickleball to think about eye safety.
Playing pickleball is fun and a great way to stay active and hang out with friends. But it’s super important to be careful, especially about your eyes. Wearing special glasses that are made to protect your eyes could make all the difference and keep pickleball a safe and enjoyable game for everyone.
https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/more-than-a-pickle-ocular-injury-risks
by Robert Haverly | Mar 19, 2024 | News
https://youtu.be/A9oWl9EWA3E?si=JhGM2e5sgLpTHe6_
More information:
https://www.erielasereye.com/your-eyes-and-the-2024-total-solar-eclipse
by Robert Haverly | Feb 21, 2024 | Erie PA, Eye Health, News
Eclipses are wondrous spectacles where the sun, moon, and Earth align. Erie, Pennsylvania is going to be the place to be for the 2024 total solar eclipse! But beware, hidden within this cosmic phenomenon lies a threat that often goes unnoticed: the potential harm to your eyes. It is crucial to understand the risks and protect your eyes. As with most things, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. This applies to your eyes with eclipses as well.
In Erie, the eclipse is set to take place on April 8, 2024 just after 3:16 pm EDT. The downtown area will experience approximately 3 minutes and 42 seconds of totality, making it an exceptional location to witness this celestial event.
The danger of direct viewing during eclipses, whether solar or lunar, stems from intense sunlight that can damage retinas. Even a dimmed sun emits powerful invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Gazing at it can cause solar retinopathy, harming retinal cells and leading to irreversible vision loss.
Protective eyewear is paramount. Regular sunglasses don’t shield against eclipse UV and infrared rays. Specialized eclipse glasses with solar filters adhere to ISO 12312-2 standards, ensuring safety. Remember, even cameras and telescopes need solar filters to prevent eye damage.
In our age of documenting everything on social media, risking vision for a snapshot is unwise. Using smartphones to photograph eclipses without protection can be as harmful as staring directly.
In conclusion, the forthcoming eclipse promises awe but harbors risks. Invest in certified eclipse glasses, recognize the sun’s power, and protect your eyes. On April 8, 2024, seize the eclipse’s beauty while safeguarding your sight.
How to safely watch the solar eclipse:
- Carefully look at your solar filter or eclipse glasses before using them. If you see any scratches or damage, do not use them.
- Always read and follow all directions that come with the solar filter or eclipse glasses. Help children to be sure they use handheld solar viewers and eclipse glasses correctly.
- Before looking up at the bright sun, stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer. After glancing at the sun, turn away and remove your filter—do not remove it while looking at the sun.
- The only time that you can look at the sun without a solar viewer is during a total eclipse. When the moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets dark, you can remove your solar filter to watch this unique experience. Then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear very slightly, immediately use your solar viewer again to watch the remaining partial phase of the eclipse.
- Never look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other similar devices. This is important even if you are wearing eclipse glasses or holding a solar viewer at the same time. The intense solar rays coming through these devices will damage the solar filter and your eyes.
- Talk with an expert astronomer if you want to use a special solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
For information about where to get the proper eyewear or handheld viewers, check out the American Astronomical Society. Here at Laser Eye Surgery of Erie, Inc., we will also have protective eyewear available in the near future.
After this eclipse, another total eclipse does not occur until on August 23, 2044, across the Americas. Enjoy these cosmic wonders responsibly while safeguarding your vision.
More information:
https://www.aas.org
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/safe-solar-eclipse-viewing-infographic
https://www.erielasereye.com/the-sun-uv-light-and-your-eyes/
