September is Sports Eye Injury Prevention Awareness Month

4S Ranch (September 1, 2012) – Shin guards for soccer, shoulder pads for football, batting helmets for baseball and softball. Almost every sport has its own unique protective gear. But according to Dr. Jacquelin Le, an optometrist at EyeLux Optometry in Rancho Bernardo, most participants in sports forget to protect one of the most important parts of the body: the eyes.

"Every year, more than 32,000 people suffer injuries to the eyes while playing sports," Dr. Le said, "According to Prevent Blindness America 90% of all eye injuries are preventable."

Protective Sports Eyewear can help prevent injuries such as fracture of the eye socket, scratched corneas, swollen retinas and even cataracts caused by trauma to the eye, Dr. Le said. Parents of children who participate in sports should consider protective eyewear to be as essential as the faceguard on a football or baseball helmet.

EyeLux Optometry is an Authorized Sport Eye Injury Prevention Center and has committed to preventing blindness caused by sports eye injuries in our community around 4S Ranch and Rancho Bernardo. "September means back to school and time for organized sports and the potential for eye injuries," says Dr. Le. "This year we want to be proactive and reach out to the parents, coaches and school nurses, and encourage young athletes to have their eyes examined and be fitted for the proper protective sports eyewear. Our opticians are trained to prevent this needless loss of sight and we have a selection of new, stylish protective sports eyewear that not only protect eyes but also look good. Which is more tragic, a blind eye or a bruised shin?"

Make sure when you or your child goes out onto the playing field, protective sports eyewear is part of your protective gear.

About EyeLux Optometry

EyeLux Optometry offers inspired family eye care and the largest selection of eyeglasses and sunglasses in the vicinity. Professional exams include digital retinal imaging and their Better Than 20/20 Promise™. EyeLux Optometry is independently owned and serves Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Santa Fe, and the surrounding communities. For more information, call (858) 487-7900, or visit www.EyeLuxOptometry.com