What I would love to see included in these displays is a simple pair of protective goggles. Think about it: a 14 pound turkey lowered into a vat of boiling oil could easily result in a serious back splash of hot grease, and that is a clear risk for the eyes of the cook or those nearby. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that every household have at least one pair of protective eyewear to use during activities that may present a risk of eye injury. They have a guide on preventing eye injuries in the home you may find helpful.

So if you’re frying turkey and don’t have safety glasses, stop by your local hardware store and pick some up. One of my all time favorite songs is Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes. Here’s hoping the song’s meaning remains that of a romantic ballad only!

In addition to the obvious ones spelled out by the manufacturer, keep these tips in mind when caring for your contacts.

1. Spit won’t get it done: No matter how desperate you are, don’t put your contacts in your mouth to clean them. Wait until you can use the solution your doctor recommended.
2. Lenses out before you jump in: Don’t wear your contacts swimming, whether that’s in a chlorinated pool, the ocean, a hot tub, whatever. Dangerous microorganisms can live in those environments, and if they latch on to your contact lenses or get trapped under your lenses, they can cause real trouble. If you forget and dive in with your lenses on, be careful to remove them as soon as possible.
3. In with the new: Your eyes will thank you if you dump your storage case lens solution after each cleaning, and replace the case itself every three to six months.

For more handy advice on contacts, plus a terrific selection of lenses to choose from, check out eyeconic.com.

Philip K. is a member of VSP's Enterprise Information Services and avid video gamer

I’ve been playing a good amount of online multi-player video games over the past year – specifically Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops – two of the most popular games in the past couple years.  If you’ve played the games, you know that it’s not uncommon to play for three to four hours without a break. 

After an extended period of play, my eyes become dry and sore and I wind up with a headache.  All the things that make the games great like the high level of detail, fast pace action, pinpoint accuracy, and stiff competition is what also makes it tough on the eyes.  Your eyes need to constantly adjust and focus on the ever changing game environment details, finding targets that are small and large.  It’s no wonder my eyes get so tired.

Whether you play yourself or you have kids that play, it’s important to understand the strain that your eyes go through and pay attention to what your eyes are telling you.  Here’s an opportunity to use the 20-20-20 rule.  Take a break every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.  Give your eyes a rest and enjoy your gaming experience! Here are five more tips to help ease eye strain while on a digital device.

Depending on the type of work you do, safety glasses are a critical item in your safety equipment arsenal because 90 percent of job-related eye injuries are preventable with the proper eye protection. VSP offers ProTec Eyewear through the ProTec Safety plan which includes prescription lenses and eyewear that meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and OSHA safety guidelines.

Check out the video below for stylish, safety makeovers and then check with your employer about coverage. Who says you can’t look good in safety glasses?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Central Park

Rudy R. is an account manager with VSP

I had a friend visit from England a few weeks ago. She arrived the same day we got hit with a huge snowstorm. The next day as we were leaving to walk around Central Park to take pictures she was surprised to see that I reached for my sunglasses. She asked why I wear sunglasses in the winter. I said it may be winter and you may not see the sun but its still there and those ultraviolet rays are harmful. Snow is reflective and up to 85% of the sun UV rays are reflected upwards. The sun sits lower in the sky during winter which gives you more exposure. Research shows that the sun UV rays can contribute to varioues eye diseases related to aging like cataracts and macular degeneration. Its very important to protect your eyes so make sure you reach for your sunglasses even in the winter months.

More on this new study is available on Vanderbilt University’s website.

About Tyreke Evans and VSP Vision Care

VSP provider Dr. Jeffrey Anshel wrote an article for education.com regarding keeping our kids eyes safe while using digital devices and avoiding Computer Vision Syndrome and tired eyes. Good advice for adults too. Read article.

So how much time do you estimate you or your kids spend per day looking at digital devices (smart phones, video games, tv, computers, etc.)?  Leave us a comment.

Photo via education.com

Learn more about the importance of wearing sunglasses – even on cloudy, overcast days – on VSP’s Eyecare Discovery Center and The Vision Council’s Under the Sun Guide.

Well, maybe not literally. But with the 4th of July just around the corner, it’s important to keep eye safety in mind as you celebrate with your friends and family.

Our friends at Prevent Blindness America just released tips and supporting data to keep you and your kids safer this holiday. According to their release, more than 40 percent of all fireworks injuries were to children under the age of 15.

What can you do to protect your kids’ eyes during fireworks season? Check out Prevent Blindness America’s Web site to learn more.