Did You Know?

If your child’s pediatrician says that his/her "eyes are out of line" this means the physician sees a misalignment of the child’s eyes. If this is true the eyes will not be working together. This problem is called strabismus. Most often the cause is unknown but sometimes it can be controlled with glasses or treatment of reduced vision in one of the eyes with patching or eye drops. Your child should be seen for a complete eye examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist as soon as it can be performed.
This article reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart™ campaign (www.geteyesmart.org).

Contact: Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology (TNAO) tnao@tneyemds.org

Keep Eye Safety in Mind When Choosing Toys This Holiday 
Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology Offers Tips for an Injury-Free Holiday

Imagine a BB gun pellet striking your child’s eye with enough force to knock him to the ground. Sadly, some popular children’s gifts around the holidays can cause serious eye injuries. In recognition of Safe Toys and Celebrations Month, Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology reminds parents of the dangers that toys may pose to children’s eyes and offers tips on how to choose safe toys for gift-giving.

 A serious eye injury from a toy can ruin your family’s holiday and, more seriously leave your child with permanent vision loss. “I saw an 11 year-old boy who received a BB gun as a gift,” said John Hoskins, M. D. “He was playing with the gun for the first time when his friend accidentally shot him square in the eyeball. Neither of the boys was wearing protective eyewear. Unfortunately, my patient suffered extreme damage and vision loss, and even after going through several surgeries, he was left legally blind in that eye.”

Children receive all types of potentially unsafe presents during the holidays, including BB guns, darts, pellet guns and paintball guns. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were more than 235,000 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2008; nearly three quarters of those injured were children under age 15.

With so many toys being recalled or having the potential to cause injuries, many parents are wondering what toys are safe. “It’s important for parents to choose a toy that is appropriate for their child's age, abilities, and the parents’ willingness to supervise use of the toy,” said Dr. Hoskins. Sports equipment, a popular gift, should also include the protective eyewear. Sports-related eye injuries can cause permanent vision loss and account for about 40,000 eye injuries annually.

Tips for a safe holiday season:

• Avoid purchasing toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.
• Make sure children have appropriate supervision when playing with potentially hazardous toys or games that could cause injury.
• If you plan to give sports equipment, provide appropriate protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses. Check with your local Eye M.D. to learn about protective gear recommended for your child's sport. 
• Check labels for age recommendations and be sure to select gifts that are appropriate for a child’s age and maturity.
• Keep toys that are made for older children away from younger children.
• The branches and needles of Christmas trees can be hazardous to the eyes, so be especially careful when untying your tree. The branches can burst forward, hitting and injuring your eyes. Glass ornaments should be hung out of a child’s reach to avoid potential injury.

For more information about eye safety and eye injuries, go to www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/injuries/

About the Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology
The Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology is comprised of ophthalmologists.  Ophthalmologists are located throughout Tennessee in urban and rural areas.  Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have specialized in eye surgery, care, diagnosis and management.  Ophthalmologists perform surgery, including LASIK, cataract and other eye-related surgeries.  They treat all types of eye diseases and problems, refract for and prescribe eye glasses and contacts. 

Shouldn’t you trust your eyes to an Ophthalmologist who have four years of undergraduate (college) study, one year of internship and three years of specialized training?  Plus many go on to do one - two year fellowships to further their education and training.