Spring Time

Have you noticed how much your lawn has grown recently? Spring has officially begun and the sun is shining. I have just driven from Oban to Kennecraig and seen lots of ewes about to lamb. The fields were rather bare with little grass to be seen. What a contrast to ,garden lawns. Several of my neighbours have been cutting their grass already. I can tell its springtime at work. I have seen several patients with eye injuries from strimming or allergic reactions to the various pollens that are just starting, It never ceases to amaze me how many people use strimmers or other power tools without any eye protection or with inappropriate protection. I have lost count of the pieces of metal or bits of garden detritus I have removed from people’s eyes over the years. In most cases, the worst that happens is the victim endures a lot of pain and is left with a scarred cornea. Sadly, I have also had to deal with patients who have lost eyes due to penetrating eye injuries suffered when gardening. In most cases these injuries would have been prevented if proper eye protection had been worn. Eye protection is often task specific and your optometrist or dispensing optician will advise you on the best protection for your specific job, hobby or sport. Over the last two years we have all accepted the need to wear a mask to protect from COVID. We should have the same mind-set for eye protection for work, rest and play. Just as with COVID there is no 100% guarantee of avoiding injury but we should all be doing our best to minimise the risk. Your optometrist is here to ensure you see clearly and comfortably and … to protect your eyesight from avoidable damage and injury.