Source: Prevent Blindness America

Just in time for back-to-school, Prevent Blindness America, The Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries and Liberty Sport continued to support September 2013 as Sports Eye Injury Prevention Awareness Month in an effort to educate the public on the importance as to wearing proper eye protection while playing sports.

The three organizations joined efforts three years ago to launch an awareness campaign to Eye Care Professionals, specifically those who are Sports Eye Injury Prevention Centers, and reached approximately 5,000 providers of Sports Protective Eyewear, providing them with the materials to make eye safety a priority for kids when playing sports.

Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America, stated that “by joining together with The Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries and Liberty Sport, we hope to remind the public that 90 percent of all eye injuries are preventable through proper eye protection.  This program aims to help educate the public on the simple steps they can take to ensure a lifetime of healthy vision.” 

According to data published by Prevent Blindness America, for Calendar Year 2012, there were more than 13,000 eye injuries sustained by children ages 0-14 alone.

“Preventing Sports Eye Injuries is my passion,” says Paul Berman, O.D., F.A.A.O and Chairman for The Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries.  “After working with Liberty Sport to convert Eye Care Professional offices to Sports Eye Injury Prevention Centers over the past four years, we are pleased by the results of their internal studies showing that by instituting the steps of the SEIPC, their office sales have increased an average of 150 percent, while also leading to a greater decrease in this tragic loss of the priceless gift of sight.  Further supporting the Sport Eye Injury Prevention Centers with this annual campaign should help prevent the needless loss of sight and blindness that occurs while people are playing sports.”

For more information about Sports Eye Injury Prevention Awareness Month or to request a kit, please contact John Minnick, Liberty Sport at 973-882-0986, ext. 977 or jminnick@libertysport.com.