RECREATIONAL AND TRANSPORTATION EYE EQUIPMENT AND THEIR BINOCULAR IMPLICATIONS

Ronald N. E.

ABSTRACT

Recreational and transportation related binocular injuries represent a significant eye health hazard wordwide. In the USA it is estimated that binocular injury cases from activities stated above account for more than 100,000 physician visit per year at cost of greater than: $175 million and these activities include spots like Baseball, Ice hockey and racquet spots. The most common injuries are abrasions and contusions, followed by hyphema. Substantial reduction in the incidence of eye injuries through prevention has been demonstrated over the year with the use of eye protective equipment; developed mostly from polycarbonate plastic lenses and frames, which are sturdy and impact resistant. Also optically imperfect because the equipment tend to absorb and transmit a portion of the Electromagnetic Radiation called the ultraviolet light with wavelength below 286nm to 400nm into the eye causing binocular damage, since the human has an inherent potential for photochemical lesions, which increases with light exposure. It is against this back drop that this study was carried out to determine the binocular implications of recreational and transportation eye protective equipment.

Keywords: The most common injuries are abrasions and contusions, followed by hyphema.