Historic events in eye care in 2024: Olympians prefer spectacles, solar eclipse, Chevron
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The Olympics, natural events and Supreme Court decisions have not only made history this year, they have touched the world of eye care.
Read below for summaries of these news stories and more.
Paris Olympics showcase the challenges of finding optimal vision correction for athletes
Stephen Nedoroscik first rose to fame as “the pommel horse guy” during the Paris Olympics, after which he went viral on social media and recently made his dancing debut on season 31 of “Dancing with the Stars.”
While many people have been captivated by the 25-year-old’s ability to solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 9 seconds or his record of being in the top 1.7% of all Rocket League players, what many eye care professionals noticed is that Nedoroscik removes his glasses to perform on the pommel horse. Read more.
Q&A: Optometrist discusses eye safety, solar retinopathy ahead of April total eclipse
Looking directly at the sun is never safe, but the temptation is high during a rare event like a solar eclipse.
On April 8, a total solar eclipse — one of the longest in the 21st century — will be visible throughout most of the U.S., with its path of totality crossing through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Read more.
One-third of Americans are unaware of solar eclipse health risks
A survey conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that nearly 30% of Americans do not know that looking directly at a solar eclipse without protection can cause permanent eye damage.
“The survey results highlight the need for more community education about the true dangers associated with a total eclipse,” Nicholas Kman, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Wexner Medical Center and clinical professor of emergency medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, said in a university press release. “We can’t stress enough the importance of proper eye protection, but people also need to have a plan for emergencies.” Read more.
Q&A: Optometrists ‘on the frontlines’ for early detection of bird flu
According to the CDC, H5N1 bird flu has caused recent outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows, with a total of four human cases reported among U.S. dairy and poultry workers. In at least two cases, the only reported symptom was red eyes.
As of July 1, poultry and dairy cow outbreaks have been reported in 48 and 12 states, respectively, with 136 dairy herds affected. While the current public health risk is low, the ongoing multistate outbreak in dairy cattle raises concern. Read more.
BLOG: The silver lining in the Chevron reversal
A recent Supreme Court ruling overturned a 1984 decision known as the “Chevron deference” that had created ultimate power for governmental agencies.
Healio blogger Scott A. Edmonds, OD, FAAO, said now CMS and the Federal Trade Commission no longer have ultimate authority over rules and policies affecting the practice of optometry.
“Optometrists can now use the AOA or affinity groups to initiate legal action against federal agencies that have damaged the practice of optometry and made it more difficult for us to take care of our patients,” he said. Read more.