A recent study conducted by Transitions Optical found that while 80% of people are aware of the harmful effects UV radiation can have on their skin, only 5% know that the sun’s harmful UV rays can have an equally damaging affect on their eyes.

As an extra special treat today, guests had the opportunity to meet Dr. Janet Taylor, a BeWell.com psychiatrist, to ask questions and receive answers relating to a plethora of health-related issues. However, the theme of the day at the Live Your Vision Pavilion focused on encouraging guests to live a healthy lifestyle with emphasis on skin and eye protection. 

After a one-on-one interview with Dr. Taylor, she confirmed what most of us already know but don’t want to admit – the need to protect both the skin and the eyes.  Taylor started out with this powerful, yet little known fact, “skin is our body’s largest organ.” She goes on to say that if we do not protect it, the sun’s radiation can literally alter the composition of our cells and noted that this damage causes a wide-range of undesirable conditions such as melanoma, sun poisoning and premature aging of the skin.

If you already have a dark skin tone, you are not entirely off the hook.  While fair-skinned individuals are more susceptible to sun burns than those with darker complexions, the sun can still have equally damaging affects on both skin types, as well as the eyes.
 
Dr. Taylor also noted that although genetics do play an instrumental role in our physical health, 99% of people have the same DNA and genetics alone are not a determinant one way or the other.

Some of the major take home tips from Dr. Taylor included wearing sun block containing SPF 30 or above and eyewear with 100% UV protection.  She also encouraged “everyday use” of these protective measures even in the most overcast conditions when the sun’s rays can still cause a great deal of damage.
   
As a Transitions wearer, Dr. Taylor favors these lenses for the superior UV protection they provide, as well as the comfort and ease they offer.  Because they are self-adjusting, Dr. Taylor can put her Transitions® lenses on and simply relax, letting the lenses do all the work.  She knows her eyes will be protected all day. 

In keeping with Transitions promotion of healthy skin and eye routines, sun protection kiosks were set up around the Copperhead Course dispensing SPF 30 sun block and lip balm, which spectators took full advantage of. Visitors at the kiosks ranged from Melissa Bradshaw, a concerned mother of two, lathering up her young children, to a slew of baby boomers, some of which have had skin cancer already and admit they may have “learned their lesson a little too late.”

As a child, your mother probably never came chasing after you to put on sunglasses like she did sun block, however, protecting your eyes has become more critical to maintaining your healthy sight and preventing the development of vision conditions.
 
Dr. Larry Lampert, sports vision specialist, explained exactly what type of damage the sun’s powerful rays have on your eyes. Lampert reports that individuals who do not take preventative measures are at higher risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cancer, thickening of the whites of the eyes, and premature aging around the eyes.
 
Spreading the word about eye protection to younger generations hasn’t been an easy task.  Currently, 60% of children in America’s schools have learning problems due to some eye-related issue that has gone undetected or because the family cannot afford to be treated. Dr. Lampert follows up by saying, “children should be seeing their eye doctor regularly – just as many times a year as they visit their pediatrician.” 
 
Despite of the lack of awareness about this important health issue, Transitions Optical has provided Dr. Lampert and many others who share his passion for eye protection awareness, the opportunity through the Transitions Championship to relay their message and a platform from which to reach a mass audience.
 
Sitting with Dr. Lampert and Dr. Taylor provided an eye opening conversation, and as the sun continues to shine brightly and, with one more round of golf to go, we’re off to the nearest Sun Station to protect our skin and our sight.   

 This year, in addition to our Live Your Vision Pavilion, we’ve added two new exciting experiences to the Healthy Sight Village. For adults, athletes and spectators, an engaging lesson about physical fitness and the different types of eyewear available is a must do in the Nike/VSP Competitive Advantage tent. For children, the place to visit is the LensCrafters Kids’ Zone.

The Competitive Advantage Tent
The Competitive Advantage tent allows guests to experience the latest in cutting edge eyewear technology and actively participate in demonstrations that will help them learn how to improve their game on the course, as well as the quality of their overall health and vision.  

Guests who visit the Competitive Advantage tent will get a special sneak peak at some of the newest lenses set to hit the market and using a series of lasers and targets, a visual demonstration on how these lenses offer athletes a competitive advantage by maximizing peripheral vision.

There’s much more to a great game than choosing the righteyewear, there’s also physical health. Kinesiologist and golf fitness specialist Tyler Parsons can also be found at the tent giving advice to everyone from casual spectators to expert players.  Tyler has worked with big names in the industry on the importance of physical fitness and regular stretching prior to sports performance. 

Parsons will test your range of motion, flexibility and stability, all of which, if not kept up to par, can lead to a loss of power in your swing. He looks for ample separation of hips and shoulders as well as positioning of your thighs at a 90 degree angle, perpendicular to the torso.  

While people often see golf as a laid-back and casual leisure activity, Parsons insists “golf is a very powerful sport”, noting that clubs are being swung at a rate of 120 miles per hour in less than 8 seconds. 

From a putting stand point, Parsons will examine your eye position, club alignment, and stroke in order to correct any visual handicaps you may have.  If your eyes are focused behind the ball, it will result in a stroke that shifts to the right.  Conversely, if your eyes are in front of the ball your putt will tend to shift to the left.  The ideal position is over the ball in the center.

QUICK TIP:  Learn from swing coach Matt Killen how to position your eyes over the ball:

Don’t stress if your golf game is not quite where you would like it to be.  After Parsons diagnoses your weaknesses, he will suggest remedies to fit your specific needs.  However, change does not come overnight, it usually takes about 90 days of regular exercise and stretching for your body to adapt to a new regimen.  Useful tips for everybody to take home include strengthening the muscles above and below injury prone areas, such as the ACL to help avoid serious, but preventable injuries and never doubt the importance of regular stretching.