Depiction Suggestions:

Protecting our eyes is an important part of health, but – as many characters have learned over the years – they are also an extremely vulnerable part of our bodies and prone to difficulties. Here’s a few things to keep in mind when addressing this most important aspect of your characters’ well-being.

• When appropriate, try to show your characters wearing protective eyewear when playing sports, performing experiments or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity, like using chainsaws, refinishing floors or even cleaning. Don’t forget about sunglasses for daytime outdoor scenes!

• Keep in mind healthy habits when characters wear contact lenses, such as:
  • Washing hands before handling contact lenses.
  • Storing lenses in the proper lens storage case.
  • Not casually using decorative or colored lenses, particularly for extended periods of time (this can cause eye ulcers and other problems).
  • Refusing to share lenses with others.

• When a school-aged character is having problems learning in the classroom, it might be attributed to undiagnosed vision problems.  Below are some symptoms that could be highlighted if appropriate:
  • Frequent eye rubbing or blinking
  • Short attention span
  • Avoiding reading and other close activities
  • Frequent headaches
  • Covering one eye
  • Tilting the head to one side
  • Holding reading materials close to the face

• Consider a storyline where an older character starts having vision problems.  Does the character take control of their vision problems and go to an eye care professional for a vision exam and prescriptive eye wear? 

On the latest episode of EICtv News find out how EIC is teaming up with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and American Optometric Association to raise awareness on the dangers of decorative/fashion/cosplay contact lenses, the reality and dangers of skin cancer explained by the Acting Surgeon General, and hear this week’s viewer story from Dawn Averitt on her struggles and triumphs as an HIV positive woman.  Don’t miss your chance to get your dose of health and wellness!

EIC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the American Optometric Association have teamed up to create awareness around the dangers of using decorative lenses without a prescription.  With the popularity of supernatural film and television shows geared towards younger audiences, like Twilight, True Blood, Sleepy Hollow  and  Vampire Diaries, it may appeal to teens and young adults to change their eye color or add a supernatural effect.  While there is nothing inherently dangerous or wrong with using decorative lenses, it can be a hazard if obtained without a doctor’s prescription or through unsafe means. There are also limits as to how long they can safely be worn.

I hope the depiction suggestions contained within this newsletter can assist you in crafting stories that relate to eye health.  After all without healthy vision, your audiences won’t be able to see your captivating productions!