Eye Safety

Matthew Polstein is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Rip-It, a company committed to empower women athletes. Their sports equipment is designed specifically to tailor to female proportions, enhancing performance by addressing their needs. We love Rip-It’s commitment to narrowing the gender gap in sports performance, and we are proud to partner with them as our supplier for our softball helmets and face masks that we offer through our program. We recently caught up with Matthew and he shared what led him and his family to start Rip-It and his passion behind their mission.

Dr. Bajic is a comprehensive ophthalmologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Independence, Ohio, serving adult patients. She enjoys doing cataract surgery, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, diabetic eye care and routine eye exams. She loves connecting with and caring for her patients, leading with the care philosophy of treating patients like family members. She’s also a current board member of the Ohio Ophthalmological Society. We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Bajic, learning what led her to a career in ophthalmology, her advocacy for proactive eye health care, and excitement about the future of ophthalmology.

Dr. E. Shanika Esparaz is a double board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained medical retina specialist and cataract surgeon in Northeast Ohio. Her practice is unique in that she offers comprehensive ophthalmology care with a subspecialty focus on the retina. Dr. Esparaz is also board-certified in lifestyle medicine and can offer counseling on nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene, and more. She is a new board member of the Ohio Ophthalmological Society, and an important advocate for eye health and wellness—and the connection between the two. We had a great discussion with Dr. Esparaz, learning what led her to a career in ophthalmology, and her outlook on health.

Dr. Carla Ford is a Physician and Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at The Ohio State University. After a fulfilling 10 years in private practice, she now enjoys the collaboration in education, research, and clinical-based outcomes working at Ohio State. She is also a member of the Ohio Ophthalmological Society, and an important advocate for eye safety and injury prevention. We recently had the pleasure of catching up with Dr. Ford, learning what led her to a career in ophthalmology, and her passion behind impacting the lives of others and being a patient advocate.

We know safety is top of mind for every parent, student and educator these days, but for vocational programs, practicing eye safety habits has always been a priority. According to the Ohio Ophthalmological Society, 90 percent of eye injuries can be prevented by wearing protective eye gear. That’s where Superspecs comes into play.

Every year, more than 45,000 sports-related and recreational eye injuries are treated in emergency departments throughout the United States and more than half are suffered by children. Fortunately, 90 percent of recreational eye injuries can be prevented with proper eye protection. Here's what you need to know about Superspecs and why it’s just as important as the other equipment you’re rounding up before your child hits the field.