Through its guide, Shopko Optical hopes to equip parents and gift-givers with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions on how to protect children’s eyes.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (PRWEB)
November 18, 2020

With the holiday season quickly approaching, Shopko Optical is encouraging shoppers to keep eye safety a priority when purchasing gifts for children. Through its guide, Shopko Optical hopes to equip parents and gift-givers with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions on how to protect children’s eyes.

“According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 166,200 toy-related injuries of children under the age of 15 were treated in hospital emergency departments in 2018, and of those injuries, 46% were to the head and face area,” said Russ Steinhorst, CEO of Shopko Optical. “We are dedicated to reducing the contributing number of toy-related eye injuries by educating parents and holiday gift-givers on what to look for when purchasing toys for children.”

Promoting its “R.A.P.I.D.” guide, Shopko Optical’s top suggestions to prevent child toy-related eye injuries are as follows:

• R – Read labels, instructions, and online reviews to ensure that the safety, skill, and technical level of the toy is age-appropriate for the child
• A – Avoid toys with small parts, magnets, and sharp or projectile parts
• P – Provide the child with protective eyewear when playing with a potentially hazardous toy
• I – Inspect toys for wear and tear such as rips, peeling paint, and loose pieces, and throw away immediately if pieces are broken
• D – Demonstrate proper use of the toy and make sure children are supervised when playing

“We fully support American Optometric Association’s guidelines for choosing safe toys,” said Steinhorst. “Toys that fly, spin, or shoot, are sports-related, have chemical reactions, or cause eye strain are more likely to injure a child without proper precaution and care.”

Common eye injuries caused by accidents with toys range from minor scratches to the surface of the eye to serious injuries such as bleeding, retinal detachment, corneal ulcers, and traumatic cataracts.

“We hope that these guidelines will help parents and gift-givers make safe toy selections this holiday season,” Steinhorst said. “If you have any doubts as to if a toy is safe for children, its best to err on the side of caution.”

To learn more about Shopko Optical’s work to better vision care for children, visit shopko.com/project-eyecare. To learn more about toys that aid vision development, visit aoa.org.

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About Shopko Optical

Shopko Optical, is the trade name of Shoptikal LLC, an affiliate of Monarch Alternative Capital LP. For more than 40 years, Shopko Optical has provided excellent patient-centric care and high-quality eyewear through its dedicated team of nearly 700 optometrists (independent doctors of optometry in IA, ID, MT, SD and WA) and opticians. Shopko Optical expects further growth in 2020 and beyond. For more information, visit shopko.com.

For More Information, Contact:

Chloe Albrecht

Public Relations Manager, Element

Email: chloe (at) goelement (dot) com

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