Biomechanics
By Amanda Brunner

Protecting the eyes

We all know (or least we should know) that wearing a helmet is essential when Mountain Biking as the scull houses one of the most vital organs of the body. However, what many people don't think about is protecting the eyes when riding.

The eyes are very sensitive organs and while we think of protection from direct contact, they are also affected by wind, sun, and anything else that may fly into them with the increased speed of moving on a bicycle. You should always where sunglasses. Find a good pair that fit you snuggly. If you find yourself riding in the rain, clear or yellow sunglasses have the best visibility. Dark sunglasses work well at limiting the sun’s harmful radiation but compromise vision on cloudy days or dusk riding. Smoked lenses often offer a medium between clear and all out tint.

If you decide to ignore this advice and you go out riding without eye protection or you just forgot to bring your sunglasses on a given ride, here are some tips on how to recognize symptoms of eye irritation and how to treat it.

First of all if there is a foreign object in the eye, it's most likely a bug, dirt, or small wood fragment (stick). You should feel a burning, watering, or stinging sensation. If this happens stop riding as soon as possible and attempt to remove the object right away. It is important not to rub the eye or excessively blink this will only cause more damage and possible laceration of the cornea if the object is sharp or jagged. Instead use your water bottle and flush the eye (that's why it's important to bring more than sports drinks on rides.)

If something larger goes into the eye or you are unable to flush out the smaller object, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention immediately. If you take a fall and a foreign object becomes lodged into you eye DO NOT attempt to remove it! Doing so could be very dangerous and result in permanent damage. Protect the eye and the object by placing a cup or any type of homemade shield that the trail allows for. Contrary to what people commonly think, you should cover the good eye as well. Remember that your eyes move together so leaving the good eye open causes the damaged eye to move around with each motion of the other one. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Helpful tips:
Never ride alone.
Treat eye protection with the type of importance as your helmet.
When bringing beverages along make sure that one bottle contains only water.
Make it a habit to carry a first aide kit at all times.

If you have any questions on this topic or any other medical topics related to cycling please e-mail Amanda.

Who knows, your question may be in the next article.