The month of June is Fireworks Eye Safety & Cataract Awareness Month.

Cataracts, if not treated are one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. In addition, the longer cataracts are left untreated, the more difficult they can be to successfully remove and restore vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology would like to remind the public that early detection and treatment of cataracts is critical to preserving sight. 

Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on consumer fireworks, which cause more than 9,000 injuries a year. With the Fourth of July holiday just weeks away, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is reminding the public that fireworks are not toys but incendiary devices that can cause devastating eye injuries.