October is Eye Injury Prevention Month

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Eye Health

We don't often think about eye injuries when we are doing daily activities, but since almost half of all eye injuries each year happen at home, we probably should.

Here are just a few examples of common household activities that can cause an eye injury:

Using household chemicals or bleach
Getting unexpectedly sprayed or splashed in the eye can cause anything from minor irritation to a chemical burn. If this happens, immediately flush the eye by putting your head under a steady stream of room temperature tap water for 15 minutes. Contact your eye doctor or urgent care facility to determine what is recommended as a next step based on the chemical.
Hot grease or oil splatter
As with household chemicals, the most important thing to do is irrigate the eye and contact your eye doctor as soon as possible.
Drilling or hammering
An activity as simple as hanging a picture can cause a nail or screw to become a projectile or cause fragments to fly off and cause an eye injury. Seek immediate medical help if you are hit in the eye with any foreign object.
Lawn and garden care
Always wear protective eyewear when mowing the grass, trimming hedges, cutting wood or using power tools. Whether you use a riding or push mower, stop the engine when any one approaches. The mower can cause rocks and other objects on the lawn to fly toward someone and cause injury.
Securing items to racks
Use caution with any objects that have the potential to snap back like bungee cords or rubber bands.

You should also keep eye protection in mind when participating in sports. People often think of sprains and strains as sports-related problems, but eye injuries account for an estimated 100,000 physician visits each year for school-aged children. Parents should ensure children are protecting their eyes when participating in baseball, basketball, hockey, indoor racket sports and cycling, to name a few.

Also, darts, paint ball guns and BB guns may seem like toys, but they all can cause serious injuries including vision loss or blindness. Be sure to have a discussion with your youngsters about how to use these items carefully and follow all safety instructions, including protective eyewear.

I recommend these measures:

Use protective eyewear when doing projects at home, when working outside and for sports.
When you spend time outdoors, wear sunglasses that provide 97-100 percent UV protection.
Make sure you and your family get regular eye check-ups and screenings.
If you have a chronic disease like diabetes, follow through on any physician recommendations related to eye care.

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