What do car air bags, weed whackers, fireworks, sports, fishhooks and bungee cords have in common? They are all potentially dangerous to your eyes.
Eye injury is probably the last thing you think about when you consider going fishing, mowing the lawn, jump starting your car or applying glitter makeup, but it should be one of the first.
In recognition of July’s designation as Eye Injury Prevention Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology — the Eye M.D. Association — reminds Americans to protect their eyes from extraordinary damage from the most ordinary of activities.
Accidental injury is unique among the causes of blindness and vision impairment, because taking the simplest of measures can prevent about 90 percent of these injuries.
Many times, all that stands between you and a devastating eye injury or blindness is a little common sense and a pair of tight-fitting goggles.
Here are a few examples:
More than 2,000 eye injuries occur each year due to fireworks. Leave fireworks to the professionals, and attend local public fireworks displays.
About 40,000 sports eye injuries occur each year, with many resulting in permanent vision loss. See an Eye M.D. or other eye care professional for protective eye wear appropriate for your sport.
Children have sustained serious eye injuries from air bags deploying in car accidents. Infants and children should always travel in the rear seat.
Nylon line lawn trimmers, or weed whackers, are an increasingly frequent source of eye injury. One recent study labeled lawn trimmers as the fifth leading cause of penetrating ocular trauma. Before using, check for rocks and other debris, and wear your goggles. Also, keep bystanders away while you work. Flying debris and broken nylon fragments can injure their eyes as well.
Keep a pair of goggles in your car’s trunk. Battery acid, sparks and debris flying from damaged or improperly jump-started auto batteries can severely damage the eyes.
Many household chemicals, such as cleaning fluids, detergents and ammonia can burn the eye’s delicate tissues. Always read the instructions, work in well-ventilated areas and wear your goggles.
Glitter make-up has caused eye injuries. Use with caution or not at all.
Though rare, fishhook injuries can cause devastating damage to the eyes. Most of the victims are young men, make sure they are adequately supervised.
Recoiling bungee cords have caused serious eye injuries, which commonly require medical and surgical treatments to manage.
Prevention is the first and most important step in avoiding serious eye injuries. Be sure you and your family are protected.
