Preventing Eye Injuries is Easy

Take a moment to protect yourself

by Mark G. Condell, O.D.

2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States each year. Up to 100,000 result in permanent vision loss and blindness. Eye injury is a significant disabling American health problem. Eye injury is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the United States.

While no segment of society escapes the risk of eye injury, the victims primarily at risk are the young. The majority of all eye injuries occur in persons under thirty years of age. Trauma is considered the most common reason of surgical eye removal in children over three years of age. The toll of injury in such significant proportions, in terms of human suffering, as well as long-term disabilities, loss of productivity, and economic impact exceeds $300 million each year.

Unlike other sight-threatening diseases, eye injury can be prevented. In fact, 90 percent of all eye injuries could have been prevented with the use of proper safety protection. In 3 out of 5 eye injuries, the injured person was not wearing any eye protection.

The leading causes of eye injuries include sports accidents, consumer fireworks, household chemicals and battery acid, as well as workshop and yard debris.

Prevention is the first and most important step in avoiding eye injuries.

In the house:

Household products can seriously burn your eyes if used improperly.
Make sure that all spray nozzles are directed away from you.
Avoid using caustic lye (sodium hydroxide) as a drain cleaner.
Always wear safety goggles to shield your eyes from fumes and splashes when using powerful chemicals.
Always follow warning notices on product labeling.
Never pry things open with sharp objects.

In the workshop:

Never pry things toward you.
Never strike or grind metal without proper protective eyewear.
Always wear safety goggles when operating power tools.
Wear safety goggles when jump-starting the battery on your car.

In the garden:

Always wear eye protection when using tools and mowing.
Remove any rocks and stones before going over them with your lawnmower.
Do not allow anyone in the yard while you are operating a lawnmower.
Avoid low hanging tree branches.

Sports:

Wear only approved sports safety eyewear for racquetball, basketball, baseball and while using firearms.

Fireworks:

Every year, fireworks account for thousand of eye injuries in young males. Do not allow your children to handle explosive fireworks.
Attend only professional fireworks displays.

Immediate care of eye injuries:

Correct treatment for an eye injury immediately following an accident can prevent loss of sight.

Dust, dirt and sand on the surface of the eye:

Do not rub your eye. Lift the upper eyelid over the lower lid to allow the lower eyelashes to brush away the speck.
Rinse the eye with water to flush the speck out.
Blink a few times to let the eye move the particle out.
If the speck remains, keep your eye closed and see your eye doctor.

Cuts of the eye and lid:

See your doctor immediately. Do not attempt to wash out the eye or remove an object stuck in the eye. Do not rub your eye or apply pressure.

Blows to the eye:

Immediately apply an ice compress to the eye to reduce pain and swelling. A black eye or blurred vision can be a sign of damage inside the eye. See your eye doctor immediately.

Chemical splashes to the eye:

Immediately flush your eye with water, using your fingers to keep the eyelids open as wide as possible.
Hold your head under a faucet, shower or hose to rinse the eye for over 15 minutes.
Roll the eye around as much as possible to wash out the eye.
See your eye doctur immediately following the flush.

Remember - an ounce of prevention can avoid a life-long disability.

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