Have you thought about eye safety in your home? Over 2.4 million eye injuries each year in the United States. Experts say wearing safety glasses and taking a few common-sense precautions can prevent or reduce the severity of eye injuries.
Common causes of eye injury in the home:
- Household cleaners and chemicals
Tip: Keep out of reach of children, high shelves in cupboards, or childproof cabinets.
- Toys and games (hard or sharp edges)
Tip: Always check the age recommendation to ensure toys are appropriate for your child.
- Eye makeup and applicators
Tip: Throw out old or damaged products to avoid potential eye hazards.
- Lawn, garden, and hand tools
Tip: Wear protective eyewear when completing house or yard work.
- Champagne Corks
Tip: Never face the cork towards anyone’s face, including your own.
- Fireworks
Tip: Attend a professional firework show, avoid the risks associated with at-home fireworks.
What to do in case of eye injury
If you or your child has an eye injury, contact your eye doctor immediately. If it is after regular work hours, try an emergency contact number or call 911. It is always better to be over-cautious when it comes to your eyes.
The next steps after your phone call vary greatly depending on the eye injury. Typically, we either recommend you come to our office or go to the emergency room. Depending on the situation, your eye doctor may also ask you to flush your eye, remove your contact lenses, or cover your eye.
When in doubt, treat all eye injuries as potential emergencies. You only have one pair of eyes, and we want to ensure they are protected.
What to look for in safety glasses
Safety glasses are suitable for when doing any house repairs/renovations, yard work, or sports activities. This is the best way to protect your eyes from potential harm. When looking for safety glasses, it’s good to have impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses and safety rated frame.
If you have additional questions about eye safety in the home, ask our staff. We want to help you keep your eyes safe and healthy!
