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Eye Health: Eye Safety
Thousands of eye accidents happen each day; 90 percent of these are preventable with the use of appropriate safety eyewear. Because there are good eye safety regulations in the workplace, the home is the source of the fastest-growing number of eye injuries. Eye injuries are almost as great a danger to bystanders as the people using dangerous tools or chemicals in the home. Good eye protection is just as important for those watching you work as it is for you.
Home Eye Safety Checklist
- Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
- Provide lights and handrails to improve safety on stairs.
- Pad or cushion sharp corners and edges of furnishing and home fixtures.
- Install cabinet and drawer locks in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Leave personal-use items (cosmetics, toiletry products), kitchen utensils and desk supplies where they are not easily accessible to children.
- Inspect and remove debris from lawns before mowing.
- Use occupant restraints such as infant and child safety seats, booster seats, safety belts and shoulder harnesses in cars.
- Avoid toys with sharp or rigid points, shafts, spikes, rods and dangerous edges.
- Keep toys intended for older children away from younger children.
- Use guards on all power equipment.
- Wear chemical safety goggles when using hazardous solvents and detergents.
- Read and follow all manufacturer instructions and warning labels.
- Do not mix cleaning agents.
- Know that regular eyeglasses don't always provide enough protection.
- Keep paints, pesticides, fertilizers and similar products properly stored in a secure area.
- Avoid flying toys and projectile-firing toys; these pose a danger to all children, particularly those less than five years old.
- Beware of items in playgrounds and play areas that pose potential eye hazards.
- Keep your tools in good condition; damaged tools should be repaired or replaced.
- Wear safety glasses or dust goggles to protect against flying particles, and chemical goggles to guard against exposure to fertilizers and pesticides.
- Keep BB guns away from kids.
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Sports Eye Safety
Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat nearly 40,000 victims of sports eye injuries. Because some injuries are seen and treated at outpatient clinics, the actual number of sports eye injuries may be two or more times greater than the reported estimate.
For all age groups, sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently in baseball, basketball and racquet sports.
Almost all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented. Whatever your game, whatever your age, you need to protect your eyes!
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Tips for Buying Sports Eye Protectors
Prevent Blindness America recommends that athletes wear sports eye guards when participating in sports. Prescription glasses, sunglasses and even occupational safety glasses do not provide adequate protection.
Sports eye guards come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Eye guards designed for use in racquet sports are now commonly used for basketball and soccer and in combination with helmets in football, hockey and baseball. The eye guards you choose should fit securely and comfortably and allow the use of a helmet if necessary. The following guidelines can help you find a pair of eye guards right for you:
- If you wear prescription glasses, ask your eye doctor to fit you for prescription eye guards. If you're a monocular athlete (a person with only one eye that sees well), ask your eye doctor what sports you can safely participate in. Monocular athletes should always wear sports eye guards.
- Buy eye guards at sports specialty stores or optical stores. At the sports store, ask for a sales representative who's familiar with eye protectors to help you.
- Don't buy sports eye guards without lenses. Only protectors with lenses are recommended for sports use. Make sure the lenses either stay in place or pop outward in the event of an accident. Lenses that pop in against your eyes can be very dangerous.
- Fogging of the lenses can be a problem when you're active. Some eye guards are available with anti-fog coating. Others have side vents for additional ventilation. Try on different types to determine which is most comfortable for you.
- Check the packaging to see if the eye protector you select has been tested for sports use. Also check to see that the eye protector is made of polycarbonate material. Polycarbonate eye guards are the most impact resistant.
- Sports eye guards should be padded or cushioned along the brow and bridge of the nose. Padding will prevent the eye guards from cutting your skin.
- Try on the eye protector to determine if it's the right size. Adjust the strap and make sure it's not too tight or too loose. If you purchased your eye guards at an optical store, an optical representative can help you adjust the eye protector for a comfortable fit.
Until you get used to wearing a pair of eye guards, it may feel strange, but bear with it! It's a lot more comfortable than an eye injury.
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