Preventing Eye Injuries in Children | Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Eye injuries can affect people of all ages, including children. According to Stanford Medicine, in the United States, about 2.4 million kids sustain an eye injury each year. Although not all eye injuries are serious, some can threaten vision. August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. It is the perfect time to spotlight preventing eye injuries in children. 

Causes and types of childhood eye injuries

Children can sustain eye injuries at home, school, or playing. Causes of eye injuries in children and teens include: 

• Household products
• Toys, especially those with projectiles
• Playground equipment 
• Sport injuries

The type of eye injury can vary. For instance, blunt trauma to the eye can occur from a baseball, projectile toys, or a poke to the eye from a finger during close contact sports. Chemical burns from household products can also lead to eye injury in children.
Injuries sustained can include: 

• A scratched cornea
• Foreign object penetration 
• Burns
• Orbital fracture
• Damage to the tissue around the eye

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Preventing eye injuries in children

According to the Vision Council, eye injuries are the number one cause of blindness in children. Fortunately, many injuries are preventable. Although it is impossible to prevent every eye injury, in many cases, proper precautions can significantly reduce the risk of eye injuries. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than 90% of eye injuries are preventable by wearing the proper protective eyewear. 

There are several ways to reduce the risk of eye injuries in children, including the following: 

Consider your child’s maturity level when selecting toys. Although toy packaging often indicates an age range, always consider your child’s maturity level before purchasing. Children develop emotionally at different rates. Not every child of a certain age is mature enough to safely use every toy. If in doubt, consider supervising your child when he is playing with the toy for the first few times.

Stress the need for proper eye protection. Sports-related eye injuries are one of the most frequent causes of eye injuries in children. But wearing well-fitted protective eyewear for the activity your child is doing can reduce the risk. 

Avoid projectile toys. Toys with projectile parts, such as darts, pellet guns, and arrows, can easily injure the eyes. Limiting this type of toy until your child is old enough to use these items responsibly is best. 

Check your home for safety precautions periodically. As your child ages, you may have to change the safety precautions you installed. 

As a reminder: 

• Keep dangerous sprays and chemicals out of reach. 
• Place safety latches on cabinets that store paint, pesticides, and lawn care products, which can burn the eyes.  
• Use safety gates on stairs in homes with young children.

Teach proper contact lens care at a young age. If your child is wearing contact lenses, they should be aware of how to handle, clean, and care for their lenses. Even school-age children can learn how to do their own lens care. Improper contact lens care can lead to an eye infection. 

Remember, if your child sustains an eye injury, even if you think it is minor, it is best to have it checked out by a healthcare provider. If you have any questions about how to protect your eyes, we are happy to help. Also, if you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600. 
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