Spotlight on Home Eye Injury Prevention | Home Eye Safety Month

Eye injuries can occur anywhere, including at work or during recreational activities. However, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says approximately half of eye injuries occur at home. 

Researchers are not exactly sure why injuries occur so often at home. It may be in part because people tend to be comfortable in their own homes. They are not on guard, so they may not take as many precautions as they would outside the home. It may also be because people are engaging in activities such as yard work, cooking, and home improvement projects that can lead to eye injuries.
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October is Home Eye Safety Month. It is an effort to raise awareness and highlight the number of eye injuries that occur in the home. The article below provides safety tips and recommendations to decrease your risk of an eye injury at home.

What the research says

Below are some statistics on eye injuries as reported by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

• The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that more than 40% of eye injuries occur during home repairs, yard work, and cleaning and cooking in the home.
• More than 78% of people are not wearing safety eyewear when they have an eye injury. 
• Men are more likely than women to sustain an eye injury.
• Chemicals cause about 125,000 eye injuries yearly.
• According to Prevent Blindness, about 90% of eye injuries are preventable.

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Reducing your risk of eye injuries at home

One of the most important things you can do is wear safety goggles when doing yard work or home improvement projects to protect against flying objects.

Remember, regular eyeglasses do not protect against flying debris. You should choose impact-resistant safety goggles when working with tools or projects that can produce flying particles.

Several additional things, including those listed below, can also be done at home to prevent common eye injuries.

• Grease shields should be used on frying pans to reduce the risk of splattering oil when cooking.
• Read all labels on cleaning products before using them, and do not mix cleaning agents. 
• If you have little ones at home, install drawer locks in the kitchen and bathroom to prevent children from getting a hold of products that may be harmful to their eyes.
• Use cleaning products in well-ventilated areas to prevent fumes from burning your eyes.
• Make sure your stairways and hallways are well-lit to reduce the risk of falls, especially if you have elderly adults living with you.

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What to do if you sustain an eye injury at home 

Any eye injury other than small scratches on the eye can be potentially serious. If you cannot get in to see an eye specialist quickly, consider going to the emergency room.

At first glance, an eye injury can appear to be minor, but there may be unseen damage, so it is better to err on the side of caution and have an eye injury checked out.

If you sustain an eye injury at home, consider the following suggestions.

• Do not rub or touch your eye.
• Do not try to remove any foreign objects stuck in the eye.
• Do not put any medication into your eye.
• If you sustain a chemical injury, rinse your eye thoroughly with lukewarm water.
• If your eye has been punctured or cut, place a protective covering over the eye, but avoid putting any pressure on the eye.

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.