July: Eye Injury Prevention Month

Protecting your eyes from injury is one of the most basic things you can do to keep your vision healthy throughout your life. Eye Injury Facts and Myths Men are more likely to sustain an eye injury than women. Accidental eye injury is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the United States. Approximately one million eye injuries occur each year in the United States. Ninety percent of these injuries are preventable. The leading causes of eye injuries include sports accidents, consumer fireworks, household chemicals and battery acid, as well as workshop and yard debris. More than 40 percent of eye injuries reported were caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. Eyes can be damaged by sun exposure, not just chemicals, dust or objects. One of the greatest threats to your eyes is invisible. Studies show that exposure to bright sunlight may increase the risk of developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and growths on the eye, including cancer. Among all eye injuries reported, more than 78 percent of people were not wearing eyewear at the time of injury. Of those reported to be wearing eyewear of some sort at the time of injury (including glasses or contact lenses), only 5.3 percent were wearing safety or sports glasses.

What You Can Do To Prevent Injury: In the house...when using household chemicals, read instructions and labels carefully, work in a well-ventilated area and make sure to point spray nozzles away from you. Many chemicals are extremely hazardous and can permanently destroy the surface of your eyes, resulting in blindness. In the workshop… wear protective eyewear to shield your eyes from flying fragments, fumes dust particles, sparks and splashing chemicals. In the garden...put on protective eyewear before you use a lawnmower, power trimmer or edger and be sure to check for rocks and stones because they can become dangerous projectiles as they shoot from these machines. Do not forget the risk to bystanders when using these machines. In the workplace...wear appropriate safety eyewear for your job. Many of the 2,000 employees who ere injured each day didn't think they needed eye protection or were wearing eyewear inappropriate for the job. Around the car...battery acid, sparks and debris from damaged or improperly jump-started auto batteries can severely damage your eyes. Keep protective goggles in the trunk of your car to use for those emergencies and everyday repairs. Outdoors…wear sunglasses that are 97-100% UV protection, and choose the kind that wrap around to your temples so the sun's rays can't enter from the side. Appropriate protective eyewear…should have ANSI Z87.1 marked on the lens or frame. Prevention is the first and most important step in protecting your eyes from injuries, so be sure to protect your eyes with appropriate protective eyewear. If you do experience an eye injury, seek medical attention prom

If You Experience an Eye Injury: Seek medical help immediately. Injuries such as cuts, chemical burns or foreign bodies stuck in the eye are emergencies. Don't try to treat these yourself - contact your Eye M.D. or emergency room for help immediately. Even a seemingly light blow can cause a serious eye injury. If a black eye, pain or visual problem occurs after a blow, contact your Eye M.D. or emergency department immediately. In case of a chemical burn to the eye, flush the eye with clean water and seek emergency medical treatment immediately.

Additional Resources: American Academy of Ophthalmology www.aao.org Eye and Face Protection E-Tool from DOL http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/eyeandface/faqs.html Workplace Eye Safety www.preventblindness.org