Did you know you can prevent 90 percent of all eye injuries? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), wearing the appropriate protective eyewear can lower your risk of eye injuries. If you are not wearing protective eyewear whenever you need to, you are not alone.

A national study by AAO showed that 65 percent of Americans said they did not always use protective eyewear when doing home maintenances or repair. Many more people said they did not protect their eyes when playing sports.

Why Is This Important?

Startling truths about eye injuries from reviews by AAO showed that:

·      Close to 50 percent of all eye injuries happen at home. That is contrary to what most people believe. Many people think that eye injuries mainly occur on construction sites or factories.

·      More than one-third of the eye injuries in homes occurred in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, or bathroom.

·      Over 40 percent of eye injuries come from sports or leisure activities.

·      Over 78 percent of people did not wear eye protection when the injury happened.

Thousands of eye injuries can take place every day. The injuries are of equal threat to onlookers and those using unsafe chemicals or tools at work or home. You can stop most of these injuries by taking safety measures.

Preventing Eye Injuries

Here is how you can cut your risk of eye injuries in your home, at work, or when engaging in sports and outdoor hobbies.

At Home

Regular eyeglasses cannot always protect your eyes from chemicals, particles, and flying rubble. When cleaning, you should wear safety glasses to shield your eyes from dust, chemicals, and tiny objects that may enter your eye.

Store paint, detergents, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals away in a secure place. Ensure that you replace their lids securely and wear eye protection when using these chemicals. Likewise, keep your gardening tools, brooms, and lawnmower clean and in secure storage.

Also, ensure that your staircases have proper lighting and handrails. That lowers the risk of falling and injuring your head and eyes.

At Work

The federal government recommends using protective eyewear when working around projectiles, chemicals, radiation, and bloodborne microorganisms.

If you use computers for most of your workdays, you may benefit from wearing eyeglasses that reduce digital eyestrain. You can also protect your eyes by taking regular breaks from your computer or phone.

For example, you can follow the 20-20-20 rule. It involves looking away from your computer for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away from your eyes. Take this break every 20 minutes.

At Play

Safety goggles, sunglasses, and helmets should be part of your sport or leisure activities. These keep your eyes safe from sun damage, flying things like pucks and balls, chemicals, or bacteria in swimming pool water.

See Your Eye Doctor

If you get an eye injury at home, school, work, or vacation, see your eye doctor immediately, even if your eye does not hurt. The tiniest cut or particle in your eye can cause long-term damage.

For more on preventing eye injuries, visit Advanced Eyecare Center PC at our office in Urbandale, Iowa. You can also call 515-303-4488 today to schedule an appointment.