July is Eye Injury Prevention Month

Summertime is here and with it comes a wide array of moments that can put your eyes at risk for accidental injury. Most people think that eye injuries only occur in industries like construction or landscaping, but the truth is, nearly half of all eye injuries occur right at home.

From lawn maintenance and house improvements to tasks such as cleaning and cooking, the American Academy of Ophthalmology shows 90 percent of eye injuries can be avoided by simply using the correct protective eye gear.

Below are some resources Floridians can use this summer, and year-round, to protect their eyes.

Facts:

• Nearly half of eye injuries happen at home, through home repairs, yard work and cooking
• Chemicals in cleaning products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year
• Exposure to the sun can also damage eyes
• Only about three out of every 10 people wear protective ye gear while working on home projects

Sources:

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/preventing-injuries

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries-in-home

Tips on keeping your eyes safe:

There are many ways that you can protect your eyes from injury but perhaps the most common solution is to wear protective eye gear. Goggles and glasses are made for every activity, from home improvement to sports activities, and resources for finding the correct ones can be found here.

Protecting your eyes while at home, work or during leisure time is important not just for you but for others around you.If the activities you are taking a part in include debris or flying particles, that could get into your eyes or the eyes of those around you, that you and others keep a safe distance with the correct protective gear.

Using grease shields when cooking high-splatter foods can keep hot oil and grease away from your eyes and other body parts.

Generally, keep a careful eye on your surroundings, use protective eye gear and keep a safe distance for you and others when doing potentially dangerous work.

For tips to safely enjoy fireworks this summer season, click here to review the American Academy of Ophthalmology resources and tips.

Sources:

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/preventing-injuries

Recognizing injuries:

Recognizing eye injuries isn’t always as easy as seeing it. For example, a detached retina is an injury that can only be seen during an examination, while some injuries can cause slow bleeding that isn’t always obvious at first.

Eye injuries can cause serious vision issues, including vision loss and blindness so it’s critically important that if you have or suspect that you have an eye injury you go see an ophthalmologist or medical doctor as soon as possible.

While you should never attempt to treat a serious eye injury yourself, there are some symptoms that may alert you that something could be wrong, including:

• Trouble seeing
• Pain in the eye
• Something in the eye that cannot be removed with tears or blinking
• Blood in the clear part of eye
• Unusual pupil size or shape
• One eye sticks out further than the other
• One eye doesn’t move as well as the other
• Damage to the eyelid
• Scratches in the eye

General first aid tips for eye injuries include:

• If a chemical gets in your eyes, immediately flush the eyes with a large amount of clean water and seek medical attention immediately, as some chemicals can cause more serious eye damage than others.
• If you have a small particle in your eye, do not rub the eye, allow your tears or an eyewash solution to flush out whatever is in there. Seek medical attention if the particle does not wash out easily.
• If you have a scratch or cut on your eye, or get hit in the eye, do not rub, touch, or apply pressure to the eye. Cover the eye with a shield and see a doctor as soon as possible.
• Note that over the counter eye medications might make the issues worse.

Sources:

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries