Friends for Sight wants to remind you that one in four eye injuries happen during home repair and to take safety measures to reduce your risk of eye injury.
Did you know?
- Nearly 50 percent of eye injuries occur at home
- Accidents involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year
- The most frequent places eye injuries occur are the garden and the garage.
- Regular eyeglasses don’t always provide enough protection for projects and activities that can cause eye injuries.
Eye Injuries at Home
Each year, nearly 50 percent of eye injuries occur at home – many of which happen while performing routine tasks such as cleaning and cooking, mowing and repairing, or working in the garage on the car. In fact, more eye injuries occur at home than at school and work combined. Because many of these tasks are part of our daily routine, it is easy to become complacent! However, taking proper safety precautions, both indoors and outdoors, to can help protect your eyes and body from unnecessary injury.
Protect Your Eyes – Even at Home!
Protect your eyes! The American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Ocular Trauma recommend that every household have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear to use for projects and activities that may cause an eye injury. Remember, regular corrective lenses do not protect your eyes against injury! When cooking use shields, as this will prevent hot oils from splashing on your body, face, and especially into your eyes.
Caution Around Hazards!
Caution around hazards! When using hazardous products (e.g., bleach, detergents, cleansers) never mix chemical agents or other abrasive substances. Read the labels of chemicals and cleaners carefully. Always use hazardous products in well-ventilated areas. Make sure that all spray nozzles are directed away from you. Remember to wash your hands after completing a task and before touching your eyes or face! Be sure cleaners are out of the reach of children and properly put away when they are not being used.
Maintain Your Home Safely
Home improvement projects, repairs and outdoor maintenance all have risks! Here are some routine tasks from the American Academy of Ophthalmology that require safety measures, including protective eyewear, to prevent injury.
- Drilling or hammering screws or nails into walls or hard surfaces like brick or cement. Screws or nails can fly into the air, or fragments or dust particles that are released.
- Mowing the lawn. Check for sticks, rocks, debris and even toys that can fly out from under the mower.
- Trimming and edging bushes. Be cautious when using a power trimmer and when clipping hedges.
- Using power or hand tools. Maintain tools and repair or replace damaged tools. Store safely.
What Else Should I Know?
Recommendations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology for an eye injury: DO NOT rub or touch the eye, DO NOT apply medication to the eye, and DO NOT attempt to remove any debris from the eye. If the eye injury is caused by a chemical in the eye, thoroughly flush the eye with water. For all eye injuries seek medical attention immediately.
Learn More
Read and Recognizing and Treating Eye Injuries and Safety Glasses and Protective Eyewear from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
1. Eye Injuries at Home. American Academy of Ophthalmology. (Accessed April 20, 2022); 2. Eye Injuries by Type and Age. Prevent Blindness. 2022; 3. Preventing Eye Injuries American Academy of Ophthalmology. (Accessed April 20, 2022