According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, it is estimated that up to 90% of eye injuries could have been prevented if protective eyewear was worn! There are over 2 million eye injuries in the United States annually, and while some of these are from unavoidable injuries such as a car accident or a fall, many of these injuries occur due to not wearing the proper protective eyewear.
Protecting your eyes from injury is the most basic prevention measure you can take to help ensure that your vision remains healthy. It’s true that most eye injuries can be prevented if proper eye protection is worn, which is why the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that every household should have at least one pair of ANSI-approved eyewear located in their homes. ANSI-approved protective eyewear can be identified by the mark “Z87” that is placed on the glasses, and can be easily found and purchased at most hardware stores. Take this simple preventative step of having at least one pair of safety glasses available on hand to help ensure your eyes remain safe for years to come.
It’s October, and that means that it is Eye Injury Prevention Month! In recognition, we bring you some interesting facts and myths, as well as some helpful eye injury prevention tips.
FACTS AND MYTHS
- Eyes are not just damaged by debris, they can also be damaged by exposure to the sun, and so make sure you wear a pair of sunglasses every time you are outside!
- Did you know that men are more likely than women to sustain an eye injury?
- As reported in the fifth annual Eye Injury Snapshot conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, nearly half (44.7%) of all eye injuries have occurred in the home. This means that it’s not just at job sites that these injuries can occur! You are almost as likely to injure yourself at home.
- As reported in the Eye Injury Snapshot, more than 40% of eye injuries were caused by doing activities and projects such as cleaning, cooking, home repairs, and by doing yard work. In addition, more than a third (34.2%) of injuries was found to have occurred in the living areas, such as the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and in the bedrooms.
PREVENTION TIPS
1. When you are in the house
It is important to use appropriate eye protection to help prevent eye injuries from occurring when handling household chemicals. Many chemicals that are commonly used can cause blindness by permanently destroying the surface of your eyes. So when handling chemicals, be sure to wear protective eyewear and read the instructions and warning labels carefully. It is also important to work in a well-ventilated area, and make sure you never point a spray nozzle towards yourself.
2. When you are outside doing yard work
You should be wearing protective eyewear every time you are using a power trimmer, edger, or a lawnmower. Stones and rocks can easily become dangerous projectiles if they shoot out from these machines.
3. When you are working on a vehicle
You should have a pair of safety goggles in your vehicle at all times so they can be utilized for the everyday repairs, and so you can be prepared in the case of an emergency. In addition, batteries can be dangerous when jump-starting a vehicle so make sure you are aware of the proper way to jump start a car and wear protective eyewear to help protect yourself from battery acid sparks.
4. When you are in the workshop
While safety glasses are usually found in a workshop, it is important to make sure they actually get utilized. A workshop is filled with accidents waiting to happen, so make sure to shield your eyes from dust particles, splashing chemicals, flying fragments, fumes, and sparks by keeping those glasses on your noggin.