After mowing my lawn recently, I used the string trimmer to trim the tall grass around the house and the edges of the flower beds. As debris was flying from the trimmer, a piece of it flew up and hit me. Fortunately, it hit my safety glasses and no damage was done to my eyes.
That incident made me realize that I should be discussing eye safety for common tasks that most of us are doing regularly. Some other common things that safety eyewear is essential include home improvement projects, yardwork, car repair, handling chemicals, welding, using bungee cords, and applying makeup (think eyeliner pencils and mascara brushes ladies).
Additionally, most sports pose a risk for eye injuries from someone or something hitting the eye. Some common things that can injure the eyes include a finger poke, wind blown dust or dirt, ultraviolet sun radiation, paintballs, fireworks, or equipment (bats, balls, sticks).
It is estimated that 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States annually, and nearly one million Americans have lost some degree of eyesight due to an eye injury, according to Prevent Blindness America.
Optometrists agree that nearly 90 percent of these injuries could be prevented with simple steps. The website allaboutvision.com recommends that we should avoid distractions when doing anything that could potentially harm the eyes. We should resist the temptation to multi-task when working with tools or other objects near the eyes. And always wear safety glasses, protective goggles, or other sports eyewear for greater safety when the situation calls for it.
In my practice I have seen all types of eye injuries. I have seen a patient that scratched their eye with their fingernail while rubbing it. Several patients have had metal embedded in the eye from working on cars and motorcycles and woodworking. Another had a retinal detachment from getting hit in the eye with a volleyball. Yet another had a branch poke to the eye from yardwork that left vegetative debris embedded in the eye.
If you suffer any eye injury, you should call your optometrist immediately for guidance. Most optometrists, including me, are available after hours for this specific reason. The emergency room or urgent care center may not be equipped to examine your eyes properly and my not even have an eye care professional on staff to properly treat your injury.
Remember, we are only given one pair of eyes, and we should take good care of them!
Dr. H
Tags: eye emergency, eye injuries, optometrist, safety eyewear, safety glasses, sports eyewear, sports glasses
