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The Eye Institute

Eye Safety Month: Know How to Protect Your Eyes at Home, at Work and at Play

  • 25 October 2016

Proper vision and eye care goes beyond just wearing glasses or contacts and having an eye exam as recommended. Protecting your eyes from injury is one of the most overlooked aspects of eye health. Being aware of the potential risks for eye injuries is the first step in understanding how to prevent them.   

Child with an eye injuryEye Injury Facts:

  • Your eyes are at risk of injury every day. You are just as likely to get injured at home as you are during an intense baseball game. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, “nearly half (44.7 percent) of all eye injuries occurred in the home.”
  • Eye injuries can happen at any age.
  • Eyes can be damaged by something as simple as sun exposure. 

How can you protect yourself and your family?

Protection at Home - The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma recommend that every household have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear. These glasses help protect eyes while doing household projects using tools and machinery.

Protection at Work – Certain industries pose a greater risk of eye injuries, i.e. construction workers. Safety precautions such as wearing protective eyewear or sunglasses with UV protection if you work outside should be taken while performing your job. Ask your human resources department about the safety standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for your working conditions.

Protection at Play – Always wear protective glasses, goggles, and helmets while playing sports and other recreational activities. These devices can help reduce the chance of eye injuries that may happen while participating in various recreational activities.

Most importantly, always inform your optometrist about your hobbies and daily activities so they can recommend the right pair of glasses for you. Whether you love to garden, clean the house or work in the garage, your eyes need protection.  If an injury does occur, contact your optometrist or other medical doctor to examine the eye as soon as possible.  

The Eye Institute of Salus University offers emergency ocular care services in addition to its general and specialty practices for its patients. Call 215-276-3035 if you have an emergency and have been a patient within the past three years.