1. Not wearing protective eyewear
2. Not protecting eyes from ultraviolet rays
3. Not getting regular eye exams
4. Ignoring existing eye problems
5. Not following your doctor’s orders for eye care, diabetes care
6. Not keeping dangerous toys/items away from children
7. Smoking
8. Using fireworks
9. Alcohol-related eye injuries

1. Not wearing protective eyewear during certain activities at home, work or while participating in sports. Depending on the activity, appropriate eye protection may include goggles, face masks, helmets and glasses with shatter-resistant, polycarbonate lenses.
   
   At Home — about half of all eye injures occur at home, in the workshop, garage, garden and other areas. Examples include:
   • Using chemical substances that splash into the eyes
   • Jumpstarting a car battery (getting battery acid in the eyes)
   • Gardening (dirt, pebbles, etc. can fly into the eyes)
   • Using power tools (flying debris can hit the eyes)
   • Mowing the lawn or using a lawn edger (debris can fly into the eyes)
   • Hammering (small pieces of material can fly into eye as hammer hits intended surface)
   • Clearing brush (branches scratching or poking the eye)
   
   At Work — certain jobs — such as those involving power tools, chemicals, hammering and others — require wearing eye protection. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) provides specific eye protection guidelines, and employers and employees need to adhere to the safety guidelines.
   
   During Sports — according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), more than 40,000 sports-related eye injuries occur in the United States each year, and about one-third of the injuries happen to children. The AAO recommends using eye/face protection and helmets for many sports.
   
   Sports with the highest potential for eye injuries include racquetball, tennis, squash, hockey, baseball, basketball, football and golf. Eye injuries occur when a ball in play — particularly a small ball — flies toward the eye. Injuries also occur when another player’s elbow, finger or racquet hits your eye.
   
   “Many people don’t wear goggles when participating in these sports, but they should,” Dr. Sheth said. “This includes children; we see a lot of kids with sports-related eye injuries, especially during the summer.”
   
   Other sports in which eye injuries are more common include:
   • Bungee jumping — bungee cords can cause severe eye injuries when a person is struck in the eye as the cord recoils.
   • Paintball, a game that simulates military combat in which opposing teams try to eliminate each other by shooting capsules of paint at them. If eye/face protection is not used, serious injuries can occur if a paintball hits an eye.
     
     
2. Not protecting eyes from damaging ultraviolet rays — prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause significant eye damage, ranging from temporary discomfort to problems such as cataracts, growths around the eyelids and macular degeneration (a condition in which the macula — the part of the retina responsible for central vision — deteriorates, resulting in central vision loss). UV-A and UV-B rays are the most harmful UV rays. Sunglasses can protect eyes from harmful UV rays. Look for sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV-A and UV-B protection, and have children wear sunglasses well. Wearing a wide-brim hat can further reduce your eye’s exposure to UV rays.
   
   
3. Not getting regular eye exams — The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends that adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease get a baseline eye disease screening at age 40, when early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to occur. (The recommendation does not replace regular visits to an eye care professional to treat ongoing disease or injuries or for vision examinations.) After that, your eye care professional will recommend a schedule of regular eye exams.
   
   People at any age with certain risk factors for eye problems (diabetes, a family history of eye problems, a history of eye injury or African-American over age 40) should see an eye doctor who will then determine the frequency of the exams.
   
   The AAO also recommends vision testing for all children starting around 3 years old during regular pediatric appointments. Young adults should have a complete eye exam at least once between the ages of 20 and 29 and at least twice between the ages of 30 and 39. People age 65 and over should have complete eye exams every one to two years to check for cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions.
   
   
4. Ignoring existing eye problems — anyone with an eye injury or problem should seek immediate care. Early detection and treatment of eye conditions and diseases are key to preventing loss of sight. Any changes in the appearance of your eyes or vision should be investigated. If you notice any signs of potential eye problems, see an eye doctor for a complete eye exam.
   
   
5. Not following your doctor’s orders for eye care, diabetes care
   
   
   • Contact lens wearers — improper care or excessive wearing of contact lenses increases the risk of corneal infection, which can lead to permanent vision loss. Not using the right contact lens solutions for your contacts, or accidentally using a lens cleaning solution instead of a wetting/soaking solution, can also damage your eyes.
   • People with glaucoma — not using eye drops as prescribed increases the risk of significant eye damage and vision loss for people with glaucoma.
   • People with diabetes — not controlling blood sugar increases the risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that can cause decreased vision and even blindness.
   
   
6. Not keeping dangerous toys/items away from children — read the labels on toys to ensure they’re appropriate for your child’s age. Don’t give young children pens/pencils, spoons or other objects that could poke an eye. Children are also vulnerable to eye injuries caused by falling into a sharp furniture edge. Buy furniture corner protectors to soften the edges of sharp corners on furniture, cabinets and windowsills.
   
   
7. Smoking — smoking is a risk factor for developing cataracts, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy (for people who have diabetes). Numerous studies have shown that smokers have a higher incidence of these eye diseases.
   
   
8. Using fireworks — each July 4, the Eye Institute cares for children and adults injured by fireworks. The best advice: Don’t buy or use fireworks!
   
   
9. Alcohol-related eye injuries — use caution when popping a champagne cork, which can greatly damage the eyes. And remember that eye injuries (as well as many other types of injuries) may result from consuming too much alcohol.

What to Do if You Injure an Eye

• Rub the eye.
• Attempt to remove a foreign object in the eye.
• Put pressure on the eye.

• Place a shield (such as a paper cup) gently over the eye to avoid further injury or pressure on the eye.
• Seek immediate medical attention from an ophthalmologist or hospital emergency department.
• For a chemical injury to the eye, rinse the eye with plenty of clean water for 10-15 minutes and then seek emergency treatment immediately.

Author: Marla Fraunfelder

Date: Nov. 1, 2007

Online Editor(s): Christopher Sadler