Learn How to Prevent Eye Injuries

October 2nd, 2020
close up of eye

October is Eye Injury Prevention Month, sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. This month focuses on bringing awareness to the millions of avoidable eye injuries that occur each year and shows the need for appropriate eye protection in various settings.

Nearly 2.5 million people suffer an eye injury each year — of these, about 90% could have been prevented with protective eyewear. It’s important to know that more than half of these injuries occur in the home, not on the job, as many people would suspect. Continue reading to learn how you can protect your vision and what to do if you encounter a serious injury.

Various Types of Eye Injuries

 

Sports Injuries

Trauma from falls and forceful impacts during both contact and non-contact sports can damage the eye socket. That’s why most professional sports require some form of face shield or goggles to protect athletes. Depending on the sport, there are different forms of ASTM-approved eyewear. However, the problem occurs during recreational pickup games when you may not think of protecting your eyes. Just as you wear proper footwear, be sure to protect your eyes with correct eyewear.

Work Injuries

Approximately 20,000 eye injuries occur on the job each year ranging from eye strain in desk jobs to trauma from flying objects. No matter the line of work, most physical labor requires eye protection in accordance with OSHA standards.

Sun Damage

Powerful sun rays can lead to corneal burns and pterygium growths for people who spend a lot of time outside. Sunlight can even reflect off sidewalks, snow, and other unlikely surfaces and cause damage. Shop for sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays for total protection.

The following activities suggest ANSI protective eyewear, which can be found in a typical hardware store.

Chemical Burns

Various household items contain chemicals that can burn and permanently damage the eyes, including cleaning products, pesticides, and cooking items. Not only can these items splash up onto your face, but the fumes are often so strong that they may also cause damage.

During Housework

DIY projects and yardwork kick up debris and other objects in the air that can land in your eye and scratch your cornea. Depending on size, the damage can be more severe.

How to Treat Eye Injuries

When you injure an eye, there are crucial steps you should take to ensure you don’t worsen the damage:

  •  Don’t touch or rub your eye
    •    Don’t apply medication
    •    Don’t try to remove objects lodged in the eye by yourself
    •    Protect your eyes
    •    If from chemicals, flush the eyes with water
    •    Seek medical attention from the best eye doctors in Dallas

If you have suffered an eye injury, you should continue to monitor it with a comprehensive eye exam every 1 to 2 years. The best eye doctors in Dallas at Kleiman Evangelista will ensure that your vision has not been affected by your injury. With state-of-the-art technology, we can create individualized solutions that fit your lifestyle to correct your damaged vision and restore clarity.

Turn To The Top Eye Doctors In Texas

Check out one of our locations below for the best eye care near you: