Eye safety and eye injuries

Most eye injuries can be prevented by wearing the right eye protection. Injuries happen at work, but many happen at home: while mowing the lawn, using tools, cleaning with strong chemicals, playing sports or setting off fireworks.

An eye injury can be a scratch, a chemical burn, a cut, a hard blow or something stuck in the eye. Some serious injuries don’t look bad at first and may not hurt much. That is why any eye injury deserves a check by a doctor.

Everyday glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses do not protect your eyes from injury. Regular lenses and frames can break and cause more harm. Safety glasses and sports goggles are made with strong, impact-resistant lenses and frames that stay in place. They can be made with your prescription built in.

At home and in the yard

• Wear safety glasses when you mow, trim, use power tools, hammer, drill or sand.
• Read the label on cleaning products. Never mix them, and point spray nozzles away from your face.
• Wear goggles when using strong chemicals, such as oven cleaner, drain cleaner or bleach.
• Keep chemicals, sprays and sharp tools out of children’s reach.
• Take care with elastic cords, which can snap back toward your face.
• Use good lighting and handrails on stairs, and remove loose rugs, to help prevent falls.

At work

• Wear the eye protection your job calls for, every time.
• Look for safety eyewear marked as meeting safety standards. In the United States, look for “Z87” on the frame.
• Use goggles for chemical splashes, and a proper welding helmet or shield for welding.

Sports and play

• Wear sports goggles or a face guard with impact-resistant lenses for sports with balls, pucks, racquets or sticks.
• Use a helmet with a face guard for batting and for hockey.
• Choose toys that fit your child’s age, and avoid toys that shoot objects for young children.
• Never shine a laser pointer at anyone’s eyes.

Fireworks

Leave fireworks to trained professionals, and watch from a safe distance. Never let children play with fireworks, including sparklers, which burn hot enough to cause serious burns.

• Children, since many eye injuries happen during play and sports. Make eye protection part of the gear.
• People who play sports such as baseball, basketball, hockey, lacrosse and racquet sports.
• People whose work involves flying bits, dust, chemicals or bright light, such as construction, factory, farm, auto repair, cleaning and welding work.
• Anyone doing home repairs or yard work.
• Older adults, since falls are a common cause of eye injuries.
• People who see well out of only one eye, or who have had eye surgery. Ask your eye doctor about wearing impact-resistant glasses all the time.