American Academy of Ophthalmology Urges Americans to Protect Eyes While Performing Common Activities

SAN FRANCISCO – Mowing the lawn, jump starting a car, cleaning the kitchen – everyday activities that usually happen without a hitch. However, these and many other common chores can come at a price: serious eye injuries and permanent vision loss.

Nearly 2.5 million people suffer eye injuries each year in the United States, and nearly one million people have lost some degree of vision as a result. Most could have been prevented with protective eyewear.

“The most ordinary activities can cause extraordinary damage to the eyes,” said American Academy of Ophthalmology clinical correspondent, M. Bowes Hamill, MD.

October is Eye Injury Prevention Month, and the Academy and ophthalmologists around the country urge Americans to protect their eyes when engaged in everyday activities.

Dr. Hamill, associate professor of ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston,  offered the following prevention tips for both indoor and outdoor activities:

• In the house – When using household chemicals, read the instructions and labels carefully, work in a well-ventilated area and make sure to point spray nozzles away from you. Many chemicals are extremely hazardous and can permanently destroy the surface of your eyes, resulting in blindness. For this reason, it is very important to use appropriate eye protection (goggles) to prevent blinding consequences from chemical splashes.
  
• In the workshop – Think about the work you will be doing and wear protective eyewear to shield your eyes from flying fragments, fumes, dust particles, sparks and splashing chemicals. Many objects can fly into your eyes unexpectedly and cause injury.
  
• In the garden – Put on protective eyewear before you use a lawnmower, power trimmer or edger and be sure to check for rocks and stones because they can become dangerous projectiles as they shoot from these machines.
  
• In the workplace – Wear appropriate safety eyewear for your job.  Many of the thousands injured each day didn't think they needed eye protection or were wearing eyewear inappropriate for the job.
  
• In the garage – Battery acid, sparks and debris from damaged or improperly jump-started auto batteries can severely damage your eyes. Learn the proper way to jump-start an automobile, and keep protective goggles in the trunk of your car to use for those emergencies and everyday repairs.

Accidents Happen
Sometimes even the most conscientious person can injure their eyes. Dr. Hamill said it is imperative to seek medical help immediately in case of injury.

“Injuries such as cuts, chemical burns or foreign bodies stuck in the eye are emergencies,” he said. “Don't try to treat these injuries yourself; contact your Eye M.D. or go to the emergency room for help immediately.”

Even a seemingly light blow can cause a serious eye injury. If a black eye, pain or visual problem occurs after a blow, contact your Eye M.D. or seek emergency medical help immediately. The same goes for a chemical burn to the eye. Flush the eye with clean water and seek emergency medical treatment immediately, Dr. Hamill said.

“With just a little care and common sense, you can go a long way toward protecting your precious gift of sight,” said Dr. Hamill. “It is also important to set a good example for your children. If they see you protecting your eyes, they will learn that it is the right thing to do.”

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About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
AAO is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons—Eye M.D.s—with more than 27,000 members worldwide.  Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” – opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org.