How much do you fear the possibility of going blind? If you answered “a lot”, you’re not alone. Losing our eyesight is one of the general public’s greatest fears.Some polls have found that respondents consider losing their vision as bad as - or worse than - losing their hearing, memory, speech, or even a limb.
Despite this fear, relatively few of us take the next step in vision care: prevention. Consider the following statistics from theAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology:
Thousands of eye accidents happen each day (andmillions strike every year). 90% of them are 100% preventable.
When asked if they wear the proper eyewear to prevent these injuries, only 35% of respondents say they do so when performing home repairs or maintenance.
Even fewer respondents report wearing protective eyewear while playing sports.
These numbers just don’t add up. That’s why this Eye Injury Prevention Month, we want to help give them a boost - and help you address some of the fears you have about losing your sight.
Home Is Where The Danger Is
These days, a number of eye injuries take place in the home. While workplace regulations and rules add a layer of safety on the job, we are ultimately responsible for what happens in our living spaces. As a result,accidents involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year.
Fortunately, it's easy to address these risk factors so that your home is safer and more vision friendly:
Keeping stairs well lit and maintaining stair handrails will reduce your risk of falling, which can lead to an eye injury.
Before mowing your lawn, you should always inspect the area and remove debris - lawn mowers can throw this debris into your face or into the faces of any nearby friends or family members.
Never use a damaged tool for housework; they are much more likely to lead to an accident during housework.
Always follow directions on paints, fertilizers, home cleaning products and chemicals, and similar items. This will ensure they're used and stored safely.
Wear safety glasses or dust goggles when working to protect against flying particles. Additionally, wear chemical goggles to guard against exposure to fertilizers, pesticides, hazardous solvents, and detergents. Remember: regular eyeglasses rarely provide enough protection for this kind of work!
Ready, Set, Play Ball (Safely)
Did you know thatmore than 25,000 people seek treatment for sports-related eye injuries each year? Not to worry - these injuries are also very preventable!
All sports players - casual or otherwise - should wear the appropriate safety goggles for their sport of choice. Helmets and face shields may also be necessary, depending on the guidelines for your specific sport of interest.
