The easiest step to protecting your eyes around your home is to wear protective eyewear. Â Protective eyewear can prevent 90% of eye injuries around the home. Â Remember that prescription glasses don’t always provide enough protection. Â For most repair projects and activities around the home, standard ANSI-approved protective eyewear should be efficient. Approved eyewear will have ANSI Z87.1 marked either on the lens or the frame. Â ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute. Â Â This type of eyewear can be easily found at your local hardware store.
Common home eye injuries we see in our clinic: Tree branches/twigs to the eye; debris in eye from the lawnmower; particles or wood, metal, dust and paint in the eye; and exposure to harmful chemicals.
Injuries around the home are not limited to household chores or remodeling projects. Â If there are small children in the home, there may be some extra precautions needed around the home. Â Inspect toys for small, sharp parts. Â Pay attention to seemingly harmless items like pencils and pens. Â Keep these out of reach. Store personal items, chemicals, and kitchen utensils stored in a secure area.
Below are some links to articles that have great information on how to protect yourself from eye injuries, not only in October, but all year long!
Prevent Blindness America – Eye Safety At Home
EyeSmart – Preventing Eye Injuries