More results...
October 04, 2022
Eye injuries can happen anywhere, even when you’re at home. Fortunately, there are ways to help prevent them. In honor of #HomeEyeSafetyMonth, here are a few tips to help minimize eye injuries at home.
Using protective eyewear, like safety goggles, is one of the most effective ways to prevent eye injuries at home. Protective eyewear provides a barrier between your eyes and things like dirt and chemicals that can cause potential eye injuries.
Just make sure the protective eyewear you choose has been verified by the American National Standard Institution. Their seal of approval means the eyewear will provide optimum eye protection when performing household activities.
Even with protective eyewear, keeping debris and chemicals out of your eyes can be difficult. Sometimes we forget to wash our hands before we rub our eyes or wind can stir up tiny specs of dirt into our eyes. In these situations, it’s important to flush the debris out of your eyes to prevent an injury.
For example, if you accidentally spray air freshener or hairspray in your face and it gets in your eyes, immediately flush them out with water for about 15 minutes. The same rule applies if you get dirt into your eyes.
On top of that, be very careful not to rub your eyes when they feel irritated. If debris is causing the irritation, rubbing your eyes can cause corneal abrasions and other severe eye injuries.
Instead, flush your eyes out with lubricating eye drops, or let your natural tears wash away the debris.
Some of the most severe eye injuries are caused by accidental falls. While some falls are unavoidable, there are a few things you can do to minimize the risk of accidents in general.
For example, installing non-slip rugs, secure hand railings, and gates can help prevent accidental falls at home. You can also make sure your house is sufficiently lit. Adding brighter lights for daytime and night lights for the evenings can make it easier to see where you’re going and any obstructions that could be in your way.
While eye strain is not technically an eye injury, it can cause serious eye issues. Straining your eyes at home is usually a result of looking at a screen for too long. So when you’re watching TV or surfing the web, you want to be aware of how your eyes feel. If they start to ache, take a break and let your eyes rest.
Along with that, following the 20-20-20 rule is also a good practice. This is where you look at a stationary object that’s 20 feet away for 20 seconds for every 20 minutes that you’re in front of the computer or TV. This allows your eyes to relax and helps to prevent eye strain.
While it may not seem very likely, you’re susceptible to eye injuries anywhere, even at home. So be safe and take the necessary precautions to prevent injury and follow the tips outlined above.
Here at OOMC, our patient’s well-being is our priority. Our dedicated team of surgeons and staff always makes an effort to create a safe and secure environment where you can easily access care comfortably and confidently.
Contact one of our centers nearest to you for further information.
Corneal Associates of New Jersey
Kremer Eye Center
Ludwick Eye Center
Omni Eye Services
Phillips Eye Center
