Children are particularly vulnerable to eye injuries due to their active lifestyles, curiosity, and often unawareness of potential dangers.

Eye Injury Prevention Month, observed in July, aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting eyes from injuries that can occur in various settings, including at home, at work, and during recreational activities. The need for this observance arises from several key factors:

 

High Incidence of Eye Injuries: Eye injuries are common and can happen to anyone at any time. Thousands of people sustain eye injuries each year, many of which could have been prevented with proper precautions.

 

Preventable Nature of Many Eye Injuries: Many eye injuries are preventable through the use of proper safety equipment, such as protective eyewear, and by following safety protocols. Eye Injury Prevention Month emphasizes the importance of taking these simple, proactive steps.

 

Serious Consequences: Eye injuries can have serious consequences, including vision impairment or loss. Raising awareness about prevention helps reduce the risk of these potentially life-altering injuries.

 

Workplace Safety: In many occupations, particularly those involving construction, manufacturing, and laboratory work, eye injuries are a significant risk. Promoting eye safety in the workplace can lead to a reduction in occupational injuries.

 

Children’s Safety: Children are also at risk of eye injuries, especially while playing. This observance helps highlight the importance of protecting young eyes and ensuring that children wear appropriate eye protection during activities that pose a risk.

 

Common Ways by Which We Hurt Our Eyes

 

Eye injuries can occur in several ways and settings. Here are some common causes of eye injuries:

 

• Foreign Objects: Small particles like dust, dirt, sand, or metal shavings can get into the eye and cause irritation or more severe damage.
• Chemicals: Exposure to chemicals, such as household cleaning products, industrial chemicals, or even cosmetics, can lead to chemical burns or irritation.
• Blunt Trauma: Accidents involving sports, falls, or being hit by an object can result in bruising, eye bone fractures, or more severe eye damage.
• Sharp Objects: Injuries from sharp objects like knives, scissors, tools, or even fingernails can cause cuts or punctures to the eye either penetrating or perforating injury to eyeball.
• UV Radiation: Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage the eyes and increase the risk of cataracts and other eye conditions.
• Digital Eye Strain: Extended use of computers, smartphones, and other digital devices can cause eye strain, discomfort, dryness and potential long-term damage.
• Welding: The intense light and heat generated by welding can cause “welder’s flash” or photokeratitis, a painful condition similar to sunburn on the surface of the eye.
• Contact Lenses: Improper use, poor hygiene, or wearing contact lenses for too long can lead to infections and other complications.
• Fireworks: Mishandling fireworks can result in serious eye injuries, including burns and trauma.
• Sports Injuries: Sports like basketball, baseball, and racquet sports pose a risk of eye injuries from balls, bats, or other equipment.
• Household Accidents: Activities like cooking, cleaning, and home repairs can lead to accidental eye injuries from splashes, spills, or flying debris.
• Workplace Hazards: Jobs that involve machinery, chemicals, or other hazards can pose significant risks to eye safety without proper protective measures.

How Are Children at The Risk of Eye Injury?

 

Children are particularly vulnerable to eye injuries due to their active lifestyles, curiosity, and often unawareness of potential dangers. Here are some common ways in which children are at risk of eye injuries:

 

• Playground Accidents: Running, climbing, and playing on playground equipment can lead to falls or collisions, resulting in eye injuries.
• Sports: Engaging in sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, or hockey without proper eye protection can result in eye injuries from balls, bats, or other players.
• Toys: Some toys, especially those with sharp edges, projectiles, or small parts, can cause eye injuries. Examples include toy guns, darts, and certain construction sets.
• Household Objects: Everyday items like pencils, scissors, and kitchen utensils can pose a risk if used improperly or without supervision.
• Chemicals: Exposure to household cleaning products, paints, or other chemicals can result in chemical burns or irritation if they come into contact with the eyes.
• Fireworks: Mishandling fireworks can lead to severe eye injuries, burns, and even blindness.
• Falls: Young children are prone to falling, which can result in blunt trauma to the eyes, especially if they fall onto sharp objects or hard surfaces.
• Animal Interactions: Pets, especially dogs and cats, can accidentally scratch or bite children, leading to eye injuries.
• UV Exposure: Prolonged exposure to the sun without adequate protection can cause damage to a child’s eyes, increasing the risk of conditions like cataracts later in life.
• Bicycles and Scooters: Riding without proper protective gear, including helmets with face shields or goggles, can result in eye injuries from falls or collisions.
• Art and Craft Supplies: Items like glue, paint, and scissors used during arts and crafts activities can pose a risk if not managed properly.

To minimize the risk of eye injuries in children, it is important to:

• – Supervise their activities, especially when using potentially dangerous objects.
• – Educate them about the importance of eye safety.
• – Provide and enforce the use of appropriate protective eyewear during sports
• – Ensure that toys are age-appropriate and free of sharp edges or small parts that could cause harm.
• – Store hazardous chemicals and sharp objects out of reach of young children.
• – Encourage regular breaks during activities that involve prolonged screen time to prevent digital eye strain.

Preventing Eye Injuries at Home and At the Workplace

 

Preventing eye injuries both at home and in the workplace involves a combination of awareness, proper safety measures, and the use of appropriate protective equipment. Here are some tips to help reduce the risk of eye injuries in these settings:

 

• At Home:
  • Use Protective Eyewear: Wear safety goggles when using power tools, chemicals, or engaging in activities that could result in flying debris or splashes.
  • Store Hazardous Materials Safely: Keep chemicals, cleaning products, and sharp objects out of reach of children and properly labelled.
  • Be Cautious with Sharp Objects: Handle knives, scissors, and other sharp objects carefully, and store them safely when not in use.
  • Childproof Your Home: Install safety gates, pad sharp corners, and keep small objects that can be choking hazards out of children’s reach.
  • Maintain Good Lighting: Ensure your home is well-lit to prevent accidents, especially in areas like staircases and hallways.
  • Use Caution with DIY Projects: Follow instructions carefully and use the appropriate tools and safety gear when doing home improvement or repair projects.
  • Practice Safe Play: Supervise children during playtime and ensure the use of age-appropriate toys that do not pose a risk to their eyes.
  • Wear Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from UV radiation by wearing sunglasses with 100% UV protection when outdoors.
• At the Workplace:
  • Conduct Risk Assessments: Regularly evaluate the workplace for potential eye hazards and implement appropriate safety measures.
  • Provide Safety Training: Ensure that employees are trained in eye safety, including the proper use of protective equipment and first aid for eye injuries.
  • Use Protective Eyewear: Provide and enforce the use of appropriate eye protection, such as safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets, based on the specific hazards of the job.
  • Install Safety Shields and Guards: Use machine guards, shields, and other protective devices on equipment that poses a risk of eye injury.
  • Follow Safety Protocols: Adhere to established safety protocols and guidelines.
  • Maintain a Clean Work Environment: Keep work areas clean and free of debris that could become airborne and cause eye injuries.
  • Proper Storage of Chemicals: Store chemicals safely. Use proper containers and labelling for hazardous substances.
  • Emergency Preparedness: Equip the workplace with eye wash stations and first aid kits and ensure employees should know how to use them in case of an emergency.
  • Regular Eye Exams: Encourage employees to have regular eye exams to ensure their vision is adequate for their tasks and to detect any potential issues early.
  • Monitor for Compliance: Regularly check that safety procedures are being followed and that protective equipment is being worn and maintained properly.

By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of eye injuries both at home and in the workplace, promoting a safer environment for everyone.

 

How To React in Case Someone Sustains an Eye Injury

 

• Stay Calm: Reassure the injured person and keep them calm to prevent further injury.
• Avoid Touching the Eye: Do not rub or apply pressure over the eye or attempt to remove any object from the eye.
• Do Not Rub the Eye: Rubbing can cause further damage.
• Do Not Apply Ointments or Medication: Avoid using any ointments or medications unless prescribed by a doctor.
• Avoid Pressure: Do not apply pressure to the injured eye.
• Keep the Person Still: Encourage the injured person to avoid moving their eye or eyelid.

Seek Medical attention under the following circumstance:

 

• Severe Pain: Persistent or severe pain in the eye.
• Vision Changes: Any changes in vision, such as blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision.
• Persistent Symptoms: Redness, swelling, discharge, or bleeding that does not improve.
• Embedded Objects: Any foreign object that is stuck in the eye.