Did you know that eye injuries occur in the United States at a rate of about 2,000 per day? Nearly half of these injuries occur in the workplace, but eye injuries can happen anywhere or at anytime if proper prevention measures aren’t taken. July is Eye Injury Prevention Month, so what better time is there to discuss what you can do to avoid becoming a part of these statistics?
What is an Eye Injury?
An eye injury is defined as any type of trauma, either physical or chemical, that damages or irritates the eye. The majority of eye injuries involve falling or flying objects, but eye injuries can also occur if chemicals or even sparks enter the eyes. Eye injuries may include symptoms such as eye redness, bruising, swelling, bleeding between the cornea and the iris, and double vision. Some eye injuries, such as a black eye from a sports injury, are minor, while others could be much more severe. Treatment for an eye injury will depend on the severity of the injury.
Eye Injuries Can Happen to Anyone
As mentioned earlier, nearly half of all eye injuries occur during work accidents. But that isn’t the only place where they can happen. They can occur at home as well, such as while you’re mowing the lawn, using household chemicals, jump-starting the car or even working in the garden. Jobs that run the risk eye injury often require workers to wear protective eyewear, but unfortunately this is something many people don’t often think to do in their leisure time.
Protect Your Eyes
Wearing protective eyewear, such as goggles or safety glasses, is important if you work at a job like welding or construction where you run a high risk of eye injury. But protective eyewear should also be worn if you’re working around the house, performing car maintenance, or even playing sports. Protective eyewear will act as a shield against any harmful material that could harm your eyes.
Treating an Eye Injury
Serious eye injuries may not always be immediately obvious. However if left untreated, some eye injuries may potentially cause vision loss or other serious eye problems. It is important to seek medical attention if you or a loved one experience any symptoms associated with an eye injury. You should call 911 for more severe injuries, such as chemical exposure to the eye or a puncture wound. Never rub or add any kind of pressure to your eye if you suspect it is injured.
Eye injuries are common, but they are also easily prevented if the proper protection measures are taken. Be sure that you are protecting your eyes anytime there is a risk of flying debris, falling objects, or chemical exposure. This will help ensure that your eyes will be safe and you won’t have to make a trip to the doctor!
