Prevention is the most important step in avoiding eye injuries. Eye injuries can occur at work, home or while playing sports. Accidental eye injury is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the United States with approximately 1 million eye injures occurring each year. Ninety percent (90%) of all eye injuries are preventable if appropriate eyewear is worn.

Forty three percent (43%) of all eye injuries occur around the house. Eyewear protection is the key in avoiding eye injury. The lens or frame used to protect your eyes should be marked ANSI Z87.1, your standard safety glasses.

In the house, household chemicals are extremely dangerous to the surface of the eyes and may result in blindness. Always read the instructions and labels carefully, work in a well-ventilated area and point the spray nozzle away from you.

In the workshop, many objects can fly into your eyes unexpectedly and cause injury. Think about the work you will be doing and wear protective eyewear to shield your eyes from flying fragments, fumes, dust particles, sparks and splashing chemicals.

In the garden, always use protective eyewear before you use a lawnmower, power trimmer or edger. Always check for rocks and stones before you start work. They can dangerously shoot from the lawn machines.

Around the car, keep protective goggles in the trunk of your car for emergencies and everyday repairs. Battery acid, sparks and debris from damaged or improperly jump-started auto batteries can severely damage your eyes.

Fireworks, 1 in 20 victims lose all useful vision or require removal of an injured eye due to fireworks. Use extreme caution if you choose to use fireworks.

Every year thousands of adults and many children damage or lose their vision from sports related eye injuries. Ninety (90%) of these injuries can be prevented with the use of appropriate eyewear, use the list below to ensure you are doing everything you can to protect your eyes while playing sports.

Regular glasses, contact lenses and industrial safety eyewear are not adequate eye protection for sports.

Preventing injury is the first and most important step in avoiding a serious injury. Be sure to protect your eyes.

1. Determine how serious the injury is. If the eye is very painful, swollen, bleeding or unusual-looking, DO NOT TREAT IT YOURSELF. Go to the nearest Emergency Room.
   
   
2. If the eye is bloodshot, even without significant pain, get help. In more than one-forth of cases, an underlying injury is present. NEVER give or take aspirin or ibuprofen with bloodshot eyes.
   
   
3. If an irritating chemical is in the eye, rinse immediately with clear, cold water for at least 10 minutes. After rinsing the eye, go to the nearest Emergency Room.
   
   
4. To remove dirt or an eyelash from the eye, grasp the lashes and pull the eyelid up and down a few times. If you can see the object, dab it with the tip of a tissue to remove. If you cannot see anything, but pain is present, wash the eye with cool water. This may flush out the object or bring it into view so that you can remove it.
   
   
5. A black eye should be treated by covering the area with a wet towel or ice pack for ten minutes or longer.
   
   

1. Make sure to wear protective goggles or safety glass while working in the yard
   
   
2. Provide appropriate protective face wear for sports play
   
   
3. Blinking and tearing should remove mild eye irritations
   
   
4. Do not rub the eye, it may lead to infection
   
   

Use the check list below, adopted from the Prevent Blindness in America, to make sure you are taking preventive measures to protect your vision and avoid eye injuries.