October is Eye Injury Prevention Month

Did you know that half of all eye injuries occur in and around the home? Be sure to protect your vision – use protective eyewear during home projects!

Wearing protective eyewear during home-based activities can help prevent 90% of all eye injuries.

Below are some tips on eye injury treatment, courtesy of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. However, the best protection from eye injuries is PREVENTION.

For all eye injuries:

DO NOT touch, rub or apply pressure to the eye. DO NOT try to remove the object stuck in the eye. DO NOT apply ointment or medication in the eye. See a doctor as soon as possible, preferably an ophthalmologist or an optometrist who works along with an ophthalmologist.

If you get a particle or foreign material in your eye:

DO NOT rub the eye. Lift the upper eyelid over the lashes of your lower lid. Blink several times and allow tears to flush out the particle.

If the particle remains, keep your eye closed and seek medical attention.

In case of a chemical burn to the eye:

Immediately flush the eye with plenty of clean water Seek emergency medical treatment right away.

To treat sand or small debris in the eye:

Use eyewash to flush the eye out. DO NOT rub the eye.

If the debris doesn't come out, call your eye doctor and get seen.

To treat a blow to the eye:

If a black eye, pain or visual disturbance occurs even after a light blow, immediately contact your Eye doctor!

Remember that even a light blow can cause a significant eye injury.