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Eye Safety
Even a minor eye injury can cause serious, lifelong eye damage. For example, bleeding within
the eye, caused by an eye injury, can cause glaucoma later in life. Eye injuries can cause loss
of vision, or complete loss of an eye. Listed below are tips for preventing eye injuries, as well as
information about first aid treatment in the event of an eye injury.
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First Aid Treatment for Eye Injuries
Eye Safety Tips
Tips for Contact Lens Wearers
Sports Injuries
Protective Eyewear
Sunglasses
What is an emergency?
First Aid Treatment For Eye Injuries
Never guess about the severity of an eye injury. Seek medical attention as soon as possible
following an injury, particularly if you have pain in the eye, blurred vision, loss of vision or loss of
field of vision. There are several simple first aid steps that can and should be taken until medical
assistance is obtained.
Chemical Exposure
(Oven cleaner, drain cleaner, or other caustic products or concentrated acid products)
• DO immediately flush the eye with water or any drinkable (potable) liquid (such as milk),
continuously for at least 30 minutes. Dilution as well as washing out particulate matter is the
key.
• DO hold head under a shower or water fountain or use a garden hose at low pressure to pour
water into the eye. Leaving for the hospital or taking time to call a physician before flushing the
eye first will only allow additional damage to occur and could mean loss of vision.
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• DO NOT try to neutralize the chemical.
Blows To The Eye
• DO place a small, soft plastic sandwich bag wrapped in a clean cloth or gauze, filled with
crushed ice (the size of a golf ball) gently over the eye, taping it to the forehead, to reduce pain
and swelling. Whole ice cubes or commercial ice packs are too heavy and may cause further
damage.
• DO see an ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) immediately if there is severe swelling or bleeding,
decrease or loss of vision or field of vision, or double vision.
• DO NOT allow the injured person to blow his nose, because, in case of a fracture of the orbit (
socket), bacteria from the sinuses may be blown into the tissues around the eye, causing eye
infection.
• DO NOT allow injured person to rub the eye.
• DO NOT apply pressure to the eye.
• DO seek medical help immediately.
• DO protect the eye with something hard, such as sunglasses or the bottom of a milk carton or
a paper or Styrofoam cup taped over the eye, while en route to medical care.
• DO NOT wash out the eye or try to remove an object stuck in the eye or orbit (socket).
Cuts or Punctures of the Eye or Eyelid
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• DO seek medical help immediately.
• DO protect the eye with something hard, such as sunglasses or the bottom of a milk carton or
a cup taped over the eye, while en route to medical care.
• DO NOT wash out the eye or try to remove an object stuck in the eye or orbit (socket).
• DO NOT apply pressure to the eye.
Foreign Body in the Eye
• DO see an ophthalmologist (eye M.D.) immediately if the particle does not wash out or if pain
persists.
• DO allow natural tearing to flush out the particle. If it does not flush out, use a squeeze-type
bottle of commercial eye solution to irrigate the eye, which may dislodge the particle.
• DO NOT remove protruding objects. Seek immediate medical aid.
• DO NOT directly rub a speck or particle. Pull upper eyelid down over the lower eyelid and
allow it to push the speck out of the eye.
Eye Safety Tips
Wear appropriate eye protection (and encourage your children to do so) when participating in
sports and recreational activities. Also use eye proctection when doing carpentry (hammering
nails, sawing wood), or when working near machinery, lawn mowers, weeding power
equipment, car batteries, chemicals or anything that may cause flying particles.
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• DO be sure that the lenses and frames of safety glasses that are certified have passed the
standard written by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The American Society for
Testing Materials (ASTM) also writes standards for sports/recreational eye protectors.
Polycarbonate lenses are preferable. The better sports eye protectors are made of
polycarbonate with molded temples. Wear eye appropriate protection (i.e., splash goggles)
when using such potentially hazardous substances as ammonia, oven cleaner and other
chemicals.
• DO wear sunglasses, plain or with prescription lenses, to protect the eyes against sunlight and
on cloudy days to protect against ultraviolet radiation. Make certain the sunglasses specify 99
percent ultraviolet blocking capability because darkness of lenses does not mean the same
thing and darker lenses are not always better.
• DO wear polycarbonate protection eyewear during waking hours if you have good vision in
only one eye.
• DO turn your face away or close your eyes when spraying perfume, hair spray or deodorant.
Use care when applying lotions, creams or oils on the eyelids or around the eyes. If you are
exposed to these or other chemicals, severe irritation may result.
• DO NOT substitute ordinary streetwear glasses or contact lenses for appropriate eye
protection. Ordinary glasses may break on impact, often leading to severe eye injury, and
contact lenses provide no protection whatsoever against eye injury. Polycarbonate lenses are
the most impact resistant material.
• DO NOT allow children to play with hazardous "toys" such as BB, pellet or paintball guns,
bows and arrows, darts or firecrackers. Injuries sustained by both children and adults when
using these items have often resulted in permanent damage or loss of an eye.
• DO NOT use an eyecup since it may harbor harmful bacteria. Prolonged use of a
decongestant that "gets the red out," may mask the symptoms and postpone treatment of a
potentially serious eye condition.
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• DO NOT wear dark or heavily tinted glasses at night.
Eye Safety Tips for Contact Lens Wearers
Remove your contact lenses before entering a pool or hot tub. Chlorination may not kill harmful
bacteria or parasites in the water. If you wear contact lenses and they are exposed to bacteria,
serious eye infection and corneal disease may result. Use only commercially prepared solutions
for contact lens care. Avoid homemade saline solutions of salt tablets and distilled or tap water.
• DO NOT ever use tap or distilled water, or saliva to rinse contact lenses. After lenses have
been removed, always disinfect and rinse them before reinserting. Failure to adhere to a strict
cleansing routine can result in severe infection, corneal disease, and even loss of an eye.
DO NOT substitute ordinary streetwear glasses or contact lenses for safety eyewear. Ordinary
glasses may break on impact, often leading to severe eye injury, and contact lenses provide no
protection whatsoever against eye
Sports Injuries
What sport causes the most ocular injuries the U.S.? In 1998, basketball was responsible for
over one-third of the eye injuries, but now that protective gear is required by many
organizations, basketball has become a strong contender for first place for an estimated 8,723
eye injuries. Swimming and pool sports resulted in an estimated 4,593 eye injuries. Baseball
had been the most common, but fell to third place with 4,029 cases.
The majority of these and other sports-related and recreational activities and eye injuries could
have been prevented if the athletes had worn appropriate, certified protective eyewear. The
right kind of protective eyewear can make a huge difference. For example, in Canada , ocular
trauma related to ice hockey decreased by 90 percent after certified full-face protector and
headgear was made mandatory in organized amateur hockey.
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If you think sports-related eye injuries are not important, think about these facts:
- The average hockey puck travels at 90-100 mph.
- Professional baseball players throw balls at about 95 mph.
- High-speed film has demonstrated that elite squash players strike the ball at 125-145
mph.
- A badminton shuttlecock has been clocked at 140 mph.
- Polycarbonate protects against a .22 caliber bullet.
If you consider that even a novice 12-year-old squash player can hit a ball at 80 mph, you will
understand that high-velocity flying objects can do irreparable damage to the human eye. Your
vision is precious, protect it.
Children and Sports Injuries
Children are at particular risk for a sports-related eye injury. Every year, 25,513 children sustain
serious sports-related eye injuries. That is why it is essential that all children wear appropriate,
protective eyewear whenever playing sports. Basketball is responsible for 2,338 eye injuries in
children age 5 to 14. It accounts for 3,856 eye injuries in teens and young adults (15-24 years
old). It may be surprising to know that it is not the ball that causes most of these injuries, but
rather the fingers and elbows of other players. Almost all of these injuries could have been
prevented had the child worn appropriate protective eyewear.
Parents are advised to acquaint themselves with the potential for eye injuries in sports and
recreational activities including gym and to insist that their children use appropriate, protective
eyewear when participating in sports or other fun activities.
Just as your child wears a bike helmet, so must he or she learn to automatically reach for
sport-appropriate, protective eyewear when heading for the field or court.
Protective Eyewear
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Not all eyewear is alike. The ophthalmologists at Wills Eye Institute recommend you always use
appropriate, certified eyewear whenever participating in sports. If you wear prescription
eyeglasses or contact lenses, remember that they never substitute for appropriate, well-fitted
protective eyewear. You may however, obtain prescription eyewear that is made of impact
resistant materials preferably polycarbonate that passes the appropriate standard. Lensless
goggles offer no protection.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses, plain or with prescription lenses, protect the eyes against sunlight (ultraviolet
radiation). Make certain the sunglasses specify 99 percent ultraviolet blocking capability
because darkness of lenses does not mean the same thing and darker lenses are not always
better. Sunglasses that are too dark and "fool" the pupil so that it will not constrict allow more
ultraviolet light to enter the eye. Polycarbonate lenses are strongly recommended for safety.
American National Standards Institute: ANSI Z80.3-1996 Requirements for non-prescription
sunglasses and fashion eyewear
What is an emergency?
This may seem like a silly question, but if you’ve ever had to think about going to the hospital,
you may have had to consider whether your injury or condition is truly an emergency. When we
think of a health emergency, we often think of a sudden event, like a car accident or heart
attack, as worthy of "emergency" status. It may happen on a weekend or holiday when it is
difficult to reach your personal healthcare provider. You may wonder, "can it wait?" You may
question your own perceptions or feelings.
To further complicate things, not all healthcare insurers define "emergency services" the same
way.
For these reasons, it is important to be clear about what constitutes a medical emergency.
You should also be familiar with how your health plan defines an emergency. If you aren’t sure,
give them a call or review your customer handbook. When considering whether something is a
medical emergency, just remember this rule: if you believe your life or health is in jeopardy,
seek medical treatment immediately.
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