The Weather and Eye Safety

The weather can hurt our eyes. Sun, sand, water, snow, and wind can hurt your eyes if you don't protect them. The sun emits many types of rays, including visible light, which lets you see; infrared radiation, which is invisible, but felt as heat; and ultraviolet (UV) radiation which, also is invisible is often called the "sunburn" ray. The weather can fool you as UV radiation is as bad on cloudy days as it is on sunny days.

Exposure to UV rays can damage your eyes and contribute to vision loss from macular degeneration and cataracts. Corneal sunburn can result from bright sunlight reflected off of beaches and ski slopes. Long-term exposure can lead to cataracts, skin cancer around the eyelids, and macular degeneration. Sunglasses with 99-100% UV protection of both types of ultraviolet rays: UVA and UVB can protect your eyes from invisible UV rays that can harm your eyes, as well as eliminate glare and squinting. Sunglasses without UV protection shade the eyes from bright sun, but cause the pupils to dilate, allowing in more harmful rays. You should not wear sunglasses if they are scratched, have bubbles, or have distortions because damage to your eyes can occur. Lenses also should be large enough to shield the eyes from most angles and to block light that enters in around the frames. The sunglasses also should fit snugly against the bridge of your nose. For maximum protection add a wide-brimmed hat; a wide-brimmed hat can protect you from as much as 50% of UV radiation. Hats also reduce the sunlight that can enter your eyes from the sides or top of sunglasses. Adults and children are both at risk for eye damage caused by UV radiation.

All eyewear should protect eyes from impact hazards. When safety is an issue, lenses should be made from polycarbonate materials, which provide the highest level of impact protection. Lenses in all glasses are required to meet FDA minimal impact standards established in 1971, but these lenses do not provide adequate protection for many common impact hazards. Polycarbonate lenses are the most impact resistant lenses available in eyewear. Your parents should look for lenses with the Z87.1 approval code on the outside of the box; these lenses meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Eye Injury

The highest number of eye injuries occurred at home. Most injuries can be prevented. In others, the effects can be minimized.

If an eye injury occurs, immediately tell someone and have that individual take you to see an eye doctor, or take you to the closest emergency room. Serious injury is not always immediately seen or felt, or as minor as it first appears. Delaying medical attention can result in more extensive injury, and possibly permanent vision loss or blindness.

What Causes Eye Injuries?

The most common causes of eye injuries to children include:

The bigges hazards to your eyes include:

  1. Toys (excluding bicycles and guns)
  2. Pens & pencils
  3. Baseball and Softball
  4. Water and Pool Activities
  5. Adhesives
  6. Guns (air, spring, BB)
  7. General purpose household cleaners
  8. Furniture (sofas, beds, tables)
  9. Basketball
  10. Flatware and Table settings
  11. Bleaches (non-cosmetic)
  12. Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipes, Lighters
  13. Grooming, Cosmetics (hair care, makeup)
  14. Paper and Cardboard products
  15. Gasoline and Gas cans
  16. Desk Supplies
  17. Chemicals (unspecified)
  18. Bathroom-related (fixtures, soap)
  19. Bicycles
  20. Manual hand tools (screwdrivers, hammers, etc.)

Eye Injuries at Home

A large number of eye injuries happen at home. A significant number of the injuries to children age 14 and younger are related to toys and play activities. Ninety percent of eye injuries are preventable.

Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off, including slingshots and water guns. Toys should be solid with no sharp edges or points. The toys also should withstand impact. If a toy meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials, the letters ASTM will be indicated on the toy or packaging. In addition, the misuse of toys can lead to injury.

The most dangerous toys include:

Toy Weapons

Other Toy Products

Eye Injuries Outside the Home

Classroom projects, physical education classes, industrial arts, vocational arts, and sports present risks for impact or impact penetration eye injuries. Most blunt impact eye injuries are mild, yet can force the eye back into its socket, damage surface structures (eyelid, conjunctiva, sclera, cornea, lens), damage structures in the back of the eye (retina, nerves), lead to retinal detachment, cataract, and orbital bones fracture (blow-out fracture that allows the eye to fall out), and cause black eyes, blood leaking into the skin, and vessels on the surface of the eye to break.

Chemicals and Eye Injuries

Chemicals used in the science lab can cause damage to the cornea that is irreversible, requires surgery, corneal perforation, corneal scarring, intraocular pressure resulting in glaucoma, and weaken cell structure increasing the risk of infection. Damaging chemicals include alkalis, acids, irritants, and fumes.

The higher the pH level in a chemical, the more damage the chemical can cause to the eye. These chemicals penetrate the surface of the eye and destroy the cell structure. Strong alkalis can penetrate the cornea for up to six weeks. Common alkalis are hydroxides of ammonia, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. Household items such as lye, cement, lime, and ammonia also contain alkalis.

Acids have a low pH. All but hydrofluoric acid tend to cause less severe burns to the eye. Acids generally damage the front of the eye. Acid burns are typically the result of sulfuric acid (from automobile battery explosions), sulfurous acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, chromic acid, and hydrofluoric acid.

Irritants have a neutral pH. Most are detergents that simply cause discomfort to the eye. Chemical fumes are irritants and can cause burns on the eye.

If you or someone else gets a chemical in the eyes, immediately flush the eye or eyes with water. Keep the eye open and flush the eye for at least 15 minutes. The longer the chemical remains in the eye, the more extensive the damage will be to the eye. After flushing, go to see an eye doctor or to the emergency room. Take the chemical and/or information pamphlet with you.

Proper eye protection and ventilation aid in the prevention of chemical injury.

Heat and Eye Injuries

Heat eye injuries result from exposure to high temperature splashes of molten metal or hot sparks. In addition, laser induced eye injuries are the result of intense concentrations of heat, ultraviolet (UVA, UVB, and UVC), infrared, and reflected light radiation. Both direct and indirect laser light can damage the eye. For example, laser pointers can create intensities greater than those experienced by looking directly at the sun. Ultraviolet induced eye injuries consist of UVA, UVB, and UVC. For heat induced eye injuries, seek medical attention or go directly to the emergency room if exposed to intense laser and ultraviolet light. Appropriate eye protection can help to prevent impact eye injuries.

Sports and Eye Injuries

Soccer players wearing appropriate prescription eyewear

 

If your eyes are not protected during sports activities, you are at risk of eye injury and vision loss. Prevent Blindness America recommends that athletes wear sports eye guards when participating in sports. These eye guards should fit securely and comfortably and allow the use of a helmet if necessary. Prescription eye guards can be fitted by an eye doctor. Eye guards made from polycarbonate material provide the most impact resistance. For sports use, polycarbonate lenses must be used with protectors that meet or exceed the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Each sport has a specific ASTM code. The lenses should either stay in place or pop outward in the event of an accident. Sports eye guards should be padded or cushioned along the brow and bridge of the nose to prevent the eye guards from cutting into the skin. Trying on the eye guards before purchase helps to insure a correct and comfortable fit. Note: monocular athletes should ask the eye doctor what sports can be played safely. When fitted properly, protective eyewear can prevent 90 percent of sports eye injuries.

The sports associated with the most eye injuries are:

Fireworks and Eye Injuries

Eyes are the second most commonly injured part of the body as the result of fireworks. The greatest estimated number of eye injuries reported were associated with bottle rockets, firecrackers, and sparklers. Bruises and lacerations were the most common eye injuries, whereas burns were the most frequent injury to the rest of the body. Almost half of the injuries resulting from fireworks were to children age 15 and younger. Sparkers caused about one third of the injuries in children age 5 and younger. Sparklers burn at up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit and are a leading cause of fireworks-related injuries. In addition, bystanders are more often injured by fireworks than the operator. Fireworks can explode in the hand, throw sparks in the face, cast hot fragments onto limbs, and ignite clothing.

Contact Lenses and Eye Injuries

Contact lenses are an alternative to glasses for vision correction. According to the American Optical Association, over 30 million Americans wear contact lenses. Ten percent of contact wearers are under the age of 18. Most contact lens wearers are female and nearsighted

Some people prefer contact lenses to glasses because they move with your eye; there are no frames with contacts to obstruct your vision; contacts do not fog up; contacts do not get in the way of activities; people feel they look better in contacts; and, contact lenses generally offer better sight. However, without the proper care and caution, contact lenses can be hazardous to your eyes. The chart presents important activities for you to add to your list of Do's and Do Not's associated with contact lens wear.

DO

DO NOT

Follow Instructions.

Purchase lenses from beauty supply stores, nail and hair salons, convenience stores; do not purchase lenses through the Internet without a valid doctor's prescription.

Schedule follow-up visits with your eye doctor.

Use cream soaps or moisturizers before handling contacts.

Wash hands thoroughly before handling contacts.

Moisten lenses with saliva.

Store in a contact case.

Use homemade saline solutions.

Clean or discard dirty lens cases.

Share contacts.

Check lenses periodically for damage.

Sleep in your contacts.

Dispose of expired solutions.

shower or swim with contacts

 

Contact an eye care professional if your vision becomes blurred or fuzzy, eyes are red and irritated, lenses are uncomfortable, or you experience pain in and around the eyes.

Cosmetic Lenses

The growth and improvement in technology has led to improvements and developments in contact lenses. Lenses now are not only being produced to correct vision, but to change eye color and change the appearance of the eyes. The Food and Drug Administration cautions individuals against the use of decorative contact lenses that have not been prescribed and fitted by a qualified eye care professional. Cosmetic lenses purchased through beauty supply stores, nail and hair salons, convenience stores, and the Internet can result in corneal ulcers that can lead to infection; infection can cause corneal scarring and vision impairment and in extreme cases blindness and eye loss. The use of improperly prescribed lenses also can result in conjunctivitis, corneal edema, allergic reaction, abrasion from a poor fit, and reduced visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and can affect other visual functions, interfering with daily activities.

Eye Injury Symptoms

Any of the following symptoms may indicate a serious eye injury. If any of the following injuries occur, you should get immediate medical attention:

  1. Obvious pain or vision problems;
  2. Cut or torn eyelid;
  3. One eye that does not move as completely as the other;
  4. One eye that sticks out in comparison to the other;
  5. Abnormal pupil size or shape;
  6. Blood in the clear portion of the eye; and
  7. Something in the eye or under the eyelid that cannot be easily removed.

If An Eye Injury Occurs

Eye Infection

Although the eye has four natural defenses against infection: the eyelid, conjunctiva, cornea, and tears, eye infections do occur. The three most common eye infections are conjunctivitis, sties, and blepharitis.

Conjunctivitis, also referred to as pink eye, causes a watery discharge or pus and crust on the eyelashes. Sties are pimple-like growths that appear at the base of the eyelashes.

Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids that appears as red scaly skin on the eyelids.

These infections result from viral infections, bacterial infections, foreign substances, improperly fitted contact lenses, improper contact lens usage, and the use of cosmetic contact lenses that have not been purchased through a licensed eye care professional. Eye infections appear as redness, tearing, pain, sensitivity to light, blurry vision, the feeling of something in the eye, and/ or a scratchy feeling in the eye. If you are experiencing these symptoms, see an eye care professional or visit the emergency room. You can help to prevent eye infections by keeping clean hands, keeping your hands away from your eyes, and not sharing washcloths.

Nutrition and Your Eyes

Healthy nutrition also is a means of protecting yourself from eye diseases. What you eat can help to protect you from having problems with your eyes later in life. The risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration can be reduced through the consumption of fruits and vegetables, such as spinach or collard greens, kale, turnip greens, broccoli, orange peppers, yellow corn, green peas, persimmons, and tangerines. These fruits and vegetables increase the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. In addition, fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants are believed to prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Key vitamins including Vitamin A (Beta Carotene), Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Selenium, and Zinc found in leafy green vegetables, carrots, citrus fruits, and melons also appear beneficial to eye health.

Ways to Protect Your Eyes

 

 


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