Eye Injuries

Nearly 45 percent of eye injuries occur at home, eye doctors' association says.
USA Today (7/1, Haupt) reports that although "[c]oncern about eye injuries may surface with Fourth of July fireworks,...it's more likely for such injuries to occur at home in the kitchen, garden, or garage," according to "an eye doctors' association." Recently, the "Eye Injury Snapshot, conducted by the Academy and the American Society of Ocular Trauma, looked at 765 eye injuries reported by 775 doctors during a two-week period in the spring." It found that almost "half (44.7 percent) of reported eye injuries occurred in the home," most often in "the yard/garden (39.4 percent)." Over a third "of home-based eye injuries took place in living areas, such as the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom." Nearly all of the injuries "were accidental, and caused by activities such as home repairs, cooking, and cleaning." Unfortunately, about "15 percent of injuries led to moderate or severe eye damage, including loss of vision." But, by "wearing protective eyewear while doing home or yard maintenance tasks," people "can prevent about 90 percent of eye injuries."