How to Prevent Eye Injuries in Children
In this article, we will take a look at some of the more significant risks for eye injuries in children and some practical steps to prevent or mitigate the chance of an accident occurring.
1. Practical Home Safety
Before we jump into sports and the need for protective eyewear then, don’t overlook potential safety hazards around your home. Sports may be riskier overall, but we spend more time at home. Here are our top tips for helping protect eye safety around the house:
- Minimize sharp edges on furnishings and fixtures, especially any at or near eye level
- Keep spray bottles, especially those with chemicals, out of reach of children, and minimize use while they are around
- Be careful when opening bottles or carbonated drinks
- Stick to age-appropriate toys with the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) mark.
- Position computer screens or tablets at an appropriate distance and help reduce reflections or glare.
In all things, make sure you are setting an example for safety. If you wear safety glasses during activities, your children are more likely to pick up the habit as well.
2. Risky Activities
Eye injuries can really happen at any time, which isn’t the most helpful when trying to help and teach your child to be safe while still letting them enjoy fun independent play. These activities tend to lead to the highest occurrence of eye injury in children.
- Ball sports such as baseball and basketball
- Contact sports such as hockey and football
- Racket sports such as tennis
- Shooting sports such as archery or the use of BB guns
- Bicycling
The good thing is most of the activities above already have a culture of wearing eye protection. Watch any professional athlete participating, and you’ll see they are protecting their eyes. Which is good for them, and you can point to this practice when your child asks why they need to wear protective glasses.
While sports eye injuries top the list, they aren’t the only times children are at higher risk of eye injuries. If you have an older child getting into more complex hobbies like woodworking or that involve chemicals, they need to include protective eyeglasses in their preparation.
3. Types of Trauma
Eye trauma can generally be categorized into three categories: blunt, penetration, and radiation. Eyes are sensitive, and even what might appear to be a slight issue at first can hide more substantial damage.
For younger children, it can be especially hard to verbalize that something is wrong. Be on the lookout for the following types of injury:
- Blunt Trauma: The most common injury to the eye from sports and hobbies alike, blunt trauma happens when something impacts your eye like a ball or elbow. In the best case, you might just end up with a black eye, but a hard enough hit can cause an orbital blowout fracture, a ruptured globe, or a detached retina, all of which risk permanent sight degradation or loss.
- Penetrative Injuries: A penetrative injury occurs when something cuts through the surface of the eye. Fingernails, cleats, or environmental debris can all cause lacerations or become embedded in unprotected eyes.
- Radiation: UV light doesn’t just harm our skin. If you are outside for most of the sport, especially on reflective surfaces like the water, you risk radiation injuries.
The good news is that using proper protective eyewear can prevent eye injuries. Sunglasses, sports goggles, eye guards, and other protective measures may keep your children from devastating eye problems.
4. Protective Eyewear
Protective eyewear comes in a wide array of styles and types, depending on your needs. From typical safety glasses and goggles for hobbies to stylish sports glasses you might see on TV. Statistics show that 90% of sports-related eye injuries can be avoided by wearing eye protection.
The materials your protective glasses are made from make a massive difference for your safety when playing. Like any safety gear, you will want to carefully choose lens and frame materials for the activities you intend to engage in. Our recommendation for getting your kid to wear safety or sports glasses to prevent injuries is the same as helping them adapt to glasses in general:
- Get a pair that fits them well and won’t be loose when moving about during the activity.
- Let them help pick out the color they want; sports especially allow for fun shades.
- Make it part of their routine when getting ready for practice.
What to Do When an Eye Injury Occurs
Always assume an injury to the eye is severe. For children, it can be difficult to verbalize exactly what happened or how they feel. If you notice any of the following or think trauma may have occurred, you should seek an appointment with an eye doctor quickly.
- Redness or swelling
- Excess tearing or visible discharge
- Eye pain or headaches
- Muscle spasms or trouble focusing
- Any visible cut on or near the eye
Find a Sports or Protective Eyewear Specialist
While some styles, materials, and lens options apply to a number of sports and hobbies, it is crucial for your eye health to ensure that you get the correct pair that offers the protection you need. Come to Asheville Vision and Wellness to pick out your or your child's new pair of protective glasses.
We offer a wide range of brands, including Oakley, Ray Ban, and Maui Jim. The top-selling prescription safety goggles and glasses boast features that ensure comfortable protection for your eyes while at work or play. Our staff can help get you fitted with any prescription lens needs.
Whether you haven’t been to the optometrist for a yearly eye exam or just need to grab a new pair of glasses, contact us today. Our eye doctors are trained to provide our patients with a wide variety of eye care, including comprehensive eye examinations, contact lenses, and medical eye evaluations.