Last Updated: March 18, 2023
Keep Kids Safe
Important tips to remember to protect children’s eyes around the home:
- Avoid sharp, pointy and projectile type toys such as darts, air and pellet guns, pea shooters and bow and arrows.
- Educate your children on how to use and play safely with scissors, pencils and other sharp objects
- Keep dangerous materials and chemicals out of reach of children. This includes fast acting glues, caustic materials such as toilet and oven cleaners and spray cans.
Alcohol and Your Eyes
Did you know that alcohol relaxes the eye muscles? This results in confusing messages from our eyes about how far away things are or even where the horizon is. This is why people who have been drinking may have a hard time reaching for things and can end up spilling and stumbling. Now imagine taking contact lenses out in that condition. That’s assuming you even remember to take them out. Cleaning them and putting them away hygienically can be very difficult when your brain and eyes are not communicating properly.
- Prepare your contact lens routine ahead of time so you don’t have to spend time looking around. Better yet, consider getting disposable lenses on nights that you might be at a party.
- If decide that you want to get rid of those lenses at some point in the night, make sure you have your glasses. The last thing you want is to further impair your vision.
- While celebrating, use caution when opening champagne bottles. Ensure the bottle is not pointed towards anyone and ease the cork out carefully; they are under immense pressure and can cause serious injury.
Stay Safe When You Play
Certain sporting activities can also pose a high risk to your eyes. Each year thousands of eye injuries could be prevented if more people wore appropriate protective eyewear while participating in sporting activities.
- Always wear eye protection while participating in the following sporting activities: Ball and puck sports such as hockey, lacrosse, racquetball, squash, badminton, tennis, baseball, and basketball, Paintball, Skiing/Snowboarding
- Don't forget your sunglasses, UV protection is important all year round
- When using phones, tablets, computers and gaming systems, give your eyes a break
- Use the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes take a 20 second break and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away