Eye Injury Prevention Month is a great time to remind patients how important it is to protect their eye health, not only at work, but also at home or play. While various types of injuries to the eyes occur in roughly 2,000 cases per day, nearly half of that number is caused by injuries while at home or in the yard. Many of the remaining cases can be attributed to injuries while at work.

Despite the high number of eye injuries reported, it’s estimated that more than 90 percent of eye injuries can be prevented with the use of protective eye wear. Unfortunately, more than 78 percent of those injured were either not wearing eye protection, or they were wearing inadequate protection for the task they were performing.

In order to protect your eye health and maintain healthy vision throughout your life, it’s essential to wear protective eye wear when performing certain tasks. Here are some tips to get you started:

• **Always wear the recommended eye protection when at work. If face shields are required, don’t rely on wearing safety glasses.
• **Make sure to have certified safety glasses and goggles on hand in your home. Most eye injuries happen in the home or garden, so protecting your eyes when doing yard work or mixing cleaning solutions is critical.
• **When playing sports or enjoying hobbies, ensure your eyes are protected from any potential hazards.
• **When you’re outdoors, prevent sun damage to your eyes by wearing sunglasses with both UVA and UVB protection. Do not wait until you’re struggling to see to don sunglasses. Cloudy days can emit a lot of harmful UVA and UVB rays as well.

Regular comprehensive eye exams, including an optomap ultra-widefield retinal exam, can help your eye care professional with early detection and treatment of eye injuries and illnesses.

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