Sight Safety
More than 2.5 million eye injuries are suffered annually in the US — and most are avoidable. Keep these ocular essentials in your line of sight:
- Wear sunglasses year–round. Whether it’s summer or winter, protect your peepers — ultraviolet light reflects from sand, snow, or pavement; repeated exposure to direct sunlight can harm your corneas. Most sunglasses screen out 99%–100% of UV rays — and there are lots of lenses to choose from.
- Protect your home. Slips and falls account for more than 10% of eye injuries. Tumble–proof your rugs and shower mats, and secure loose fixtures. Also wear protective glasses when mowing, weeding, opening gas cans, and using most tools.
- Watch out at work. About 1000 eye injuries occur daily in American workplaces at a cost of $300 million/year in lost time, medical expenses, and workers’ compensation costs, the United States Department of Labor says; flying particles and chemical contact are common culprits.
- Play it safe. Nearly half of all eye injuries occur recreationally. So slide on your safety specs during high–risk sports such as basketball, paintball, baseball, softball, lacrosse, hockey, and tennis.
