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Organization Touts Home Eye Safety

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2007

Updated: 09/17/2007 08:11 pm

PLANT CITY - Eye safety needs to start at home, according to an organization that seeks to prevent blindness.

Due to strong government rules and regulations most American businesses stress eye safety on the job. But Prevent Blindness America said more than half of all eye injuries occur in the home, where the only regulations are in the minds of the residents who live there.

According to statistics taken by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2006, more than 219,000 Americans went to the emergency room to be treated for eye injuries. More than half, 125,127, of those injuries occurred in the home, more than in any other location.

Prevent Blindness America has declared September as Home Eye Safety Awareness Month in an effort to encourage the public to make a priority of protecting their sight.

'Everything from cleaning supplies to pencils can cause major damage to vision if they enter the eye. Both adults and children are at risk for severe and painful eye injuries if the proper safety precautions aren't followed,' said Sarah Hecker, a spokeswoman for the organization. 'We hope to educate the public on what they can do to protect eyes and save sight in their homes. We ask that all adults and children should learn eye safety at home when they are at play, doing chores, working in the yard or in the garage.'

Stuart Anderson, a retired Plant City optometrist, said there are many dangers to the eye in the home, and he recommends that anyone working with tools in a workshop should use safety goggles.

'It only takes one slip to put an eye out,' Anderson said. 'Working with power tools outside can be just as dangerous.'

Prevent Blindness America's eye safety awareness bulletin warns when chemicals such as household cleaners, bleach and paint enter the eye, they can cause painful and serious damage. Lawn maintenance can also be hazardous to eyes as clippings from trimmers or rocks and debris thrown by lawnmowers become airborne. Those working on cars or other machinery in the garage can suffer injuries when battery acid, gasoline and other liquids splash on to the face and enter the eyes.

Fortunately, the literature says 90 percent of all eye injuries are preventable by simply wearing the proper eye protection. Safety goggles should have 'ANSI Z-87' stamped on the lenses or frames, meaning they have been certified by the American National Standards Institute.

'When we perform the same chores or tasks around the house, week after week, we can get complacent about how quickly accidents can happen,' said Daniel D. Garrett, senior vice president of Prevent Blindness America. 'We all need to take extra care when we're at home to protect our sight and not wind up in the emergency room.'

Children are also at risk for eye injuries in the home. Everyday household items such as hangers, glue or pencils can suddenly become very dangerous, causing many accidental injuries. Injuries may include burns, contusions, abrasions or punctures.

Prevent Blindness America has the following tips for protecting children from injuries in the home:

•Teach children not to run around with forks, knives, pencils, combs or toothbrushes.

•Keep detergents, cleaning supplies, nail polish remover, mouthwash and cosmetics in locked cabinets or out of reach.

•Keep clothes hangers in the closet.

•Keep younger children away from work areas where power tools are being used.

For information on how to protect your eyes at home, call Prevent Blindness America at 1-800-331-2020 or visit www.preventblindness.org.

AT A GLANCE

Here are some of the upcoming vision screening events in Plant City:

• Donald Humphrey, a Plant City optometrist at 407 N. Plant Ave., is working with the Lions Club and South Florida Baptist Hospital to conduct free screenings at the 15th annual Children's Health Fair, in the Arthur Boring Civic Center at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 6.

•Humphrey also will offer free screenings for adults at an annual health fair from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 11 at First Baptist Church of Plant City, 503 N. Palmer St.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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