Follow these simple precautions to protect your vision. Prevent Eye Injuries at Home, Work and Play

Around the Home

Kudos if you already wear safety goggles when you saw, drill or do other construction-type activities. But eye protection also matters while doing household chores and certain hobbies—your regular eyeglasses or sunglasses are not enough. 

Look for eyewear with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses marked “ANSI Z87.1,” which meets American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards; you’ll find them in most hardware stores. Or purchase safety glasses with prescription lenses from your eye doctor. 

Yard Work

“I see a lot of people come in with a scratch in the eye because they were working in the garden or mowing the lawn and something flew up into their eye,” Dr. Ko says. Scratches to the eye’s surface, called the cornea, sometimes leave a scar that affects vision, she says. In rare cases, people pick up vision-threatening fungal infections from plant material that scratches the eye, so use caution and eye protection while gardening. 

Household Cleaners and Chemicals

“When working with chemicals, some people end up getting acid or alkali burns, which can be pretty serious,” Dr. Ko says. She recommends wearing safety goggles when you clean the toilet or oven with strong cleaners. Also don protective gear when you use  pesticides, painting products or other chemicals.

At Work

About 2,000 U.S. workers injure their eyes on the job every day, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “A lot of people get a little pieces of metal in the eye that need to be removed, and it can be pretty painful,” says Dr. Ko. “If your job recommends wearing eye protection, definitely use it.” 

When a work task requires safety eyewear, your employer is legally responsible to provide it and train you how to use it. Check to make sure it fits properly and is in good condition. And never rub your eyes with dirty hands or clothing.

Sports and Recreation

Sports-related eye injuries lead to an estimated 100,000 doctor visits a year, according the National Eye Institute. Mishaps range from painful corneal scrapes to severe trauma resulting in permanent vision loss. Here’s how to protect your and your kids’ eyes. 

Be Aware of the Risks

Baseball, racquet sports and other games with small, fast-moving objects pose serious risks—but don’t overlook basketball and soccer. “Those are contact sports, and a knee or elbow can get in the eye while you’re playing,” Dr. Ko says. 

Also watch out for activities involving projectiles, such as paintball and shooting BB guns or air rifles, especially among children. And protect your eyes during water and snow sports, which carry a high risk of injury from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. 

Choose the Right Protection

Always wear glasses, goggles or face shields designed for your sport that meet American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. When outdoors, make sure eyewear incorporates UV protection—and remember, regular sunglasses are not designed to prevent eye injuries. 

Shield Young Eyes

Nearly one-third of eye injuries in children under age 16 happen during sports. Insist that children wear eye protection during sports, even though many youth leagues don’t require it. 

“You don’t see professional players wearing sports goggles that much, so a lot of kids are kind of hesitant to wear them,” Dr. Ko says. As an adult, set a good example by always donning protective eyewear when you play.