Most people consider their eyesight precious, but when they are young they do not worry too much about protecting their eyes. Eye safety is all about taking some proactive measures that will help you enjoy good eyesight throughout your life. If you suffer an injury to one or both eyes, you should seek immediate medical attention. Nearly 40 percent of hospital admissions due to eye injuries are sports-related and around 70 percent of those injuries happen to young people.

Sports Safety

You must make it a point to wear googles and shields while playing sports. They not only protect your eyes from injury but also reduce sun glare. Most of them also have light filtering capabilities which allow you to see certain colors better. Also the polycarbonate lenses in googles can withstand sharp impact.

Eye safety at home and work

Eye injuries may occur at home or work. If you work in industrial settings you are more susceptible to projectiles which can injure the eyes. Household cleaners may also injure the eyes. The best safety tip is to use common sense. If you are working on something that might injure your eyes, you should ensure that you are wearing appropriate protective eyewear.

Sunglasses

Wear sunglasses when you go out. They not only look cool but also protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays. When picking up sunglasses, make sure that they offer both UVA and UVB protection. You should also consider wearing a hat when you go outdoors.

At the Computer

Staring at a computer monitor for long hours will cause a great deal of stress in eye muscles. Computer use will not cause permanent damage to your eyes, but computer eye strain can significantly affect the quality of your life. Here are a few tips to reduce computer eye strain.

  • Place the computer at a distance of about 16-24 inches from your eyes.
  • The top of the monitor should be slightly below your eye level.
  • Blink often. This is necessary to prevent dry eyes.
  • Also adjust lighting in such a way that there is minimal glare.
  • Take a short break every 20 minutes and focus on an object at a distance.

First Aid

If your eyes get injured, seek immediate medical attention. Only a qualified eye doctor can assess the severity of the damage. If a harmful substance gets into your eye, flush it out immediately with cold water. Don’t assume that this is sufficient. You should also get your eyes examined by a doctor.