October is National Eye Injury Prevention Month.  Protecting your eyes from an injury is important at work, around the home, or while playing sports.  Though some eye conditions and diseases may not be preventable, nearly 90 percent of all eye injuries can be prevented with the proper safety gear.   

The majority of eye injuries occur at home, while working on projects, cleaning, cooking, and doing yard work.  An eye injury can be caused even when you are doing something minor, making a quick adjustment on your car, or working on a small project.  Here are a few reminders of when to wear proper safety gear to protect your eyes:

1. When mowing the lawn or using a weed eater.
2. Anytime you are using power tools, saws, or trimmers.
3. While cleaning with harsh chemicals.

Preventing eye injuries at work can be done by planning ahead.  These 3 tips can help you keep your eyes safe at work:

1. Know the risks of your job, become familiar with where the eye wash stations are located.
2. Wear proper safety gear while working, i.e.; welding helmets, safety goggles or glasses, and face shields. 
3. Talk to your manager or the HR department, discuss having eye safety training so everyone knows the risks and can work to prevent eye injuries. 

More than 600,000 sports related eye injuries happen every year and of these 42,000 require emergency room attention.  (The Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries)  Keep in mind that normal everyday sunglasses or eye glasses will not protect your eyes from injury.  What can cause sports related eye injuries?

1. Hockey pucks, baseballs, tennis balls.  These can hit you in the face or eye and cause damage.  Wear protective goggles or face shields to protect your eyes.
2. During paintball matches you may be hit in the face with a high-speed paintball.  Don’t forget to put on your safety goggles before you join the game.
3. Ultraviolet rays can damage your eyes or cause temporary blindness resulting from photokeratitis or sunburned eyes.  Whether you are in the sun or snow, prevent damage to your eyes by wearing sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection.

Whether you are playing a sport with a group of friends, cleaning your house, or tinkering around in your garage make eye safety part of your regular routine.