Eye safety

As well as being incredibly painful, any injury or damage to the eye may affect your sight.

Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric adviser to the College of Optometrists, warns: “Eye injuries can really hurt, and the eye

is vulnerable because the cornea is only 1/2mm thick.”

Of course, accidents will happen, but the eye is very good at healing itself.

“My first bit of advice,” says Dr Blakeney, “is to think about what you’re about to do. Ask yourself, ‘what are the risks?'"

Here are ways that accidents can happen, with tips from Dr Blakeney on guarding against injury.Safety at home

In the garden

“Injuring yourself in the garden is quite common,” says Dr Blakeney. “I recently saw a lady with a severe corneal lesion,

which happened when she was poked in the eye with a garden cane." Other threats include:

branches: beware of twigs and branches at eye level

soil: keep loose particles away from the face

pond water: water (and soil) can contain a nasty bug called acanthamoeba, which causes corneal ulcers

Any kind of glasses, including sunglasses, are a good and easy way of protecting your eyes in the garden. Dr Blakeney

says that even in the winter (when we may not be wearing sunglasses) it's important to protect our eyes.In the sun

"Looking at the sun, which is tempting during a solar eclipse, can cause solar retinopathy (damage)," says Dr Blakeney.

"Very strong radiation can cause permanent damage to the back of the eye, like a scar or a burn." Always avoid looking

directly at the sun.

On a sunny day, it's vital to protect your eyes against the sun. The College of Optometrists recommends buying good

quality, dark sunglasses (these needn’t be expensive). Look for glasses carrying the 'CE' mark, and the British Standard

BS EN 1836:1997, which ensures that the sunglasses offer a safe level of ultraviolet protection.Using chemicals

Chemical burns are another cause of eye problems. Chemicals used at home include weedkiller, plant sprays, caustic

soda, bleach or any other household substance. However, Dr Blakeney says that alkaline substances cause more

damage than acids because they penetrate the eye faster.

In the event of a chemical splash, Dr Blakeney says you must wash the chemical out of your eye as quickly and

thoroughly as possible, using lots of fluid. She recommends using:

eye wash: this is ideal to have in your first aid kit

contact lens rinsing solution: borrow some from a friend if you don’t use contact lenses

water from the cold mains (kitchen) tap: let the tap run for a few seconds so that the water is freshPractising DIY

Many eye injuries are caused by DIY accidents. “Angle grinding is a real risk since it causes tiny, hot metal filings to

shoot out,” says Dr Blakeney. “It's particularly important to avoid getting iron particles in your eyes, as there's a risk of a

condition called siderosis bulbi, which can affect vision.”

Dr Blakeney’s advice is to wear proper safety glasses, which must:

be impact-resistant

adhere to relevant British standards

fit properly

fit over your glasses (if worn)

Leisure

Being struck by a moving object is another cause of eye accidents. There's a high risk of this while playing sport, and Dr

Blakeney says squash balls are particularly dangerous. “They're a similar size to your eyeball and could dislodge the eye

from its socket. There's also a risk of being caught in the eye by your opponent’s racquet,” she says. It's recommended

that you wear sports safety glasses while playing.

When swimming, Dr Blakeney stresses that you must "never wear your contact lenses". Wear goggles to protect your

eyes if they're sensitive. Prescription goggles are available if you wear glasses and swim regularly.

Wearing protective glasses for cycling is also recommended in order to avoid injury from road chippings or prevent flies

and dust from getting in your eyes, which could cause an accident.Safety at work

Employers are required by law to protect their employees from risk of injury. You can visit the Health and Safety

Executivewebsite for more information.Using computers

Dr Blakeney says that computers are a common cause of problems in her patients. While they won’t cause lasting

damage to the eyes, working for long periods of time on the computer can strain them or make the symptoms of existing

eye conditions worse. Symptoms include eye discomfort, headaches, itchy eyes and difficulty in focusing.

Rest the eyes while working on the computer. Look regularly at more distant objects. For example, stare out of the

window during your thinking time. Take frequent breaks from computer work. Visit the optometrist regularly for eye

check-ups, and make sure they know you use computers often.Adequate lighting

Ensure that you're working in well-lit conditions but without light reflecting off the computer screen as this can cause eye

strain or headaches.Outdoor and manual jobs

Ask your employer which activities require protective goggles. This will make them aware of the risks you face. Again,

beware when using machinery, such as angle grinders and drills (see ‘Practising DIY’ above), and chemicals, which can

cause nasty burns (see ‘Using chemicals’ above).When driving

The advice for driving is simple: make sure you can see the number plates of the cars around you (DVLA

guidelines state that you must be able to read them from 20 metres away), and make sure that you have regular eye

examinations. Dr Blakeney says: “If you wear glasses and drive at night, ask your optometrist for glasses with an anti-

reflection coating. This reduces the reflections from the front and back of the spectacle lenses. They look nicer and

reduce glare, which helps you to stay safe.”