How To Prevent Eye Injuries in Small Children

The first week in July is National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness week and a great time to talk to the kids about eye health and playing safe. It is also not a coincidence that this awareness campaign is happening at the same time that there is an annual uptick in the number of reported eye injuries.

Parents can help teach their children, even very small kids, how to stay safe during activities or events that may be dangerous to the eyes. Some easy ways to help you children maintain good eye health include:

·         Buy a good pair of sunglasses that fit your child properly. Don’t use the plastic sunglasses available at the toy store or the department store; get top quality glasses that provide the UVB and UVA protection.

·         Choose sunglasses for children that have polycarbonate lenses that are impact-resistant. This prevents damage in the event that the glasses are hit by an object when the child is wearing them.

·         Buy sports goggles for your kids when playing any type of sport that includes hitting a ball at high speeds. This includes baseball, softball, tennis and even golf. These goggles can also be worn if the child is helping out in the yard or garden to prevent debris from getting into the eyes.

·         Always check the chemical and chlorine levels in pools or hot tubs before the children are allowed to swim. Hot tubs and pools that are not treated are ideal breeding areas for bacteria that can lead to increased chances of eye infections. 

Teach children to come to you if they do get any debris or material in their eyes and not to immediately rub the eye. Parents should carry a bottle of water or some eye wash solution with them to the beach or to the game to always have a handy eye wash available.