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Home > Health Information > Children's Health > Eye  Printer Friendly Page Printable Version

Avoiding Eye Injuries

How to prevent eye injuries:

Eye injuries affect more than one million people every year. Consider these reminders from Prevent Blindness America for you and your child:

At home or outside:


  • Wash your hands after using household chemicals.

  • Ensure there are no sharp corners on the edges of furnishings and home fixtures.

  • Wear chemical safety goggles when using hazardous solvents and detergents, and do not mix cleaning agents around or near your child.

  • Turn spray nozzles away from your face and the faces of others.

  • Read and follow directions when opening bottle-tops (i.e., wine, carbonated beverages).

  • Read and follow directions when playing games and operating equipment.

  • Provide lights and handrails to improve safety on stairs.

  • Keep paints, pesticides, and fertilizers properly stored in a secure area.

  • Make sue you and your child wear recommended protective goggles, helmets, and safety gear during the appropriate activities.

  • Use guards on all power equipment.

  • Make sure your child's eyes are protected either by a wind-brimmed hat or by wearing ultraviolet (UV)-protective sunglasses.

  • Teach your child to never look directly at the sun (especially during an eclipse).
At play:


  • Make sure your child wears recommended protective eyewear during the appropriate sports and recreational activities.

  • A helmet with a polycarbonate face mask or wire shield should be worn during the appropriate sports.

With children:

  • Select toys that are appropriate for the child's age and activity level.

  • Provide adequate supervision for your child during activities that use sharp objects (i.e., arts and crafts).

  • Do not permit a child to play with projectile toys such as pellet guns or bows and arrows.

  • Beware of items in playgrounds and play areas that pose potential eye hazards.

  • Keep all hazardous cleaning supplies and sprays out of the reach of children.

  • Keep children away from fireworks.

  • Set an example of using the appropriate protective eyewear during sporting and recreational activities.

  • Keep children away from lawnmowers in use, as debris may be projected into the air.

  • At school, teach children to wear protective eye wear when performing science or lab experiments.

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