Protect Your Vision, For Life!

Every day when you wake up, you open your eyes and start the new day by looking around. Your eyes allow you to see where to pour your coffee and how to match your socks. They enable you to drive to work. What if suddenly, by accident, your sight was taken from you? How different your life would be!

Nearly one million Americans have become visually impaired as a result of an eye injury. Every year nearly a quarter of a million more are treated for product related injuries, with nearly 60 percent of these accidents occurring in or around the home. Most involve common household repair and maintenance products, and the real tragedy is that almost 60 percent of these injuries could have been prevented had people only followed safety guidelines and worn proper eye protection.

Don't become a statistic! May is national eye safety month, and Home Safety Council® and Prevent Blindness America® urge you to read and follow these tips for eye care safety to help prevent accidents before they happen. Taking time now to follow these guidelines can protect your vision today—and help you see a better tomorrow!

Whether you're in the home, the garden or the workshop, your eyes can easily be the target of flying particles, fumes, or splashes of harmful chemicals. Airborne dust and debris generated from power tools like sanders and lawn trimmers, as well as careless use of even common household items like solvents, oven cleaners and dye, can become the cause of serious eye injuries—or even blindness.

Remember:

  • THINK before you begin a task.
  • INSPECT your work area.
  • READ manufacturer's instructions and product labels.
  • PROTECT your eyes before you begin.

 

In And Around The Home

  • Use products that are easy to dispose of and safe to use.
  • Wear chemical safety goggles when using hazardous solvents and cleaning products.
  • Store chemicals and other products in a secure area away from young children.
  • Never mix cleaning agents, pesticides, fertilizers or solvents.
  • Point aerosol cans away from your face before spraying to avoid injury or permanent damage.
  • Follow manufacturer's instructions and heed warning labels.

 

Basic Safety Tips For Children

  • Sharp, pointed objects can puncture your eyes. Walk with scissors and other such objects pointed downward.
  • Be careful when using pencils and rulers.
  • Teach children never to point arrows or slingshots at other people and not to play "swords" with their friends.
  • If something gets in your eye, do not try to rub it out. Blink and allow tears to wash it out —or, ask for assistance in washing out the eye or seek emergency care.
  • Wear helmets for bike riding and other sports.
  • Never play with guns or firecrackers.

 

In The Workshop

  • Wear safety glasses with side shields and dust or chemical goggles.
  • Keep your work area clean and free from clutter.
  • Keep power equipment in good condition. Repair or replace damaged tools.
  • When using power equipment, use proper guards.
  • Read and follow manufacturer's instructions and warnings on tools, power equipment and building materials.

 

Trimmer.gif (9169 bytes)In The Yard

  • Wear safety glasses with shields or goggles to protect against flying debris. Wear chemical goggles to prevent exposure to pesticides and fertilizers.
  • Read and follow all manufacturer's instructions on chemicals and garden equipment and heed warning labels.
  • Keep others away (especially young children) when doing yard work, or require them to also wear eye protection.
  • Inspect the area and remove debris before mowing or trimming.

 

About Protective Eyewear

Occupational safety eyewear is the best form of protection to use to avoid serious eye injuries. Occupational eyewear is more impact resistant than non-safety prescription glasses and may be designed to be worn over regular eyeglasses. It's designed to meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute for Eye Protection (ANSI Z87.1-1989), and eyewear that meets this standard will be imprinted with the "Z87" logo. Look for the Z87 imprint on safety eyewear available at Lowe's as well as safety supply companies and optical supply or vision care centers.

 

The information and recommendations contained within this document were gathered from sources considered to be accurate. Home Safety Council® and Prevent Blindness America® and its affiliates are not engaged in rendering professional eye care services and provide this document as a public service without intending it to be a complete resource for eye health care, eye safety or a substitute for professional eye care advice.

For more information on vision, eye health, and safety, contact:

Prevent Blindness America
500 East Remington Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173
1-800-331-2020

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Lowe's is a registered trademark of The LF Corp.