Welcome to July!
National Eye Injury & Prevention Month!
In July, the US Department of Health and Human Services claims this month as National Eye Injury Prevention month, which is a fabulous topic to bring forward in raising awareness around how we can protect our eyes at home, or when out and about. Although I’m Australian based, this is a topic I would like to encourage in becoming a global discussion, as it’s not only exclusive to people who are already experiencing vision loss, it applies to ALL people around the world. We teach our students who are blind, or have low vision, on a daily basis to care for their eyes, which involves avoiding further vision loss by preventing injury. However, how often does the average person consider this?
Did you know that approximately 55 million eye injuries happen around the world every year? A recent study undertaken for planning purposes in the WHO Program for the Prevention of Blindness, suggests that “some 55 million eye injuries restricting activities more than one day occur each year; 750,000 cases will require hospitalisation each year, including some 200,000 open-globe injuries; there are approximately 1.6 million blind from injuries, an additional 2.3 million people with bilateral low vision from this cause, and almost 19 million with unilateral blindness or low vision”.
Adding to this, since the pandemic hit the world in 2020, sporting eye injuries have decreased, however, injuries during home activities and injuries with plants had the highest increase (respectively, from 12.4% to 17.0% and from 8.5% to 10.7%).
However, not all eye injuries are severe and 90% are preventable. The eight most common eye injuries are;
1. Swelling - which is swelling of the eyes and eyelids, as well as discoloration. It's usually caused by impact to the eye.
2. Corneal abrasions - which is a medical term for a scratched eye whether it's dust, wood chips, sand or any other small particle. When a foreign body gets into your eye, it's easy for your cornea to get scratched. It results in soreness, redness and light sensitivity.
3. Chemical burns - foreign objects in your eye are one thing but it can be equally, or even more damaging, to have a substance into your eye. There's usually warning labels on items such as cleaning products or gardening products. The smallest amount can lead to debilitating burns and irritation, and in some cases, can cause blindness.
4. Traumatic Iritis - sometimes the iris, which is the coloured part of the eye, can suffer an inflammatory issue known as Traumatic Iritis. Following trauma to the eye, the body has a reaction to tears, cuts or bruises due to a build-up of pressure over time that can often be damaging. It can cause aching redness and blurred vision.
5. Bleeding in the eye - an eye bleed is blood leaking from the vessels and the whites of your eyes. It can appear far more serious than what it actually is. It's actually a very common issue that can be caused by a simple sneeze, cough or vomiting. They're usually painless without much cause for concern and can disappear in their own time.
6. Hyphemas - Another type of eye bleed between the cornea and the iris. It's much more serious and it can cause permanent vision loss if left untreated.
7. Orbital Blowout Fractures (OBF) - caused from blunt force trauma, which arises from a big blow to the face. The result is a fracture to the facial bones around the eye or multiple fractures and professional treatment is necessary.
8. Penetration - Usually the eye can expel a foreign particle without much effort or damage. However, when the object penetrates the surface of the eye, it becomes more serious and professional treatment.
It’s important to remain mindful in protecting our eyes to reduce the risk of potential injury. This applies to a person who already has a vision loss and is protecting their remaining residual vision, or, to a person who has full function in both eyes and is protecting their total vision.
Below are some tips of what we can do to protect the vision that we have…
In the house;
When using household chemicals make sure to read the instructions and labels carefully, work in a well ventilated area and spray the nozzles away from you.
In the workshop;
Consider the work you'll be doing and wear appropriate protective eyewear to shield your eyes. For example, flying fragments fumes, dust particles, sparks and splashing chemicals may require different protective eyewear. These elements can often enter your eye unexpectedly and cause injury so it’s essential to wear appropriate protection.
In the garden;
Wear protective eyewear before you use a lawnmower, powered trimmer, or edger. Be sure to check for rocks and stones because they can become dangerous projectiles. Do not forget to ensure that you're looking out for bystanders when using all these machines because they are just at risk by simply walking past.
In the workplace;
Again, wear appropriate eye protection for the job being undertaken. Employees who receive injuries to the eyes were either wearing no eye protection, or, inappropriate eye protection for the job.
Taking precautions by wearing appropriate protective eye wear could be the difference between keeping vision, or obtaining a vision loss.
So, with this in mind, let's spread some awareness to others! To prevent a serious eye injury, visit your ophthalmologist or optometrist to receive advice around correct eye protection for specific jobs or sports. If you are currently experiencing an injury to the eye/s, please visit your local medical center or hospital to check whether further treatment is required.
Jax@Tactilecollective
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