Protective Eyewear Can Help Prevent Most Eye Injuries

Splash! Pop! Boom!

An eye injury can happen in an instant, often while you’re engaged in the most mundane household chores or celebrating a special occasion.

And while many eye injuries can be treated with medical management, such as eye drops or ointment, others are more severe, causing permanent eye damage and even blindness.

About 90 percent of eye injuries can be prevented by proper use of protective eyewear, which is also one of the simplest things we can do to keep our eyes healthy and preserve our vision, says an MUSC Health ophthalmologist. Other injuries can occur from improper use of contact lenses and direct sun exposure without wearing protective sunglasses.

“Every household should have a pair of safety glasses,” says Dr. Susannah Brown, an assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology. “Most common eye injuries occur in people who aren’t wearing protective goggles or eyewear during do-it-yourself projects, yard work, cleaning, and cooking.”

Brown says it’s a misconception that regular glasses can protect the eyes from impact or other trauma; she recommends glasses that meet criteria set by the American National Standards Institute. “These have lenses that are shatterproof and wrap around to protect the sides of the eye,” she says. “They can be bought at a hardware store or online.”

As director of the Ocular Trauma Center at MUSC Health’s Storm Eye Institute, Brown routinely treats patients with eye injuries, ranging from corneal abrasion to loss of the eye.

Pouring chemical substances or bleach into a tub or drain can cause splash injuries, and unwittingly pushing a lawnmower over a rock or stick can turn both into a dangerous projectile. A ricocheting object from a nail gun, and anything under tension, such as bungee cords, can snap back and injure the unprotected eye. And smaller projectiles, like BBs, buckshot, and even Nerf balls cause a higher risk of injury.

Then there are fireworks. “Fireworks are a big one,” Brown says. “Every year, we see a handful of fireworks injuries. Seeing preventable injuries from fireworks that are a result of ignoring safety practices is a burden we share with the orthopedic hand surgical team.”

Fortunately, our bodies are designed to protect our eyes from larger objects.

“The body is designed pretty darn well, and the eye socket is one of the eye’s protectors,” she says. “The bones around the eye protect the eyeball and prevent injury from contact by an object larger than the eye socket, such as a softball or large blunt force injuries.”

Brown also reminds people to be aware of others around them. “We see a lot of injuries in children who were playing nearby and were hit by a rock or a stick while mom or dad was mowing the lawn,” she says. “We also see more injuries in summer when adults and children are participating in outdoor activities.”

Trauma isn’t the only cause of eye injuries.

According to Brown, the sun’s rays and improper use of contact lenses are also culprits. “Anyone outside in the sunshine or even on a cloudy day should wear sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB light rays, which can damage the eye,” she says. “Look for glasses with a label certifying that they protect against UVA and UVB rays. Be aware that polarized lenses reduce glare but don’t add additional protective value.”

Conversely, blue-light glasses reported to protect eyes from digital screen light and reduce eye strain are unnecessary. Brown says, “The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports there is no evidence that light from a computer screen or phone damages the eye, and there is a lack of evidence that blue light reduces eye strain.”

Contact lenses are another offender.

“Contact lenses are great, but it’s important that people understand they should clean lenses as instructed and never sleep in them,” Brown says. “I frequently see people suffering from pain and vision loss as a result of eye infection secondary to incorrect contact lens wear.”

If we take care of our eyes, in most cases, our eyes will take care of us, Brown says. “Our eyes are not just windows to the soul; they’re our windows to the world.

The Storm Eye Institute is staffed by a dedicated team of plastic and reconstructive eye surgeons, glaucoma surgeons, pediatric surgeons, retina and cornea surgeons, and other specialists dedicated to specialized care and eye health. The Institute treats patients from across South Carolina and surrounding states. To make an appointment, call 843-792-2020.