Whether you’re cooking dinner, working on a home improvement project, or cleaning your home, accidental eye injuries can happen every day. Hot oil splatters, sharp projectiles, dangerous chemicals—all these and more can pose risks to your eyes.

So, how do you protect your eyes from injury at home? 

Here are four ways to promote eye safety at home.  

1. Be Careful with Cleaning Products 

Did you know that household cleaning products cause 125,000 eye injuries every year?  

Accidentally getting household chemicals into the eye can cause effects ranging from mild to severe, including eye irritation, pain, conjunctivitis, lacrimation, blurred vision, and corneal abrasion.  

Some of the household cleaning products that have been shown to cause health effects when exposed to the eyes include:  

• Bleach  
• Drain cleaner 
• Oven cleaner 
• Toilet bowl cleaner 
• Dishwasher detergent 
• Laundry detergent packets 
• Rust remover 
• Fabric softeners 

Anytime you’re using household cleaning products, make sure to keep any products away from your face and eyes. Point spray nozzles away from your face and wear safety glasses when you’re handling potentially harmful chemicals that may spray into your eyes.  

It’s also important to know that children under the age of six are six times more likely to be exposed to these chemicals than other age groups. That’s why keeping any household cleaning products locked away and out of reach of children is an essential safety step to help prevent eye injuries. 

2. Be Aware of Kitchen Hazards 

You likely spend a lot of time in your kitchen, and it’s important to take a few precautions to protect your eyes while cooking: 

• Be wary of hot grease or oil and always use a grease shield to keep hot oil from splattering up into your eyes. If you’re frying foods in grease, it’s a good idea to wear safety glasses just in case. Similarly, when you’re cooking sauces or soups on the stove, keep covers on your pots. If the liquids start bubbling and splattering, lower the stove temperature.  
• After handling anything spicy, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and avoid touching your eyes. You could also wear gloves while handling spicy ingredients to help keep this residue off your fingers and out of your eyes.  
• Be careful to avoid getting juices or residue from raw meat in your eye, for these can contain bacteria that can cause an eye infection. Always wash your hands after handling raw meat. 
• If chopping onions makes your eyes water, here are a few tips for protecting your eyes.  
• No matter what home remedies you hear, never put food into your eyes. Avoid exposing your eyes to anything that isn’t specifically designed for your eyes.  

3. Home Improvement and Garage Safety 

Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom? Putting together a new bookshelf in the office? Working on your car in the garage? Projects like these can pose a risk to your eyes, but there are simple ways to protect your eyes.  

Take these precautions when dealing with tools and equipment in the home and garage:  

• Tools: when you’re working with power tools or hand tools, make sure to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from sparks, dust, and flying particles. Keep children far away from power tools. 
• Sharp objects: home improvement tasks can often involve sharp and pointed objects like nails, screws, screwdrivers, saws, and blades. When working with sharp objects, wear safety glasses, keep them away from your eyes, and keep children (and pets) out of the area.  
• Storage: store tools and potentially dangerous objects in a safe place out of reach of children. Never leave your tools on the ground where they can become a tripping hazard.  
• Bungee cords: bungee cords are a major risk to the eyes because if they break or come loose, they can hit the eyes and cause major injury. Avoid bungee cords and choose safer options (like ropes or ratchet straps) when tying down objects. 

4. Avoid Slipping and Falling Hazards 

Your living room may seem like the last place where an eye injury could occur, but many eye injuries happen because of falls. While elderly individuals are most at risk for falls, falls can happen to anyone.  

Falls can cause a variety of eye injuries, including: 

• Orbital fracture 
• Eye socket injury 
• Black eye 
• Eyelid and tear gland damage 

Here are a few ways to help prevent falls:  

• Put non-slip pads under any loose rugs 
• Pick up all clothes, toys, and other objects off the floor 
• Clean up spills promptly 
• Protect sharp edges on tables and other furniture 
• Have nightlights in every room and on stairwells to help you see in the dark 
• Make sure all staircases have secure railings 

If an Eye Injury Happens 

Eye injuries can sometimes occur even when you take proper precautions. Anytime you injure your eye, make sure to consult your VSP^® network eye doctor. If you experience a serious eye trauma, go to the nearest emergency room.  

Here’s a little guidance about how to treat common at-home eye injuries.  

• Chemicals in the eye: flush your eye with lots of water, then seek treatment right away 
• Object stuck in the eye: do NOT touch or try to remove objects that get stuck in the eye. Seek treatment right away.  
• Particles in the eye: small particles in the eye are often able to flush out of the eyes naturally. To help the process, try blinking and flushing your eyes with saline or water. 

Learn more about first aid for the eyes in our full guide.    

Keep Your Eyes Safe at Home 

For more guidance about how to take care of your eyes in your home and beyond, talk with your VSP network eye doctor. And if you haven’t had your eye exam yet this year, schedule an appointment today! 

 

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Article provided by VSP. Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.