Tips for Eye Safety Around Your Home

October is Home Eye Safety Awareness Month. Keep your eyes safe while tending to your home. Image courtesy of www.homecleaningservices.org.

As a new homeowner, I like to keep my home looking nice and neat (I’ve actually always been like that, even during college). Little did I know, seemingly harmless household tasks such as cleaning or cooking can have significant risks to my eye safety. More than one third of home-sustained eye injuries happen in common living areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or living room.

Before embarking on a cleaning spree, I always read the labels on all chemicals and cleaners. Did you know that insect repellent, oven cleaner and bleach cause more than 125,000 eye injures every year? Make sure nozzles on cleaners are pointed away from you. In the kitchen, use a grease shield to prevent splattering while you whip up your favorite dish.

When mowing the lawn or using power tools (insert Tim Taylor grunt), Dr. Tavel recommends wearing protective eyewear. Remove any debris before using a mower, edger or trimmer to prevent things from becoming projectiles.

When you’re outside sprucing up your landscaping, don’t forget your sunglasses! Extended exposure to harmful UV rays can do permanent damage to your precious eyes. Make sure you have lenses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Dr. Tavel suggests Purifier® polarized lenses for all your outdoor activities.

Doing household tasks doesn’t have to be dangerous! Educate yourself on safe practices during Home Eye Safety Awareness Month.