With the holiday
shopping season now in full swing, we want you to keep in mind certain eye
injury prevention safety guidelines when choosing the perfect gifts for the
little ones in their lives. Some popular toy types are commonly associated with
childhood eye injuries. These include air guns and other toys that shoot
projectiles, high-powered lasers, and sports equipment.
We want to encourage
parents to consider these tips when gifting toys to children this holiday
season.
- Beware of airsoft, BB guns, and other projectile
toys. Every year we treat thousands
of patients with serious eye injuries caused by seemingly safe toys. Avoid
items with sharp, protruding or projectile parts such as airsoft guns, BB
guns and other non-powder gun–related foreign objects can easily propel
into the sensitive tissue of the eye.
- Never allow children to play with high-powered laser
pointers. A number of reports in
the United States and internationally show that children have sustained serious eye
injuries by playing with high-powered lasers (between 1500 and 6000
milliwatts). Over the years, these lasers have become increasingly more
powerful, with enough potential to cause severe retinal damage, with just
seconds of laser exposure to the eye. The FDA advises the public to never aim or shine a laser pointer
at anyone and to not buy laser pointers for children.
- Read labels for age recommendations before you
buy. To select appropriate gifts
suited for a child's age, look for and follow the age recommendations and
instructions about proper assembly, use, and supervision.
- Don't just give presents. Make sure to be present. Always make sure an adult is supervising when children
are playing with potentially hazardous toys or games that could cause an
eye injury.
- Know what to do (and what not to). If someone you know experiences an eye injury,
seek immediate medical attention from an ophthalmologist. As you wait for
medical help, make sure to never to touch, rub, apply pressure, or try to
remove any object stuck in the eye. If an eye injury occurs follow
these important care and treatment guidelines.
Please
take steps to shop and play responsibly this year. Following these tips can
help make sure our little loved ones have healthy vision for many holiday
seasons to come. If you have questions or need an appointment please call Alabama Eye &
Cataract Center, P.C. in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye &
Cataract Center,
Google or www.facebook.com/alabamaeyeandcataractcenter.
Michelson Laser Vision, Inc. and Alabama Eye
& Cataract Center, P.C. are leading eye care centers in Birmingham located
at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and
staffed by UAB Medicine eye doctors and eye specialists.
