Protective eye-wear may reduce injury risk
Men have about three times the number of eye injuries that women do, a new study published by two organizations — American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT) — explains. The survey took place between May 16 and May 23, 2010. It was discovered that men experienced over 73 percent of eye injuries. Each year, 2.5 million Americans have injuries of the eye, and the majority of injuries occur at home.
Typically, simple chores around the house may lead to severe eye injuries.
The organizations conducting this survey recommend that each U.S. household should have one pair, at minimum, of approved eye-wear to use as protection while performing tasks or projects that may put eyes at risk.
Additional key findings include:
- 25 percent of injuries to the eye occurred during games or sports
- 25 percent of injuries were caused during home renovation or while using power tools
- The most common places at home for eye injuries were in the yard or in the garden
- Almost 50 percent of injuries happened in people 30-64 years old
- 12 percent of the injuries occurred to children under 13 years old
Experts suggest exercising caution regardless of protective eye-wear to help reduce the amount of eye injuries that occur at home.
