Deck The Halls With Eye Safety This Holiday Season

League City, Texas – The holidays are only a few weeks away. Soon, thousands of school children will be home to enjoy their winter break from school, while extended family will drive or fly in from far away cities. While the atmosphere might be festive, the influx of people and activity stirring around the house can potentially lead to an at home, eye related accident. The doctors at The Eye Clinic of Texas provide some simple precautionary tips to follow to ensure eye safety at home this holiday season.

When purchasing gifts, select toys and other items that are appropriate for the child’s age and maturity level. Toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts should be avoided, but if you do purchase them, make sure they are marked with an official approval label from the American Society for Testing and Materials.

“I think it’s important for parents to carefully consider the potential dangers of toys such as air powered rifles, BB, paint or pellet guns,” said Dr. Austin Chang, ophthalmologist at The Eye Clinic of Texas. “While they are fun toys, an innocent maneuver can cause one of these guns to go off unintentionally and injure a nearby person.”

For older children receiving sports equipment, do not forget to purchase appropriate protective headgear, such as helmets, facemasks and goggles with polycarbonate lenses. These devices go a long way in preventing numerous eye injuries.

“Christmas trees are fun to decorate and enjoy throughout the season, but their branches and needles can be very hazardous to the eyes,” Chang said. “Even though it sounds funny, like something off of a Chevy Chase movie, we recommend wearing goggles when handling Christmas trees; especially when untying them when bringing them home from the nursery. The branches can quickly dart forward, easily hitting and injuring the eye.”

In addition, Chang warns that adults should take precaution when opening champagne bottles, making sure the cork is pointed away from anyone’s face before popping it open.

Besides these specific holiday tips, adults should take general caution to ensure their homes are safe for small children who might be visiting during this time. This can be done by installing safety gates, storing kitchen utensils and desk supplies out of the reach of children, and by installing cabinet and drawer locks in kitchens and bathrooms.

“According to Prevent Blindness of America, there are approximately 125,000 at home eye injuries each year,” Chang said. “Following these simple tips can help eliminate nearly 90 percent of injuries and ensure families have a safe and happy holiday.”

And, for those who may be traveling to colder climates or planning ski vacations, Chang recommends taking along over-the-counter lubricated eye drops to help with dry eyes, and a pair of goggles to protect eyes from injury and increased sun exposure at higher altitudes.

Founded in 1972, The Eye Clinic of Texas (www.ecot.com) offers the latest in laser vision correction surgery, as well as a full range of other eye needs at three locations throughout Galveston County: League City, Galveston and Texas City. For more information on holiday and general at home eye safety, call (800) 423-3937.

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