November 30, 2022
An eye injury is painful, expensive, and can have long-term impacts. Yet, studies show 90% of all eye injuries are preventable.1 In the US, half of them occur at home while the other half occur at work. Of the reported injuries, up to 20% cause temporary or permanent vision loss.2
Excuses for not wearing eye protection include discomfort, improper fit, fogging or distorted vision, and simply believing there is no need for wearing it.3
The most common types of injuries at work are chemical exposures, foreign objects in the eye, and scratches on the cornea. Other high-risk injuries are burns from steam and welding-related injuries from ultra-violet and infra-red exposures.4
Common home-related eye injuries are caused by home repairs, yard work, cleaning, and cooking. Another 40% of non-work-related injuries occur during recreational or sports events.5