Eye Care/Avoiding Eye Injuries
Eye Care/Avoiding Eye Injuries
How to prevent eye injuries
Eye injuries affect more than 2.5 million people every year, yet 90% of these injuries are preventable with the use of appropriate safety eyewear. Consider these reminders from Prevent Blindness America and discuss these with your adolescent:
At home or outside:
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At play:
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What eye hazards may be associated with cosmetic use?
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association, cosmetics are among some of the most common sources of problems for contact lens wearers. Misusing cosmetics can lead to severe adverse reactions. These include the following:
Deposits on the lens
Eye irritation
Allergy
Injury
Infection
Dryness
What safety practices should take place?
There are safety measures for choosing, applying, and wearing cosmetics. You should discuss these with your daughter to help protect her eyes while wearing contact lenses. Make sure she follows these suggestions for safe use:
Choose unscented, hypoallergenic cosmetics manufactured by a well-known, trusted brand name.
Wash your hands before inserting or removing your contact lenses.
Do not expose eyes to water while wearing contact lenses.
Do not borrow or lend your cosmetics to others.
Wash all makeup application brushes often.
Apply makeup after inserting the contact lenses.
Do not use your old applicator with mascara refills.
Avoid frosted, pearlized, iridescent, or other glittery types of eye shadow. They may contain ground oyster shells or tinsel.
Do not apply eyeliner to the inner edge of the lid or above the lash line on the lower lid.
Avoid using loose powder on the face.
Do not apply creams too close to the eyes.
Never apply eye makeup while in motion or while driving.
Do not use water or saliva to wet applicator or thin cosmetics.
Do not apply cosmetics if your eyes are red, swollen, or infected. If symptoms last, an ophthalmologist or optometrist should be called.
Eye strain and computer use
The following are the most common symptoms of eye strain. These may be attributed to prolonged computer screen viewing. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Red, watery, irritated eyes
Tired, aching, or heavy eyelids
Problems with focusing
Muscle spasms of the eye or eye lid
Headache
Backache
Symptoms of eye strain are often relieved by resting the eyes, changing the work environment, and/or wearing the proper glasses. The symptoms of eye strain may resemble other eye conditions. Always talk with your adolescent's healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
How is eyestrain avoided?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has provided the following helpful suggestions for making the appropriate workstation changes to help avoid eye strain:
Position the video display terminal (VDT) slightly further away than where you normally hold reading material.
Position the top of the VDT screen at or slightly below eye level.
Place all reference material as close to the screen as possible to minimize head and eye movements and focusing changes.
Reduce lighting reflections and glare.
Keep the VDT screen clean and dust-free.
Schedule periodic rest breaks to avoid eye fatigue.
Keep the eyes moist (by blinking) to prevent them from drying out.
Keep the VDT screen in proper focus.
Talk with your adolescent's ophthalmologist or optometrist, as some individuals who normally do not need glasses may need corrective lenses for computer work.
Updated:  
March 21, 2017
Reviewed By:  
Bogus, William J., OD, FAAO,Griggs, Paul B., MD