Safe Toys and Celebrations Month

Children's eyes are easily injured by toys

The American Academy of Ophthalmology urges parents to avoid buying toys that can cause serious eye injuries, even blindness. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission an estimated 226,100 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2018. Almost half of those incidents were injuries to the head. Unfortunately, most of these injuries happen to children under age 15. It's important to think about the safety of any gift you're giving, especially if it's a gift for a child.

Tips for selecting safe gifts this holiday season:

• Think twice before purchasing toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.
• Make sure children are appropriately supervised when playing with potentially hazardous toys or games that could cause an eye injury.
• Check the labels of laser products for evidence that the device complies with 21 CFR (the Code of Federal Regulations) Subchapter J.
• If you give sports equipment, also give the appropriate protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses. Check with your ophthalmologist to learn about protective gear recommended for your child's sport.
• Check labels for age recommendations and be sure to select gifts that are appropriate for a child's age and maturity.
• Keep toys that are made for older children away from younger children.
• If your child experiences an eye injury from a toy, seek immediate medical attention from an ophthalmologist.
  
  

‘You’ll shoot your eye out’

Eyes are particularly vulnerable to injuries. And serious injuries to the eye can have life-long effects. Commonly reported injuries from toys include corneal abrasions and ocular hyphema. More severe trauma can lead to retinal detachment, ruptured eyeball. and even blindness.

If your child experiences an eye injury from a toy, seek medical attention from an ophthalmologist right away. The good news is that most eye injuries can be easily prevented by following a few key safety tips.

Safe Celebrations: Ophthalmologists Offer Tips on the Safest Way To Open a Bottle of Bubbly

Champagne signals a time of celebration – but opening bubbly can come with some risks. 

Before you pop a bottle of Champagne this holiday season, learn how to do it safely. A warm bottle of champagne coupled with poor technique can send a cork flying up to 50 mph; powerful enough to shatter glass and eyeballs. Ophthalmologists, physicians specializing in medical and surgical eye care, say exploding corks can cause a wide range of eye injuries, from cuts and bruises to cataracts, glaucoma, and ruptured eyeballs. Cork-related eye injuries are avoidable. Follow these tips from the Stein Eye Institute and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

1. Chill the Champagne before opening. Gas found in Champagne expands when warm and can cause the cork to pop unexpectedly.
2. Don’t shake the bottle. This can also cause the bottle to burst unexpectedly and cause an injury.
3. When opening, tear off the foil, remove the wire hood and point the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself and any bystanders.
4. Place a towel over the top of the bottle and grasp the cork.
5. Slowly and firmly twist the bottle, not the cork. Press down on the cork while twisting the bottle. Do this until the pressure in the bottle begins to push the cork out naturally.

“Champagne cork injuries really do happen, and they have real consequences,” said Dianna Seldomridge, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “This holiday season, make sure your at-home celebrations are safe from sight-threatening eye injuries. Follow our tips on the safest way to open a bottle of Champagne.”

If injury does occur, seek medical attention immediately from an urgent care medical professional or an ophthalmologist.

To learn more ways to keep your eyes healthy, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart^® website.