Seeing Safely

To mark July’s designation as Eye Injury Prevention Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is reminding Americans that some of the most ordinary activities can cause eye injuries.

And that includes lawn care and landscape maintenance.

Lawn mowers and nylon line lawn trimmers are an increasingly frequent source of eye injury. In fact, a recent study labeled lawn trimmers as the fifth leading cause of penetrating ocular trauma.

To prevent trauma to the eye, lawn care operators should check the property rocks and other debris before initiating trimmer or mower action. LCOs should also wear protective goggles to protect against dangerous, air-born materials.

Such simple precautions can go a long way to preventing ocular damage, observed Academy spokesperson, Lee Duffner, M.D.

“Many times, all that stands between you and a devastating eye injury or blindness is a little common sense and pair of tight-fitting goggles,” Duffner asserted.