Wednesday, January 31, 2001

Toys can cause eye injuries

Every year, nearly 7,000 children suffer eye injuries from toys, but most of these injuries can be prevented, according to eye care professionals.

"Most manufacturers of children's toys try to make them safe," said Dr. Paul Ajamian, president of the Georgia Optometric Association. "But there are still some toys that are poorly designed with sharp, pointed or rough edges that can cut or poke."

Here are some guidelines to follow to protect your child's vision:

Avoid poorly constructed toys with exposed nails or made of a brittle material that can shatter, sending splinters or sharp pieces into a child's eyes.

Choose toys brooms, mops, sweepers and push toys with sticks that have rounded edges.

Select toys appropriate to the child's age. Children under two should not have toys with stick handles. Those under six should not play with darts, arrows, slingshots, other missile-throwing games or toys that eject missiles. Even those with suction cup tips can be unsafe in their hands.

Teach older children the proper way to play with darts, arrows, slingshots and other missile-throwing toys and supervise their play.

Require older children and teens to wear safety goggles that meet the American National Standards Institute's Z87.1 standards when playing or working with chemistry sets, some hobby kits, workshop tools, rifles, BB guns, and sleds. These safety goggles can be purchased at hardware, hobby and department stores.

Be certain children have and wear the proper goggles when using mini-bikes, skis and snowmobiles.

Dr. Ajamian also suggests that if a child should suffer an eye injury, parents should administer emergency care immediately and then seek professional help promptly.

For blows to the eyes, cold compresses should be applied for 15 minutes. For chemical splashes, the eye should be flooded nonstop with low-pressure water for 15 minutes to dilute and remove the chemical.

Never wash an eye that is cut or punctured. Bandage it lightly and seek professional care. If an object is stuck in the eye, leave it there and get professional help immediately.

After an eye injury has healed, an optometrist can evaluate the child's vision to determine if a vision loss has occurred and, if needed, prescribe prescription lenses and other optical devices to help the child maximize his or her remaining vision.