DIY AND YOUR EYES
According to the Eyecare Trust, more than 20,000 eye accidents happen every year to people doing DIY jobs - that's one every 25 minutes!
Don't become a statistic and put your sight at risk. Always wear good quality safety glasses. These will protect your eyes from common causes of injury, including:
If you normally wear glasses or contact lenses, you can't rely on them for protection - they are not designed to cope with these risks. In fact, they can make an eye injury much worse if they shatter or penetrate the eye.
You can wear safety glasses over your normal specs and contact lenses. Alternatively, our optician can kit you out with suitable prescription goggles. Whatever protection you choose, make sure the glasses conform to British Standards.
What To Do If Something Goes Wrong
1. Before you start, make sure you have first aid equipment and eyewash, you know where it is stored and it is easily to hand in case of an accident.
2. Do not rub the eye. This will make matters worse, increasing the chance of blindness or the loss of an eye. Get medical attention as quickly as possible. Getting to a hospital may save your sight. Call an ambulance or get someone to drive you there.
3. Never wash a cut or punctured eye. Cuts should be bandaged lightly if possible. Abrasions will need hospital treatment with drops, ointments and a sterile pad over the eye for at least 24 hours. Lacerations are far more painful and may require drug therapy and eye ointment and stitching of any torn tissue.
If you are unsure about anything please call Vision Opticians on 02088741001 or email us at southfields@visionopticians.com.