EYE SAFETY IN THE GARDEN

HARGRAVE EYE CENTER1411 North Beckley Avenue, Suite 460, Pavi l ion I I I , Dal las , Texas 75203 • www.hargraveeyecenter.net

EYE SAFETY TIPSThe arr ival of summer means that i t ’s t ime to enjoy sunny afternoons, barbecues, and beaches, but i t a lso means that i t ’s t ime to pul l weeds, water f lowers, and mow the lawn. In fact , American adults spend an average of 70 hours per year on gardening or lawn care, and much of that t ime is spent during the warm summer months when plants take root , bloom, and grass grows higher and faster than any other t ime of year. Before you head outside with your trusty pruning shears, however, you should recognize the r isks that lawn care presents to your eyes, so here ’s a l ist of eye safety t ips to consider for when you rol l up your s leeves and head to the garden.

WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR Some of the most common gardening- related eye injur ies stem from project i les , such as rocks k icked up by lawnmower blades or spl inters f ly ing off a branch, str ik ing the eye. These injur ies can cause serious damage and even v is ion loss, so i t ’s essentia l that you wear protect ive gear to keep your eyes safe whi le gardening. S ince your regular eyeglasses wi l l shatter i f struck by a project i le—which creates a r isk of damage to your eye from the broken lens or frame—look for durable safety goggles, face shields, or face masks to guard your eyes.

WASH YOUR HANDS

When you rub your eyes, you r isk deposit ing germs, oi ls , and other irr i tants onto the surface of your eyes, where i t can cause damage or infect ion; this r isk increases whi le gardening because your hands may have come into contact with dirt or debris , plant- based irr i tants , chemicals , and other dangers. These irr i tants wi l l c l ing to gloves, and some of them—like urushiol , the al lergen in poison ivy that causes rashes—can even seep through gloves and reach your skin. As a result , avoid touching your eyes whi le in the garden and make sure that you wash your hands frequently .

STAY HYDRATED

Working outside in the hot summer sun can lead to dehydrat ion. Whi le dehydrat ion has several detr imental effects on your body, i t causes your eyes to stop producing tears, which can result in dry eye, eye strain, and potent ia l ly even v is ion problems. Guard your eyes against dehydrat ion by drinking plenty of water before you head out to the garden and throughout your t ime outside.

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