Eye injuries are major contributor to vision loss for both children and adults. In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reports more than one million eye injuries each year. Almost half of these cases occur at home - and doctors suggest at least 90 percent of them could be prevented.

Both adults and children can take better care of their eyes by following a few simple tips.

Tips for Adults

• Common household products can be hazardous - read instructions and use care when spraying harsh chemicals, cleansers, insect repellents and cosmetic products
• Be careful in the kitchen - spattering grease and sharp utensils can pose serious risks to your vision
• When working in the garage or yard, goggles can shield your eyes from fragments, fumes and flying particles
• Keep a set of goggles in the car and use them when performing a jump-start, checking a hot radiator or doing any repairs that might involve flying shards of metal or splashing chemicals
• If you use a computer at work, it's important to periodically give your eyes a rest. Be sure to blink often, shift your position so there's no distracting glare and adjust your screen so the light coming from it doesn't hurt your eyes
• Protect your eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays by wearing glasses that offer 100% UV protection. Don't be fooled by the darkness of the lens - a special coating is required to block the UV rays

Tips for Children and Parents

Vision problems resulting from eye injuries are also a significant concern for parents. While play activities and sports pose a threat to kids’ eyes, some simple precautions can prevent unnecessary lifelong vision loss.

• Protective eyewear can prevent balls, sticks or elbows and fingers from injuring your child’s eyes during games and sports
• Holiday-related activities like pumpkin carving and fireworks can be very dangerous – children should be well-supervised at these times
• Household chores and yard work involve many dangerous objects and substances and require teaching children safety rules to prevent vision impairment