Children's Eye Safety: How to Prevent Injuries

Eye injuries are very common among people of all ages, and young children are no exception. An average of over 63,000 children are treated for eye injuries annually. Luckily, there are many actions parents can take to help protect their children’s eyes. 

In this post, we overview important children’s eye safety considerations, organized by setting: 

General In-home Eye Safety for Kids

Kids' Eye Safety in the Kitchen

Children’s Eye Safety in the Garage and Yard 

Outdoor Activity Eye Safety for Kids

Children’s Eye Safety During Playtime 

Children’s Eye Safety While You’re Out and About

We also share information on what to do if your child sustains an eye injury.

General In-home Eye Safety for Children

• Whether you are at home or outside, faces and eyes should only be touched with freshly cleaned hands.
• Cover sharp edges and corners of furniture with pads.
• Ensure that stairs have hand rails and are properly lit.
• Set up safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Save cleaning projects that involve hazardous fluids for when your child is asleep.
• Wash your hands after using cleaning products and chemicals. 
• Store cleaning products out of reach of children and in locked cupboards. 
• If you own a gun, ensure that it is always stored unloaded in a locked safe. Ammunition should be stored separately and out of reach.

Kitchen Eye Safety for Children

• Store glassware and other breakables out of reach of small children.
• Keep knives and other sharp utensils away from children.
• Be extra careful when opening bottles around children. Of particular concern are carbonated drinks and bottles sealed with a cork.
• Keep children away from the stove and other hot surfaces while you are cooking.
• Store pots and pans with long handles out of reach.

Children’s Eye Safety in the Garage and Yard 

• Don’t use hoses with spray nozzles around children; the flow of water can be unexpectedly strong. 
• Store chemicals, pesticides, paint, and other substances out of reach of children.
• Instruct kids to hold sharp objects away from their face at all times, whether or not they are actively using the tool.  
• Ensure that all power tools have guards to prevent children from accidentally turning them on. 
• Don't mow the lawn or whack weeds with powered equipment around children; trimmings can fly into their faces.
• Everyone present should wear eye protection while using powered equipment and/or while doing home repair and maintenance tasks.

Children’s Eye Safety During Outdoor Activities

• Just like adults, children need to wear sunglasses to protect from UV light and radiation from the sun. 
• No matter the age, no one should ever look directly at the sun! And yes, special eclipse glasses are required in order to look at the sun during an eclipse event. 
• Have your children wear safety glasses or goggles when playing sports. For high-contact sports, have your child wear a helmet with an attached face shield or mask. You can help your kids acclimate to wearing protective gear by wearing head and eye protection while you play sports with them. 
• Kids should wear goggles while swimming to protect their eyes during rowdy play.
• If your family enjoys setting off fireworks on holidays, make sure to keep your kids away from them at all times!

Children’s Eye Safety During Playtime 

• Read and follow instructions for any packaged games or play equipment. 
• Don’t let young children play with toys that are intended for older kids. Small parts can detach, creating both eye and choking hazards. 
• If your children are using sharp objects for any reason (such as helping in the kitchen or making crafts) ensure they are supervised. 
• Paper clips, safety pins, and rubber bands are not toys. Using them in play is a common eye hazard.
• Toys such as paintball guns or anything that launches arrows or balls should only be used by older children. Have them wear safety goggles while they play with these toys. Younger children should be kept away during game play with projectile toys. 
• Screen time should involve regular breaks to avoid eye strain. 
• If your kids enjoy performing science experiments, ensure that everyone present wears safety goggles.

Kids’ Eye Safety During Errands and Other General Activities

• For every trip in the car, no matter how short, ensure that your children are properly fastened into their safety seats and seat belts. 
• Ensure that groceries or other items you’re carrying in the car are sitting on the floor or secured in the trunk to ensure that they won’t move in a car crash. 
• Do not try to pet wild animals. Only engage with domestic animals with permission and supervision from the owner.

What Do I Do If My Child Gets an Eye Injury? 

Eyes are highly sensitive, which means that eye injuries require immediate attention. Do not apply pressure to the eye or rub the eye; doing this can worsen the injury! Seek immediate medical attention if there is ongoing eye pain or a vision problem, or if there is something in the eye that cannot be removed with tearing and blinking. 

The Cleveland Clinic provides extensive recommendations on what to do to treat various eye injuries. 

We hope these tips help you and your family plan your day-to-day activities with eye health and safety in mind. If you are concerned about your child’s visual motor or perceptual skills, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Further reading:

Dyspraxia in Children: How to Help Clumsy Kids

Infant Vision Milestones by Month

Baby Eye Tracking and Eyesight Development Tips