KEEPING YOUR EYES HEALTHY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

The December Christmas and holiday season brings a change of routine that may place your eye health at risk. Read the following pointers to ensure a trouble-free and “eye safe” experience for you and your family.

Kids safety first

Watch out for toys with sharp edges or toxic chemicals (glues, paints etc.). The ones that fire projectiles such as plastic darts or bow and arrows, or pellet guns should never be used unsupervised. With lots of visitors to your home it’s also important to keep dangerous items such as sprays, cleaners, and other household solvents out of the reach of small children.

Effect of alcohol

As we all know, alcohol can impair judgement, especially when consumed in larger quantities. This makes it more difficult to gauge distances which may increase the risks of stumbling and falling. We may forget to remove our contact lenses at the right time which can lead to an eye infection. Bring your glasses and a spare set of contact lenses when attending functions outside of your home. And watch out for those champagne corks – always point the bottle away from you and others when removing them!

Play safe

The holiday season often brings opportunities to get out to the great outdoors with friends and family. That pickup game of hockey, or a day of snow sledding or skiing with the kids is great for health and spirits, but always wear eye protection during these activities. A flying piece of ice or snow can cause a serious eye injury. And remember – UV protection is still needed in winter, so wear those shades!

Be safe this holiday season, and if you do happen to encounter an unfortunate eye injury, we are here to help. Our emergency eye service is available from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, every day of the week.

Source: Quick Tips for Taking Care of Your Eyes While Having Fun | The Canadian Association of Optometrists