The most common eye injuries -- what to do

Workplace injuries are a leading cause of eye trauma, loss of vision and blindness, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. If your job carries a risk of eye injury, your employer is required to provide you with safety glasses. Anyone who works with power tools is required to wear them. A welder should wear a face shield. Eye protection is also essential on farms, in shops or laboratories where you work with chemicals.

If an eye injury occurs, see an ophthalmologist immediately or go to an emergency room. The full extent of the damage is not always apparent. Even a minor injury could result in permanent damage if it is not dealt with properly and quickly.

If the injury is from a blow, cover the eye with some kind of shield, like the bottom of a paper cup taped against the eye socket. Don't use any ointment and do not try to rinse the eye. Do not rub! This could tear tissue. Avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory drugs at this time, as they may thin the blood and increase bleeding. Proceed immediately to professional help.

If you have gotten a chemical in your eye, rinse it with water to dilute the chemical. Try to pull your eyelids wide open, and flood the eye with a steady stream of water - without pressure - for a full fifteen minutes. After rinsing the eye, cover it with a soft pad, take the chemical container with you, or write the name of it on a piece of paper so you can show it to your health professional once you arrive.

If you have a foreign object in your eye, don't try to remove it if it is on the cornea or seems to be stuck or embedded in the sclera, or white of your eye. Do not rub! Cover both eyes with a soft pad. This will stop you from over using the other eye. The injured eye will follow movement, tracking the other eye, if you do not cover them both. If the foreign object is floating on the white or in the corner, you can try to carefully remove it with a clean cloth or a cotton swab.

Sun protection is as important for eyes as it is for your skin. Commercial tanning booths are very hazardous to the eyes. If you have any history of macular degeneration, your eyes are much more at risk for UV-related damage.

Protect your eyes whenever you go outside, no matter how briefly.