When It Comes to Your Eyes, Make It Home Safe Home

Results of American Academy of Ophthalmology's Sixth Annual Eye Injury Snapshot Finds Nearly Half of Eye Injuries Occur in the Home From Everyday Projects

Importance of Wearing Protective Eyewear Focus of New Public Service Announcement From PBS Master Carpenter Norm Abram

Home remains the likeliest place to suffer an eye injury, according to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) and the American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT). The annual Eye Injury Snapshot, a clinical survey of eye injuries across the U.S., conducted from May 17 to May 24 this year, found that nearly half (47.6 percent) of the 2.5 million eye injuries that Americans suffer annually now happen in and around the home in common places like the lawn, garden, kitchen or garage.

"Many people still believe that they are most at risk of an eye injury in the workplace, when in fact they face the greatest danger in their home doing household projects like home repair and yard work," said David W. Parke II, MD, CEO and executive vice president of the Academy. "Unfortunately, all too often the victims of these injuries are children. Ninety percent of the injuries could be prevented simply by wearing protective eyewear."

In an effort to combat the rate of household eye injuries, the Academy and ASOT recommend that every household in America have at least one pair of ANSI-approved* protective eyewear to be worn when doing projects and activities at home to safeguard against eye injuries.

This was the sixth year that data was collected for the Eye Injury Snapshot. Among the key findings:

--  Three-quarters of those injured were male.
--  The number of eye injuries suffered by children increased from
    previous surveys: Children 12 years of age or younger represented one in
    five injuries, well above the previous five-year survey average of 15.5
    percent.
--  The yard and garden were the place people were most likely to suffer
    an injury in the home.
--  More than 45 percent of injuries occur between noon and 6 p.m.
    

To help promote awareness of eye protection, the Academy's EyeSmart(TM) campaign also released new public service announcements featuring Norm Abram, master carpenter of the PBS series "This Old House" and host of "The New Yankee Workshop." For three decades, Mr. Abram has promoted the importance of eye safety while doing home projects.

"We're pleased to partner with Norm Abram on this important message," said Dr. Parke. "His commitment to protective eyewear has earned him the respect of ophthalmologists and makes him the ideal spokesperson for eye safety."

To view the public service announcement, visit http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/injuries/abram.cfm. Learn more about eye injuries, names of Eye M.D.s in your area or ask an Eye M.D. a question by visiting www.GetEyeSmart.org.

* ANSI-approved protective eyewear is manufactured to meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) eye protection standard. ANSI-approved protective eyewear can be easily purchased from most hardware stores nationwide and can be identified by the mark "Z87" placed on the eyewear. ANSI-approved protective eyewear is not approved for use in sports. To locate appropriate eyewear for specific sports talk to your ophthalmologist or visit www.geteyesmart.org.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons -- Eye M.D.s -- with more than 27,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three "O's" -- opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases, infections and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org.