Five Holiday Eye Injuries to Avoid

As you partake in end-of-year celebrations, be wary of these common hazards to your eyes.

December is finally here, along with the holiday festivities and traditions cherished by so many. As you get ready to celebrate with your friends and family, it’s important to be aware of some common accidents that occur around this time. Here are four holiday-themed eye injuries and how to avoid them.

#1 – Christmas Trees
A hallmark of December, Christmas trees are iconic, festive, and potential sources of eye irritants. If you plan on getting your tree from the great outdoors, then you should wear goggles to protect your eyes from wood chips, branches, leaves, and pine needles. Even a tree bought from a store can include stray debris, so you should be just as cautious when assembling and decorating one.

#2 – Household Decorations
Bringing the holiday spirit to your home is one of the greatest joys of the season. However, certain decorations can endanger your health if mishandled. Spray snow, for example, can cause significant irritation and damage to your eyes. Other adornments—like lights, wreaths, and garlands—may contain sharp pieces that pose risks, as well. As you deck your halls with boughs of holly, take extra care to carry out these tasks as safely as possible.

#3 – Champagne Corks
Popping bottles of champagne is a popular tradition to celebrate the new year. Sharing a glass of sparkling wine with your loved ones can be fun, but did you know that a cork can fly up to 50mph off the bottle? Serious champagne-related eye injuries occur each year due to a lack of proper safety measures. When participating in champagne popping, avoid shaking the bottle and point the cork away from others to lower the chances of injury.

#4 – Snow Blindness
Many people believe that the sun’s UV rays can only harm them from the sky. But snow, ice, and other ground-level surfaces can reflect sunlight straight onto your eyes. When the light is intense enough, this can cause a form of photokeratitis (overexposure to UV rays) known as snow blindness. If your holiday plans involve traveling anywhere with snow on the ground, make sure to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the reflected UV light.

These injuries may sound rare, but you’d be surprised how often they occur each year. Following the guidelines above will help you avoid becoming part of the statistic.
If you have any questions about your eyesight, be sure to talk them through with your eye doctor. Sterling Vision is composed of experienced optometrists and ophthalmologists equipped to manage all your eye care needs. To schedule an appointment with us, call 541-262-0597 or schedule online.