Did you know that December is a busy time of year for your ophthalmologist or optometrist? Many people assume it is a slow season for eye health practitioners. But the opposite is actually true. Unfortunately, the holiday season is when new toys and celebrations cause more eye injuries than usual. This is why December is Safe Toys and Celebrations Month to increase eye health awareness at this time of year.
 

About Safe Toys and Celebrations Month Eye Health Awareness

About one in every 10 youth eye injuries leading to ER visits occur because of children’s toys. As we all know, December is the most popular season for gift giving. For kids of all ages, those gifts include toys. Because of the dangers many toys present, it is important to maintain eye health awareness whenever gift shopping for children.

This Safe Toys and Celebrations Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology also reminds parents to carefully select gifts for children. It is particularly important to avoid any that feature projectiles like BB guns and crossbows. Additional recommendations for gift giving include avoiding toys with sharp edges that can accidentally damage eyes.

Toys can cause a wide variety of eye injuries. Some of these have lifelong effects. Traumatic eye injuries seen in emergency departments this time of year include:

• Corneal abrasions

• Ocular hyphema

• Retinal detachment

• Ruptured eyeballs

• Blindness

But eye care professionals do not stop with promoting eye health awareness for child safety at this time of year. It is important to also remember that adults can suffer eye injuries from these toys and other items, too.

In fact, champagne corks are another type of common projectile injuring people during the holidays. For this reason, the Academy offers guidance on how to open champagne bottles safely. The most important advice is to aim the cork away from people when opening.
 

Safe Toys for Kids’ Holiday Gifts

Ophthalmologists can help parents add toys to the gift shopping list that meet eye health awareness standards. Some recommendations include items that get kids away from their mobile devices and other screens.

Tips for keeping kids safe with their toys this time of year include:

• Avoiding toys with protruding, sharp or projectile parts

• Ensuring kids are supervised with potentially dangerous toys

• Verifying laser toys comply with 21 CFR Subchapter J

• Providing protective eyewear with sports equipment

• Giving age appropriate gifts

• Keeping older kids’ toys away from young children

• Teaching kids to take frequent breaks from toys and devices with digital screens

Also to meet eye health awareness standards for the holidays this year, below are some eye-safe gift ideas:

• Non-toxic art supplies to bring out your child’s creativity

• Outdoor sporting gear like hiking boots, bicycle, roller skates or a sled

• Educational games or puzzles for quiet time indoors

• Social card games for group interaction

• Food preparation kit subscription as a family activity

Remember that kids today spend a great deal of time in front of their digital screens. Try to give gifts that offer options to this screen time. The best ideas for gift-giving include those that entice children outside into fresh air and sunlight. Studies prove that time spent outdoors aids in healthy vision development. To remind your child of the importance of eye health awareness, give them a pair of fashionable sunglasses or protective eyewear for time spent outdoors.
 

Individualized Eye Health Awareness at Clarity Vision

For more individualized information about eye health awareness, schedule your child’s next visit at Clarity Vision Eye Care Centers. Each center also offers a wide array of eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses and protective eyewear perfect for gift giving.

There are six locations for your convenience including:

• Holly Springs, NC

• Apex, NC

• Clayton, NC

• Williamston, NC

• Smithfield, NC

• Suffolk, VA

Call your nearest center for scheduling today.