LAWN AND GARDEN: AVOID TRIMMER TROUBLE BY USING EYE PROTECTION

When it comes to landscaping, nothing puts the finishing touches on a tidy garden or yard like a power lawn trimmer. Trimmers are the second most popular lawn implement, behind the lawn mower, with gardeners and homeowners.

Unfortunately, these nylon lawn trimmers are now the fifth leading cause of penetrating eye injuries. Each year, trimmers alone cause more than 1,500 eye injuries. Operating at speeds up to 8500 revolutions per minute, these trimmers spin off tiny fragments of the nylon line, which can enter the eye along with dirt and grass debris. The result: corneal lacerations and fungal infections severe enough to threaten sight.

The American Optometric Association offers these other suggestions to help prevent eye injuries in the home garden environment:

  • Wear wrap-around safety goggles, made of polycarbonate–the strongest lens material available. Don’t rely on ordinary prescription glasses for eye safety. Although they are impact-resistant, they are not safety eyewear. In addition, chemical or spray dust can get around the sides easily and into the eyes.
  • Wear sunglasses that block 99-100 percent of the sun’s UV-A and UV-B ultraviolet radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of light. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light over time can cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which are potentially blinding.  Wide-brimmed caps and hats can only eliminate about 50 percent of UV radiation from reaching the eyes.
  • Cover the sharp tips of bamboo or metal stakes (often used for tomato or climbing plants) with plastic wire nuts to prevent an accidental puncture wound.

If an eye injury occurs, apply these emergency care procedures and then seek treatment immediately at a hospital emergency room.

  • For chemical splashes, flood the eye non-stop with low-pressure water for 15 minutes to dilute or remove the chemical.
  • For blows to the eye, apply cold compresses for 15 minutes.
  • Never wash an eye that is cut or punctured. Bandage it lightly and go to the hospital.
  • If an object is stuck in the eye, leave it there and seek treatment at the hospital.
  • For foreign material in the eye, don’t rub. Lift the upper eyelid outward and pull it down over the lower lashes. This will cause tears, which can flush the foreign matter out. If not, seek the treatment at the hospital.

Last but not least, remember to have an eye examination every year or two.  Protect your eyes today so that you can enjoy the beauty of your landscape for years to come.

Julie Danielson owns the Jacksonville Vision Clinic, and may be reached at 541-899-2020.