4 Ways Your Eyes Can Ruin Christmas This Year

It’s December. You’ve got presents to purchase, parties to plan for, packages to mail, and a house to decorate. With so much to do-and see-this time of year, don’t let an eye injury disrupt your holidays!

We here at Rebuild Your Vision have put together some handy tips on caring for your eyes this season, from preventing toy-related eye injuries to popping that bubbly without putting out a peeper. So before you deck the halls-or hit the malls-take a few minutes away from the holiday madness to read this article on holiday eye health.

O Tannenbaum

If buying a fragrant fir or pine tree is part of your holiday tradition, remember that branches and needles can abrade the eyes, so be very careful when untying and setting up your tree. American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) spokesperson Andrew Iwach, M.D., notes that “the branches can burst forward, hitting and injuring your eyes.” Cut back the lower branches to avoid eye injuries to small children, and hang glass ornaments out of reach to avoid potential injury.

You Could Put an Eye Out

Believe it or not, there’s a right way and a wrong way to open that bubbly. Popping champagne corks incorrectly is one of the most common holiday-related eye hazards, according to the AAO. Follow their instructions below to enjoy your champagne safely.

1. Make sure sparkling wine is chilled to at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit before opening—the cork of a warm bottle is more likely to pop unexpectedly.
2. Hold the cork down with the palm of your hand while you remove the wire hood.
3. Place a towel over the bottle and point it away from yourself (and others) at a 45-degree angle. Holding the bottle firmly in one hand, use the other to grasp the cork, slowly and firmly twisting it to break the seal.
4. Keeping the bottle at a 45-degree angle, slowly turn the cork with a slight upward pull, continuing until the cork is almost out of the neck. Counter the force of the cork using a slight downward pressure just as the cork breaks free from the bottle.

Babes in Toyland

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2005 more than 6,000 children under the age of 15 were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for toy-related eye injuries. “Most eye injuries caused by toys are completely preventable,” says Dr. Jeff Smith, vice president of professional affairs for Pearle Vision. “Many parents are simply unaware of what to look for to maximize eye safety.” Keep the following tips in mind as you shop for toys this holiday season.

• Avoid purchasing toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.
• Select only toys and gifts appropriate for the child’s age and maturity level.
• Look for the ASTM label, which means the product meets the safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
• Make sure children are appropriately supervised if they are playing with potentially hazardous toys or games that could cause injury.

Although items such as BB guns, darts, and paint guns obviously hold the possibility of injury, among the most potentially dangerous gifts children receive each year, surprisingly, is sports equipment. Sports-related eye injuries are common, accounting for an estimated 40,000 eye injuries annually, and can cause permanent vision loss.

AAO spokesperson Dr. Andrew Iwach says, “If you plan to give sports equipment, include the appropriate protective gear, such as helmets, face masks, or goggles with polycarbonate lenses.”

If you are unsure of what eyewear to get, ask your eye doctor for a recommendation. And save the play for outdoors-while throwing a football in the living room may appeal on a cold, rainy day, the distance between players is so short that the risk of eye injury goes way up.

The Precious Gift of Sight

Even more popular than sports equipment these days are computers, video game consoles, and other electronic gadgets. While certainly allowed in the living room, these devices have the potential, as Rebuild Your Vision clients know, to cause eye fatigue, headaches, spasms, and other symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome.

Even worse, extended exposure to computer screens is a particular strain on children’s eyes because they are still developing. Fighting the results of that strain is what Rebuild Your Vision is all about.

So this holiday season, make sure your kids take a break from the computer (10-10-10 Rule), remember to do your Rebuild Your Vision eye exercises, and simplify your shopping. Slip the Rebuild Your Vision Program under the tree or in a stocking, and give the gift of sight to someone you love.