The holiday season can be dangerous for the eyes, as there are many accidents that can happen.
But what are the pitfalls for the eyes and what can you do to protect them?;
The Christmas tree: Make sure it is in a corner of the house where it is not easy to expose someone to it. Be careful with the branches, as they are sharp and can easily hit the eye. If you have young children in the house, make sure you create natural barriers around the tree so that they don't get close to it when they are playing.
Most people open a bottle on New Year's Day champagne «for good». Do not shake it before opening it, nor try to open it without freezing it first. The cork that is ejected when the bottle has been shaken can reach high velocity. This speed is sufficient to break a piece of glass. So let's consider what damage it can do if it hits your eye. Possible injuries that have been reported range from abrasion to the cornea to a wound that reaches deep into the eye. These types of injuries both require surgery and can lead to blindness years later. After such injuries, regular preventive eye examinations are required in order to detect any problems in time. Therefore, freeze the sparkling wine or champagne well, do not shake it, and open it carefully, with the cork at a 45-degree angle and facing in a direction where there is no other person and of course no surface where it can ricochet.
It's not a good idea to stare at them LED lamps and the laser. Both can be caused in the fundus of the eyes, in the light-receptor cells in the retina and macula. That's why you should never let young children play with laser toys.
The change of time with the fireworks to light up the dark sky is a beloved tradition around the world. These can prove very dangerous in the hands of non-experts of all ages. If you are not an expert, do not use them. And if you attend a celebration with fireworks, keep a safe distance. Recent research has shown that in 65% of accidents, it is the bystanders who are injured, not the people using them. In addition, of fireworks injuries 15% occur in the eyes.
The children's fireworks containing colourful strips and confetti, in compressed air. These must also be used with care, because their contents are ejected with enough force to reach a distance of several metres. Therefore, if you do not pay attention to the direction in which their contents move, an eye injury can easily occur. So don't let young children use them unsupervised.
Finally to watch where you step. New Year's Eve is the most dangerous night of all for pedestrians, who often have consumed alcohol and are therefore off balance. The biggest threat to the eyes is falls, which are the second most common cause of transport to hospital with an eye injury, after fights. If there is ice, especially on the road, and you are wearing slippery or high-heeled shoes, the risk of falling is even greater. So be careful where you step when walking on sidewalks and streets!
