College of Optometrists

31 August 2010 Return to news listings

• Estimated 30,000 DIY eye injuries a year
• 89 per cent of people do not wear protective eyewear for hazardous DIY activities
• Carpentry, repairs and decorating pose biggest eye health DIY risks

With many people expected to use the August Bank Holiday as a chance to catch up on those DIY tasks around the house and garden, eye experts at the College of Optometrists are urging people to protect their eyes in the process.

DIY activity is estimated to cause around 30,000 eye injuries a year* and a worrying 89 per cent of people admit to forgoing wearing the protective eyewear recommended for hazardous DIY activities like welding, chiselling and sawing. Nearly half of people (45 per cent) also admit to not knowing much about DIY but having a go anyway – and sometimes will be injured as a result.

The majority of eye injuries are caused by activities involving carpentry, repairing and decorating, with flying wood, metal and concrete chips posing some of the biggest risks to eye health. The College of Optometrists recommends the use of protective eyewear such as goggles or spectacles if the activity involves the risk of any type of foreign body entering the eye. Protective eyewear should be worn for activities such as hammering, chiselling, drilling, stripping paint, splitting tiles or concrete slabs, welding, painting ceilings and laying insulation.

Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric adviser to the College of Optometrists said: “You only have one pair of eyes so it’s vital to protect them when undertaking certain DIY tasks. Generally the rule of thumb is that if there is a risk of any foreign bodies entering the eye, wearing protective eyewear is essential. Always follow the instructions that come with the tools and equipment you will be using and ensure you wear the protective clothing suggested.   Another common activity that can lead to eye injury is gardening.  You don’t need to wear goggles for this, but some spectacles or sunglasses can be useful to protect against canes when bending down weeding or pruning - when branches can whack you in the face.

Dr Blakeney continued: “When you buy eyewear protection check it confirms to European Standard BSEN 166. If you wear spectacles or contact lenses, these will not protect your eyes sufficiently, and protective eyewear should be worn on top to ensure adequate protection, Alternatively, you can have prescription goggles fitted by your local optometrist. If you do experience an eye injury, it is important to not rub the eye, and you should seek medical assistance immediately. ”

Advice from the College of Optometrists on protecting the eyes during DIY
• Follow the instructions and guidelines provided with the DIY equipment you are using. If it advises that you need protective clothing then ensure you follow the advice
• Make sure protective eyewear is up to standard - check eyewear protection conforms to the European Standard BSEN 166
• Keep your goggles on – many injuries occur when people lift goggles to take a closer look. Make sure you keep them on for the duration of the task
• Do not rub the eye – take care in touching the eyes, particularly if handling chemicals. If you do get something in your eye, do not rub it and make sure you seek medical attention immediately
• If in doubt ask  - your local optometrist will be able to advise you on protective eyewear

For more information about eye health visit www.lookafteryoureyes.org.

ENDS
Notes to editors
*The Royal Society of Prevention of Accidents – DTI Home Accident Surveillance System. Research was undertaken between 2000-2002

For further information, case studies and interviews contact:
Edith Barton-Harvey or Zoe Belhomme
Tel: 020 7009 3100
Email: collegeofoptometrists@3-monkeys.co.uk
Web:  www.college-optometrists.org  

About The College of Optometrists
1. The College of Optometrists is the Professional, Scientific and Examining Body for Optometry in the UK, working for the public benefit.  Supporting its Members in all aspects of professional development, the College provides pre-registration training and assessment, continuous professional development opportunities, and advice and guidance on professional conduct and standards, enabling our Members to serve their patients well and contribute to the wellbeing of local communities.
2. Previously known as ophthalmic opticians, optometrists are trained professionals who examine eyes, test sight, give advice on visual problems, and prescribe and dispense spectacles or contact lenses. They also recommend other treatments or visual aids where appropriate. Optometrists are trained to recognise eye diseases, referring such cases as necessary, and can also use or supply various eye drugs.
3. Optometrists study at university for at least three years normally and participate in a full year of training and supervision, called the pre-registration year, before qualifying. Once qualified, they have the opportunity to develop their interests in specialist aspects of practice such as contact lenses, treating eye diseases, low vision, children’s vision and sports vision.
4. All optometrists practising in the UK must be registered with the General Optical Council, the profession’s regulatory body, and are listed in the Opticians Register. The letters FCOptom or MCOptom after an optometrist’s name means that he or she is a fellow or member of the College of Optometrists. The letters DipCLP after an optometrist’s name means that he or she has undertaken an additional post graduate qualification in contact lens practice.
5. There are currently over 11,500 registered optometrists in the UK.