Eye specialists offer 5 tips for avoiding toy-related injuries

San Francisco – With the holiday shopping season officially underway, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is reminding consumers that keeping safety in mind when buying toys for children can help prevent toy-related eye injuries.

The academy offers the following tips to help guide gift givers:

• Beware of airsoft guns, BB guns and other projectile toys. Protruding parts and non-powder gun-related foreign objects can easily enter the soft tissue of the eye.
• Never allow children to play with high-powered laser pointers. Recent studies show that lasers between 1,500 and 1,600 milliwatts can cause severe retinal damage to children under even limited exposure.
• Read labels for age recommendations before purchasing a gift. Be sure to follow assembly, use and supervision guidelines.
• Don’t just give presents – be present. Adults should supervise children when they are playing with potentially hazardous toys or games that could result in an eye injury.
• Know what and what not to do. Seek immediate medical attention from an ophthalmologist should an eye injury occur. Do not touch, rub or apply pressure to the eye, and never attempt to remove an object from the eye on your own.

“We hope people will take steps to shop and play responsibly this year. Following these tips can help make sure our little loved ones have healthy vision for many holiday seasons to come,” American Academy of Ophthalmology spokesperson Dr. Jane C. Edmond said in a Nov. 30 press release.