As you age into your golden years, preserving your health becomes increasingly paramount, and safeguarding your vision is no exception. Seniors often face heightened risks of eye injuries due to various factors. In this blog, we'll explore essential tips tailored to seniors to prevent eye injuries and promote a safe lifestyle.
5 Common Eye Injuries in Seniors
While eye injuries can happen at any age, seniors are particularly vulnerable. However, by understanding the causes, you can take proactive steps to prevent them.
Your cornea is a transparent film-like layer that sits in the front of your eyes. You might get a scratched cornea when you fall, but it will mostly happen if you get poked in the eye, wear your contact lenses for an extended period, or wear dirty contact lenses.
The signs of a scratched cornea might not be immediately noticeable at the time of the injury, but they typically manifest within 24 hours. These symptoms include a sensation of having something in the eye, discomfort, increased tearing, redness, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision.
While fall is a common cause for an eye injury in seniors, what one fails to address is eye trauma. Falling and exerting force anywhere near your eye area could lead to cornea bruising, tear, or damaged eyelids. Further, eye trauma can also be caused if you are unable to judge the distance between things around you and walk into something, resulting in a fall and injuring your eye area.
A soft tissue injury, often referred to as a black eye, occurs when the region surrounding the eye becomes bruised or swollen. This swelling can sometimes obstruct your vision. Such injuries are typically caused by a strong impact on the area. Among seniors, most soft tissue injuries happen due to falls where the eye collides with the floor, wall, or other objects.
An orbital bone fracture refers to a break in the eye socket. There are two main types: orbital rim fractures and orbital floor fractures. An orbital rim fracture involves a break in the lower part of the eye socket extending into the cheekbone. Since the orbital rim is composed of thick bone, a significant impact is needed to cause such a fracture, with car accidents being the most frequent cause.
On the other hand, an orbital floor fracture occurs when the bottom part of the eye socket cracks or ruptures. The floor of the eye socket is quite thin and can be easily damaged by a blow to the eye, such as from falling and striking the face against an object.
5. Torn Eyelid
When something sharp injures your eyelid, you might puncture, cut, or scratch it. This is called a torn eyelid. While a torn eyelid may require stitches, it usually depends on the severity of your case. But you should see an eye doctor if you have a torn eyelid, as not treating it on time may lead to a deformity, affecting the way you open or close your eyelids.
6 Best Eye Injury Prevention Tips
Eye injuries are commonly preventable by taking a few steps, such as:
1. Get Your Eyes Checked Regularly
A yearly eye examination is important and one of the most effective ways to stay clear from eye infections and keep your eyes healthy. As you age, your eyesight becomes weaker, but with regular yearly eye exams, your eye doctor can recommend tips for keeping your vision healthy.
2. Make Use of Protective Eyewear
Always wear protective eyewear when engaging in activities that pose a risk to your eyes. Additionally, use sunglasses when outdoors to shield your eyes from strong winds and tiny particles that could cause irritation.
3. Identify Tripping Hazards at Home
Since falling is usually the main culprit behind eye injuries in seniors, it’s important to look for tripping hazards around the house. Examine your home for potential tripping dangers. Check for unsecured rugs or electrical cords that could cause someone to stumble. Ensure all railings are firmly in place. Inspect outside areas for uneven paths. Addressing tripping hazards is typically a straightforward task.
Moreover, it’s always a good option to add lights to the stairs and hallways of your home to make sure you don’t trip and get an eye injury.
4. Be More Careful While Cleaning Your House
Though household cleaning might seem like a simple task, it can pose challenges and risks for someone with impaired vision. Your eye doctor advises that cleaning agents and other household chemicals should be clearly labeled. Alternatively, consider replacing them with natural, organic cleaners.
5. Wash Your Hands
Ensuring your hands are clean before touching your eyes can prevent the transfer of bacteria and other harmful substances. It is particularly crucial to wash your hands after handling cleaning chemicals like bleach, as these substances can cause severe irritation and even lead to blindness.
6. Get a Humidifier
When the air humidity is high in your home, your eyes are protected from irritants and getting dry. It helps you keep your eyes lubricated.
Conclusion
Safeguarding your vision as you age is crucial to maintaining an active and independent lifestyle during your golden years. By incorporating these eye injury prevention tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and enjoy a clearer, brighter future.