The best thing you can do for your eyes is to protect them from the sun and from injury. Ninety percent of the more than one million eye injuries in the United Sates each year could have been prevented if the victims had used appropriate protective eyewear. Protective glasses, goggles, or face shields that are marked ANSI Z87.1 meet the American National Standards Institute safety standards and are available—and should be worn—for yard work, carpentry, auto work, and sports.

It is important to wear the proper eye protection for the activity you are engaging in. Remember: contact lenses offer no protection, and contact lens wearers should use extra protection when participating in sports. There is no satisfactory eye protection for boxing, which poses a very high risk of serious and even blinding eye injury.

Tips for protecting your eyes

When using household chemicals:

 Many household chemicals can permanently destroy the surface of your eyes. 

• Read instructions and labels carefully
• Work in a well-ventilated area
• Be sure to point spray nozzles away from you

When working in the workshop:

Many objects and liquids can fly into your eyes and cause severe injury] Wear protective eyewear to shield your eyes from fragments, fumes, dust and splashed chemicals.

When using a lawnmower, power trimmer, weeder or edger:

Rocks, stones and other hard objects can become dangerous projectiles when they shoot from these machines.

• Always wear protective eyewear
• Check the area for rocks and stones before you begin

When working on a car:

Battery acid, sparks and debree from damaged or improperly jump-started auto batteries can severely damage your eyes.

• Always wear eye protection when you are working with a car battery
• Keep a pair of protective goggles in your vehicle to use in case of emergencies

When you are on the job:

Many of the thousands of people who are injured in the workplace were not wearing eye protection OR were wearing eyewear that was not appropriate for the job.

• Follow all jobsite safety regulations
• Be sure you are wearing the appropriate safety eyewear for the job you are doing

Learn more about eye safety