Ninety percent of the more than one million eye injuries in the United States 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.

See our tips, below, for protecting your eyes, and instructions for what to do for an 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

What to do for an eye injury

First and foremost, remember these rules for all eye injuries: 

• Do not touch, rub or apply pressure to the eye.
• Do not try to remove an object that is stuck in the eye.
• Do not apply ointment or medication to the eye.
• See a doctor as soon as possible, preferably an ophthalmologist.

If your eye has been cut or punctured:

• Gently place a shield over the eye. 
• Do not rinse with water.
• Do not remove the object stuck in eye.
• Do not rub or apply pressure to eye.
• Do not take any non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs.
• After you have finished protecting the eye, see an ophthalmologist immediately.

In case of a chemical burn to the eye:

• Flush the eye with plenty of clean water
• Seek emergency medical treatment right away.

To treat a blow to the eye:

• Gently apply a small cold compress
• Do not apply any pressure.
• Remember, even a light blow can cause significant injury.
• If a black eye, pain or visual disturbance occurs, immediately contact your ophthalmologist or emergency room.

If you get a particle, sand, debris or foreign material in your eye:

• Do not rub the eye.
• Lift the upper eyelid over the lashes of your lower lid.
• Blink several times and allow tears to flush out the particle.
• Use eyewash to flush the eye out.

If the particle remains, keep your eye closed and see an ophthalmologist or emergency department