Dr. Pesavento and Southside Center for Sight want to make sure you are doing your best to avoid trauma and serious injury to your eye.

According to the Center for Disease Control, nearly 2000 workers in the US suffer occupational-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. Over one third of all these injuries require emergency room attention, meaning missed work, severe vision problems and possibly even loss of the eye.

Here are a few precautionary measures to take to best prevent injury:

Wear protective glasses: Warehouses and construction sites are risky places to work. The chances of your eye getting struck with a flying objects or particles are significantly decreased with protective goggles.

Check your chemicals: Read labels and use extra caution around the most dangerous ones. Any introduction to your eye with a harmful foreign substance can cause irreversible damage.

Use caution when cooking hot objects

Avoid sharp edges and dangerous falls

If your eye is injured, do not:

• Apply pressure, rub or touch your eye
• Remove an object stuck in your eye
• Apply medication or ointment to the eye

If your eye is injured, do:

• Flush out chemicals with clean water
• Gently place a gauze patch over your eye before you seek attention

Be sure to call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.