Getting Eye Smart during the Winter Holidays

Children are making their lists for Santa. While they know which are the most popular toys, they don't know which are the most dangerous. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were more than 250,000 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2010; nearly three quarters of those injured were children under age 15. During this holiday season, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is offers five tips on how to choose safe toys for gift giving.

• Avoid purchasing toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.
• Make sure children have appropriate supervision when playing with potentially hazardous toys or games that could cause injury.
• If you plan to give sports equipment, provide appropriate protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses. Check with your local Eye M.D. to learn about protective gear recommended for your child's sport.
• Check labels for age recommendations and be sure to select gifts that are appropriate for a child's age and maturity.
• Keep toys that are made for older children away from younger children.

For more information about keeping eyes healthy during the holidays and all year-round, visit Eye Smart, the Academy's public information website which provides information to the public about the importance of eye health. Through the EyeSmart program, ophthalmologists seek to empower people to preserve healthy vision, by providing the most trusted and medically accurate information about eye diseases, conditions and injuries. Visit www.geteyesmart.org to learn more.