August is Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month. As a parent, you want to do everything that you can to protect your children’s vision. While you can’t prevent every illness or injury from occurring, there are things that you can start to do during Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month and continue to do throughout the year to protect your child’s vision.
Protect Your Child’s Eyes During a Car Crash
There is nothing that you can do during a crash to protect your child’s eyes. However, every time you get in the car with your child, you can help prevent a potential eye injury by making sure that:
- Young children always sit in the back seat and away from airbags that could damage their eyes.
- Children are in appropriate car seats or seat belts so that they remain restrained and do not hit their heads during a crash.
- There are no loose items in the car that may move during the impact of a crash and hit your child in the eye.
These precautions may minimize, but not completely prevent, car accident eye injuries.
Eye Injuries That Can Occur in a Car Crash
The steps described above may help prevent the following types of eye injuries in a car crash:
- Traumatic brain injuries that affect vision
- Lacerations of the eye
- Rupture of the eye
- Orbital fracture
- Eyelid injuries
Any of these injuries should be considered medical emergencies and should result in prompt medical care.
You may not be able to prevent a car accident from occurring, but you can take steps before a crash occurs to try to protect your child’s eyes during an accident. After a crash, please ask your child about his vision and any headaches and promptly report any concerns to a doctor. Additionally, even if your child is not experiencing symptoms, it is important to ask a doctor to screen your child for any vision issues. That way, any eye injuries can be promptly treated to prevent unnecessary pain or progression of injury.
