Protect Children’s Vision: Buy Safe Toys This Holiday Season

“You’ll shoot your eye out!” is one of the most well-known quotes from “A Christmas Story.” People chuckle when Ralphie’s Red Rider BB gun pellet ricochets off the metal target and breaks his glasses, yet it isn’t funny when it happens in real life.

Every year, emergency rooms treat thousands of eye injuries. Unsafe toys can lead to eye injuries or blindness, so it’s crucial for parents to exercise caution when selecting holiday gifts for their children.

Toys Top Holiday Wish Lists

According to the Toy Association, parents are prioritizing toys this year for their children. Almost 70 percent of surveyed parents said they were willing to reduce other spending so they can buy the most popular toys.

Another survey predicts toys will be one of the most popular presents this season, second only to clothing and gift cards. It’s clear that toys provide immense happiness for children and the young at heart, but well-meaning efforts can lead to trouble if parents fail to research properly.

Prevent Blindness America has pronounced December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month. The organization encourages toy buyers to consider the abilities and skills of the recipient of the toy, particularly for children under three.

You can protect your child’s vision by …

1. Purchasing age-appropriate toys.
2. Showing them how to use the toy.
3. Supervising play time to avoid eye injury.

Common Eye Injuries from Toys

No grandparent or parent wants to take the fun out of creative play. However, some toys are more likely to cause accidents.

Injuries from Projectile Toys

Projectile toys are among the most dangerous. These include BB guns, airsoft rifles, archery sets and water balloon launchers.

Air guns are extremely popular for adolescents, but they can cause permanent eye injury. Emergency cases from airsoft guns have increased by 600 percent since 2010, making it the leading cause of children’s eye injuries that require hospital admission.

Even Nerf guns can cause eye damage like cuts, elevated eye pressure and cataracts. Some crossbow arrows can travel up to 150 feet. Whether made of plastic or foam, arrows and darts can cause significant harm when fired at close range.

Injuries from Sharp Objects

Toys that have sharp or pointed edges can also cause eye damage. Swords, magic wands and light sabers can cause injury to the eyes or other parts of the body.

The most common eye injuries from sharp toys include the following:

• Retinal detachment
• Corneal abrasions
• Corneal ulcers
• Internal bleeding in the eye
• Traumatic cataracts

Tips on How to Choose Safe Toys

Parents, loved ones and caregivers can reduce the risk of childhood eye injury and blindness by following some safety guidelines when shopping for toys:

1. Make sure your child falls within the age guidelines for the toy.
2. Look for “ASTM” on the packaging. This means the toy meets safety regulations created by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
3. Read warnings on the box and follow all safety instructions.
4. Examine the toy to check for sturdiness and ability to sustain impact.
5. Purchase correct accessories like helmets and safety glasses made with polycarbonate lenses for children who play sports like football, soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey and racquet sports. Proper eyewear can prevent up to 90 percent of eye injuries.
6. Stay updated on toy recalls. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission posts recalls on their website.

After you purchase the toy, use the instruction manual to assemble the toy correctly. Store toys in a safe place that young children cannot access. If parts get loose or go missing, fix the toy or dispose of it.

Stocking Stuffers That Can Cause Eye Pain

Many toys appear to be benign but can pose serious threats to vision.

You may think a laser pointer would make a great stocking stuffer, but it’s not a toy for play. Laser pointers can cause anything from flash blindness to retinal burns.

LED flashlights may seem like a better option than laser pointers, but flashlights can be dangerous too. Bright light can cause temporary blindness and make kids fall or collide with someone else, putting them at risk for eye injury.

Silly String is another popular stocking stuffer. While it may sound like fun to have a Silly String war, the chemicals in the string can cause significant eye irritation.

Make an Appointment for An Eye Exam with Dilation

Besides buying safe toys, you can do something else to protect your children’s vision. Annual comprehensive eye exams are the best way to monitor vision and detect eye problems at an early stage when they are most treatable.

Some common pediatric eye conditions include the following:

1. Refractive errors or focusing problems — This includes myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea).
2. Amblyopia, or lazy eye — If left untreated, it could cause permanent vision loss.
3. Strabismus, or misaligned eyes — Untreated strabismus can lead to amblyopia.
4. Pediatric cataracts — This affects about 20,000-40,000 children per year worldwide.

Your vision is your most important sense. Therefore, an eye exam is just as important as your annual physical.

Yearly eye checks are important for the whole family’s overall health. Call your eye care center and make an appointment for eye exams with dilation. Your eye doctor will assess your visual acuity, update your prescription and screen you for eye diseases like cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Make the holidays brighter by scheduling an appointment for an eye exam. Healthy vision is a precious gift, so care for it well.