How many times have you forgotten to use your safety glasses plumbing, mowing lawns, digging or weeding, pruning trees, or using power tools, sprays and chemicals?

While the majority of us will almost automatically don gloves, boots and hats when working in the garden, around the house and in the workplace, we often forget to protect our eyes by wearing safety glasses.

Every year in New Zealand thousands of unnecessary eye injuries occur, both at work place and at home. Official statistics show that about 400 people are hospitalised annually with eye injuries that are too serious to be treated as an outpatient. Men are three times more likely to injure their eyes than women and the majority of injuries happen in the 15 to 55 years group.

The major causes of eye injuries are: being struck by an object or against an object, cuts and pierces of the eye, falls causing eye injuries and motor vehicle accidents.

Rob Aislabie is one person who strongly advocates for people to take the time to protect their eyes. On the 7^th of July 1981, 31 year old Rob was using a new portable sawmill in Rotorua. At 10.20am an 18 foot 6x4 log shot out of the sawmill and straight into Rob's face at 160 kms per hour.

Rob completely lost his vision and spent nearly six months in hospital recovering from reconstructive surgery to his face.

"I see a steady wall of nothing," says Rob. "No shadows, no light or dark.

"It was really scary when I first lost my sight. I'd get dressed in the morning and then not know what I could do all day.

"My doctor told me I could stay inside and hide and I might as well be dead, or I could go out and tackle life. I chose the latter and now do nearly everything a sighted person does; the biggest problem was everyone else accepting that I was capable.

"Take a second for safety to save your eyes. Once they're gone, they're gone for life."

Here are some tips on what to do when an eye injury occurs:

• If sand, dirt or small debris gets into your eyes do not rub it. This can scratch the outer surface of the eye and cause further damage. Rinse the eye thoroughly with water. If you still cannot dislodge the particle, lightly bandage the eye and see an eye specialist.
• For blows to the eye gently apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling but avoid putting pressure on the eye. If you experience pain or have reduced vision in the eye or bruising, see your eye specialist immediately.
• For cuts or puncture of the eye, loosely bandage the eye without pressure and seek emergency medical care immediately.

Going blind is one of the greatest fears people have worldwide, yet eye safety is often neglected. Protecting your eyes from accidental blindness is as simple as wearing safety glasses – don't gamble with your vision!

ENDS