While it may be fun to buy toys for your child’s birthday, experts in pediatric eye care and vision therapy in Brooklyn, NY, encourage more careful selection of these items. Some toys can pose a great risk to your child’s vision. Each year, many children end up in emergency rooms due to toy-related injuries, and many of these injuries affect their eyes. When buying your child’s next toy, be sure to stay away from items that could damage his or her vision.
An Overview of Toy-Related Injuries
With nearly 250,000 children brought to hospitals each year due to toy-related injuries, parents need to rethink the way they buy toys for their kids. These injuries can range from a minor scratch to the eye surface to serious issues, such as traumatic cataracts, retinal detachment, and interior bleeding.
In a survey conducted by AllAboutVision.com, 41% of parents revealed they “rarely” or “never” consider eye safety when buying toys for their kids. Conversely, 54% said they “definitely” think any of their children’s toys could cause harm to their children’s eyes.
Kinds of Toys to Avoid
To protect your kids from toy-related eye damage, your experienced, local clinic for family eye care and dry eye treatment in Brooklyn, NY, recommends avoiding the following:
• Toy guns that shoot anything – Even if these toy guns shoot lightweight darts, they can potentially damage your child’s eyes. Darts that move at fast speeds can cause serious eye injuries, especially when used at close range.
• Games that include fishing poles – The end of these poles can easily end up in your child’s eye.
• Water balloon launchers – They can cause blunt trauma to the eyes, which might result in retinal detachment and vision loss.
• Laser pointers – The light intensity of these devices is strong enough to cause blindness. Kids like to play with portable laser pointers, so be sure to keep these away from them at all times.
• Aerosol string – When chemicals of these products come in contact with your child’s eye, they can cause irritation and chemical conjunctivitis.
To learn more about the safety of your child’s eyes, be sure to consult your pediatric eye doctor in Brooklyn, NY. You can also get in touch with our eye specialists at Park Slope Eye for expert tips and recommendations. Give us a call at (347) 380-7070 or complete our form today. We’ll be ready to assist you.
