Be Mindful of Christmas Trees
If you plan on bringing your own spruce or pine home for the holidays, be sure to carefully consider how you transport it. Avoid leaning too close to the branches, as accidental pokes can cause eye trauma. Pine needles can even become lodged in the eye and require professional removal, so keep a safe distance and wrap your tree when bringing it home.
Keep Glass Ornaments Out of Children’s Reach
A shattered glass bulb could easily injure someone, especially if it falls and breaks close to a child’s face. You may use more durable plastic bulbs for decorating and hang your breakable ornaments higher up on the tree.
Open Your Champagne Safely
Popping open a bottle of bubbly is tradition for many, but it does pose a serious risk to your eyes. Corks from champagne bottles can reach 50 mph upon release, so never open a bottle pointed near your face or anyone else’s.
Instead, untwist the cage on the bottle counterclockwise and twist the bottle rather than the cork. Push against the cork to stop it from shooting off. Instead, allow the pressure of the bottle to gently push the cork upward.
Be Mindful of Fire Hazards
Some families use a battery-operated menorah or other festive candles to prevent burns to the eyes and skin. When using real flames, be sure to keep a safe distance and never place your eyes too close to the light.
Watch Out for Steam
Hot steam from a boiling pan can cause serious eye burns that damage the front surface of the cornea, leading to pain and even vision loss. Do not hold your face directly over a steaming pot, and use a lid when you need to pour water down the sink. Safety glasses can also be used to prevent steam burns.
If your eyes are burned by steam, flush them immediately with cool water for at least 30 minutes, then seek medical attention.
Advanced Eye Care in Southern Utah and Nevada
Richens Eye Center is a top provider of advanced and surgical eye care in St. George, UT, and Mesquite, NV. Our dedicated team offers treatment for cataracts, macular degeneration, and other conditions. With board certification and years of experience, they are highly skilled and qualified to offer patients the highest level of care.
If you would like to arrange an appointment with us, please contact us online or call one of our offices. We have two locations in St. George (435-986-2020) with one office on Sunset Blvd (435-628-1112). We also have an office in Mesquite, NV (702-346-2950).
