Put Eye Safety at the Top of Your Holiday Toy Shopping List

December is “Safe Toys and Gifts Month” and a time when holiday shoppers are looking for the perfect gifts for the children on their list. In a review of all eye injuries suffered by patients who visited the ER from 2002-2010 that was published in the Rhode Island Medical Journal, between 7 and 12 percent of these injuries in children were toy-related.

For children ages 0-4 years old, 11.3% of eye injuries were toy-related. For children ages 5-9, the rate was 11.4%, and for children ages 10-14 the number dropped to 7.4% (although rate of eye injury from sports-related products for this age range jumped to 40.8%).

U.S. PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) has just released its annual report on dangerous toys, Trouble in Toyland 2014, which provides warnings of toys that can break and become choking hazards. These broken pieces can also become dangers for children’s eyes as well.

Prevent Blindness® offers tips on choosing safe toys for children. Avoid toys with projectiles (like slingshots). They also note that seemingly safe toys like water guns can be dangerous. They add: “BB guns should not even be considered toys.” Any toy with sharp edges or points can pose a risk, and toys that are not durable or which can break and create sharp edges should be avoided.

With the release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (which has topped the box office), the popularity of toy bows and arrows has surged, leading in turn to strong and clear safety warnings. The American Academy of Ophthalmology warns shoppers to avoid these types of toys, as they can cause traumatic eye injury (and even blindness).

So what should we look for when shopping for kids? Make sure the toy is designated as being safe with the letters “ASTM.” This signifies that the toy meets national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Look for a label on laser toys that proves that the product meets the Code of Federal Regulations, including power limits.

Give children shatterproof eyewear when playing with sports equipment and ensure they’re supervised. Keep toys for older children out of the hands of little ones.

Check the “US Consumer Product Safety Commission” site for recalls related to eye injuries and other safety issues. The American Academy of Ophthalmology also offers a video guide to safe toy buying. (Click HERE to watch.)

If you have questions about your family’s eye health and toy safety, consult an eye care professional. Everyone here at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley wishes you a healthy holiday season, and happy and safe shopping!