5 Things to Know About Eye Injury Prevention Month

More than 7.3 million emergency department (ED) visits for eye trauma occurred in the United States from 2009 to 2018, an annual incidence of 233 per 100,000 population, according to a 2024 analysis of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample published in Injury.¹ Total charges for these visits exceeded $14 billion, and the mean inflation-adjusted charge per visit more than doubled, from $1333 to $3187.

For Eye Injury Prevention Month in October, here are 5 things to know about eye injuries and their prevention.

1. About Half of Eye Injuries Happen at Home

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), about half of all eye injuries happen at home, and only about 3 in 10 people wear protective eyewear during home projects that could injure their eyes. The AAO states that chemicals in household cleaning products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year and that wearing protective eyewear can reduce the risk of eye injury by 90%. The AAO urges every household to have at least one pair of protective eyewear approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).²

A study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology in 2025 estimated 120,613 lawnmower-related eye injuries treated in US EDs from 2004 to 2023 (2467 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System [NEISS] cases), and 99% occurred at home.

Projectiles such as grass, dirt, and rocks caused 77% of injuries, and eye protection, including eyeglasses, was documented in only 2% of projectile injuries. The average annual estimate was 33% lower in 2018-2023 than in 2004-2017 (4502 vs 6686). Patients younger than 18 years accounted for 50% of bystander injuries but 5% of operator injuries.³

2. An Estimated 44,052 Sports-Related Eye Injuries Were Treated in 2025

Prevent Blindness reported an estimated 44,052 sports-related eye injuries treated in the United States in 2025, based on US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) NEISS data.^4,5 The organization reported 43,379 such injuries in 2024.⁶ In 2025, basketball accounted for the most eye injuries among people aged 15 years and older (an estimated 3778), and swimming, pools, and related equipment accounted for the most among children aged 14 years and younger (an estimated 2578).⁵

According to Prevent Blindness, prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and occupational safety glasses do not provide adequate protection for sports, and sports eye protection should meet sport-specific ASTM International standards.⁴ Stephanie Marioneaux, MD, a Prevent Blindness board member and president-elect of the AAO, said proper eye protection should “always be considered part of the uniform.”

3. Pickleball-Related Eye Injuries Reached an Estimated 1262 in 2024

A cross-sectional study published in JAMA Ophthalmology in October 2025 used NEISS data to estimate 3112 pickleball-related eye injuries treated in US EDs from 2005 to 2024, based on 73 sampled cases; no cases were documented before 2014. An estimated 1262 occurred in 2024, and incidence increased by an estimated 405 cases per year from 2021 to 2024 (95% CI, 288-522 cases). Adults aged 50 years and older accounted for 70% of injuries. Being hit by the ball accounted for 43% of injuries, falls for 28%, and the paddle for 12%; the mechanism was not specified in 17%.⁷

The authors classified hyphema (5%), retinal detachment (3%), globe trauma (3%), and orbital fracture (2%) as severe injuries. They noted that the sample size was small and that, because the data include only ED visits, the true number of pickleball-related eye injuries is likely underestimated. Eye protection is not mandated for casual or professional play; in 2024, USA Pickleball disapproved a rule change that would have required eye protection in its tournaments, citing enforcement challenges. The authors recommended establishing standardized eye protection guidelines.

4. Workplace Eye Injuries Led to 18,510 Days-Away-From-Work Cases in 2020

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 18,510 eye-related injury and illness cases that resulted in at least one day away from work in 2020, an incidence rate of 1.7 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. Cases fell 15.6% from 2019, and the incidence rate fell 10.5%. Contact with objects or equipment accounted for 11,980 of the 2020 cases. Of these, 59.6% resulted from rubbing or abrasion by foreign matter in the eye, and 35.6% from the eye being struck by an object or piece of equipment.⁸

5. Eye Injuries Made Up an Estimated 19% of Fireworks Injuries Around July 4, 2023

According to the CPSC's 2023 Fireworks Annual Report, fireworks were involved in an estimated 9700 injuries treated in US hospital EDs in 2023, including 6400 during a special study period from June 16 to July 16, 2023.⁹ Of the injuries in that period, an estimated 1200 (19%) were to the eye: 400 contusions or lacerations, 200 burns, and 600 other diagnoses. The CPSC's eye category covers the eyeball; injuries to the eyelid and eye area are counted under head, face, and ears. Prevent Blindness recommends that all fireworks users and bystanders wear ANSI-compliant eye protection.¹⁰

For eye injuries, Prevent Blindness and the AAO advise against rubbing the eye or applying pressure to it.^10,11 For a cut or puncture, the AAO recommends gently placing a shield, such as the bottom of a paper cup, over the eye without rinsing it or removing any object stuck in it and tapping the cup to the bones around the eye.¹¹ For a chemical splash, the AAO recommends immediately flushing the eye with plenty of clean water and seeking emergency treatment.

What Is Next for Eye Injury Prevention?

Standards for sports eye protection have expanded to cover pickleball. In December 2024, ASTM International announced its F3164 standard for racket sports eye protectors to add test methods for pickleball eyewear, joining racquetball, squash, and tennis.¹² The standard sets minimum frame and lens impact resistance and optical requirements for both nonprescription and prescription protectors. According to the JAMA Ophthalmology study authors, the AAO published recommendations in 2024 suggesting that pickleball eyewear meet the F3164 standard.⁷

Eye safety guidance also extends to Halloween at the end of October. The FDA states that decorative contact lenses sold without a prescription, including in costume shops, retail stores, salons, and online, are illegal and can cause serious eye infections and injuries that may lead to permanent vision loss.¹³ The agency advises consumers to get an eye exam and a prescription from an eye care professional before wearing colored lenses.

References

1. Iftikhar M, Canner JK, Latif A, Shah SMA, Justin GA, Woreta FA. Epidemiology of ophthalmic trauma in the United States from 2009-2018: a Nationwide Emergency Department Sample analysis. Injury. 2024;55(3):111209. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2023.111209
2. Eye safety at home: preventing eye injuries. American Academy of Ophthalmology. April 10, 2023. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries-in-home
3. Stange NR, Jennissen CA. Lawnmower-related eye injuries in the U.S., 2004 to 2023. Am J Ophthalmol. 2025;277:7-16. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2025.04.038
4. Prevent Blindness declares September as Sports Eye Safety Month to raise awareness, provide education to help avoid eye injuries. News release. Prevent Blindness. August 26, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://preventblindness.org/2026-sports-eye-safety-month/
5. Sports-related eye injuries – 2025. Fact sheet FS09. Prevent Blindness. July 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://preventblindness.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FS09-Sports-Eye-Injuries-2025.pdf
6. Prevent Blindness declares September as Sports Eye Safety Month as sports eye injuries increase. News release. Prevent Blindness. August 27, 2025. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://preventblindness.org/document/sports-eye-safety-month-2025/
7. Lacher CR, Koc I, Tsui JC. Pickleball-related ocular injuries among patients presenting to emergency departments. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2025;143(11):938-944. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.3577
8. Workers suffered 18,510 eye-related injuries and illnesses in 2020. The Economics Daily. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. March 31, 2023. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/workers-suffered-18510-eye-related-injuries-and-illnesses-in-2020.htm
9. Hwang A, Pledger D. 2023 Fireworks Annual Report: Fireworks-Related Deaths, Emergency Department-Treated Injuries, and Enforcement Activities During 2023. US Consumer Product Safety Commission; June 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/2023-Fireworks-Annual-Report.pdf
10. Prevent Blindness declares June 28-July 4, 2025, as Fifth Annual Fireworks Safety Awareness Week. Prevent Blindness. June 27, 2025. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://preventblindness.org/2025-fireworks-safety-week/
11. Recognizing and treating eye injuries. American Academy of Ophthalmology. April 10, 2023. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries
12. ASTM sports equipment committee revises eye protector standard. News release. ASTM International. December 17, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://newsroom.astm.org/newsroom-articles/F3164-eye-protection
13. Halloween safety tips: costumes, candy, and colored contact lenses. US Food and Drug Administration. October 19, 2023. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/halloween-safety-tips-costumes-candy-and-colored-contact-lenses