DIY presents risk to vision

With Easter the traditional time when many people turn their attention to DIY tasks practitioners are being reminded to warn patients of the potential dangers to sight.

The Eyecare Trust has stressed the importance of DIY-ers to wear such items as safety goggles when carrying out jobs this spring, so they do not injure themselves.

According to the Trust, over 20,000 people are needlessly admitted to hospital with eye injuries each year because they neglect to wear safety goggles.

Flying shards of wood and metal cause the most damage, the Trust said this week, and almost all of these accidents could easily be avoided.

'Many of these accidents, which can lead to blindness or permanently reduced vision, could easily be prevented simply by making sure you have the right skills and tools for the job,' said Eyecare Trust chairman Iain Anderson.

'If you're in any doubt at all about whether you have the skills, tools, materials and the time to do a job, then you should always call in the professionals.'