Three Types Of Toys That Pose Great Danger To Your Children's Eyes
Children love toys, but some of these playthings pose a serious danger to their eyes. Here are three types of toys that can damage your children's eyes:
Laser Toys
Laser toys, which are increasingly becoming the toy of choice for teenagers, can cause serious damage to the eyes. According to WebMD, overexposure to the laser can result in serious and sudden eye damage. Such damage may occur because some of these lasers' lights are powerful enough to perforate the retina, the part of the eye responsible for central vision. Without prompt treatment, vision loss may even follow.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, if you have to buy a laser toy for your child, then you should ensure that:
- It is labeled compliant with the Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter J
- You supervise your child's playtime so that he or she doesn't point it at his or her eyes
- It is not shone at reflective surfaces
Some of these precautions are not easy to observe, which is why you are better off avoiding the toy altogether.
Guns that Shoot Projectiles
You may consider toy guns to be safe because they are, after all, "not real guns." However, if they shoot projectiles, they pose great danger to your kid's and his or her playmates' eyes. This is the case even for guns that just shoot lightweight or spongy darts.
Remember, they do shoot these things with initial high speeds. If somebody shoots your eyes with one of these spongy darts at a close range, then the ensuing damage may be serious. If you can't avoid the toys, then you should play close attention to the age-appropriate warnings from the manufacturers (that many people ignore). This advice is valid for all toys that shoot projectiles, including water balloons.
Aerosol-Propelled Strings
Note all toys that cause eye damage do it on the basis of physical injuries. Aerosol-propelled strings can cause eye injuries because of the chemicals in the aerosols. Some of these toys contain chemicals that may irritate the eyes. The result is likely to be a toxic pinkeye, the same eye condition you get if your eye is exposed to too much smoke or chemical fluids.
Do your best to prevent toy-related injuries. If an injury does occur, however, then you should take the child promptly to see an eye doctor, such as Jacobson Eyecare. Do this even if the eye injury seems minor. It may be that the injury is deep-seated, and may simmer under the surface and cause vision loss in the long term.
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