How to Avoid Christmas Eye Injuries

Christmas is a time for celebration, family gatherings, festive decorations and a fair bit of controlled chaos. While most of us worry about burnt turkeys or tangled fairy lights, eye injuries are an often-overlooked seasonal hazard. Every year, hospitals and optometrists see a rise in eye injuries during the festive period, many of which are entirely preventable.

From champagne corks and toy mishaps to decorating accidents and Christmas chemicals, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to keep your eyes safe this Christmas.

Why Eye Injuries Increase at Christmas

The festive season brings together several risk factors:

• Alcohol consumption, which slows reaction times and judgement

• Crowded homes filled with decorations, toys and excited children

• DIY decorating involving ladders, wires and sharp objects

• New toys and gadgets that may not be used correctly

• Late nights and tiredness, increasing the risk of accidents

Understanding where the risks lie is the first step towards preventing injury.

Champagne Corks and Party Poppers

One of the most common and dangerous causes of Christmas eye injuries is the humble champagne cork. A cork can travel at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and can cause anything from bruising and cuts to retinal damage or permanent vision loss.

How to stay safe:

• Chill bottles properly – warm bottles increase pressure

• Keep your thumb over the cork while removing the wire cage

• Point the bottle away from faces, lights and fragile objects

• Twist the bottle, not the cork

• Open bottles slowly and deliberately

The same caution applies to party poppers. Always point them away from faces and make sure children are supervised when using them.

Christmas Decorations and Tree Hazards

Tinsel, baubles and fairy lights may look harmless, but they can pose real risks to your eyes.

• Glass baubles can shatter and send shards flying

• Tinsel can flick back unexpectedly when stretched

• Wire hooks used for hanging decorations can easily scratch the eye

Safety tips:

• Opt for shatterproof baubles, especially in homes with children or pets

• Avoid eye-level decorations in busy walkways

• Take care when unpacking decorations that may be tangled or tightly packed

• Wear glasses or protective eyewear if you’re decorating for long periods

When disposing of broken decorations, wrap them securely and clean the area thoroughly to remove tiny fragments.

Fairy Lights and DIY Decorating

Hanging lights indoors and outdoors often involves ladders, stretching and awkward angles – a perfect recipe for accidents.

• Wires can snap back into the face

• Dust or debris can fall into eyes when decorating ceilings or trees

• Tools such as scissors and cable ties are often used close to the face

Reduce the risk by:

• Ensuring ladders are stable and used on flat surfaces

• Keeping tools away from your face when cutting or adjusting wires

• Wearing eye protection if working overhead

• Taking regular breaks to avoid fatigue

Never rush decorating jobs, especially after a festive drink.

Toys, Games and Children’s Eye Safety

Christmas morning excitement can quickly turn into an accident, particularly with new toys.

Common culprits include:

• Projectile toys (foam darts, arrows, BB-style pellets)

• Toys with sharp edges or small parts

• Craft kits involving glitter, glue or chemicals

Keep children’s eyes safe by:

• Checking age recommendations carefully

• Removing packaging and inspecting toys before use

• Supervising play, particularly with projectile toys

• Encouraging children not to aim toys at faces

If a toy breaks, remove it immediately and check for small or sharp fragments.

Christmas Cooking and Kitchen Hazards

The kitchen becomes the heart of the home at Christmas, but it’s also full of eye hazards.

• Hot oil splashes

• Steam burns from pots and ovens

• Spices such as chilli or pepper causing irritation

• Cleaning sprays used before or after cooking

Eye-safe cooking tips:

• Use lids or splash guards when frying

• Keep your face back when opening hot ovens or pans

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling spices

• Never mix or spray cleaning products near your face

If something splashes into your eye, rinse immediately with clean water and seek medical advice if irritation persists.

Alcohol and Reduced Awareness

Festive drinks are part of many celebrations, but alcohol significantly increases the risk of eye injuries.

• Slower reactions mean you’re less able to avoid hazards

• Reduced coordination increases the chance of falls or collisions

• Poor judgement leads to risky behaviour, such as opening bottles carelessly

Pacing yourself, drinking water in between alcoholic drinks and leaving tasks like decorating or DIY for another time can make a big difference.

Fireworks and Sparklers

If fireworks are part of your Christmas or New Year celebrations, eye safety is critical.

• Sparklers burn at extremely high temperatures

• Firework debris can cause serious eye trauma

Firework eye safety essentials:

• Always supervise children

• Use gloves when handling sparklers

• Keep a safe distance from fireworks

• Never relight fireworks or lean over them

Protective eyewear is strongly recommended when lighting fireworks.

What to Do if an Eye Injury Happens

Despite precautions, accidents can still occur. Knowing what to do can limit damage.

• Do not rub the eye

• Rinse gently with clean water or saline if something enters the eye

• Do not attempt to remove embedded objects

• Cover the eye lightly and seek urgent medical attention

Any sudden pain, vision loss, bleeding or light sensitivity should be treated as an emergency.

A Clearer Christmas

Christmas should be memorable for the right reasons. By taking a few simple precautions and being mindful of potential hazards, you can significantly reduce the risk of eye injuries for yourself and your loved ones.