Defective Toys Can Lead to Children Sustaining Serious Eye Injuries

January 29, 2013 (Press-News.org) As children across the country enjoy all of the new toys they received during the holiday season, parents would be wise to ensure the toys are age appropriate and being used properly by their youngsters. New toys for children to play with come with new risks of potential injuries caused by defective products.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission -- the agency responsible for shielding the population from dangerous products on the market -- has reported that over 262,000 personal injuries caused by toys led to emergency room visits in the U.S. last year. Notably, the area of the body most often injured in these incidents requiring emergency room care -- 45 percent in total -- was the head and face.

While parents often do not consider the potential eye injury hazard when their children are playing with toys -- as compared to the known risk when participating in athletic activities -- many common children's toys do carry a risk of eye injuries. Accordingly, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has created tips for parents to protect their children against these potentially serious injuries.

Certain toys are inherently more dangerous than others when considering the likelihood of an eye injury. For instance, toy guns -- such as paintball guns or BB guns -- have components that fly through the air and can easily cause eye damage. The Academy estimates that approximately 3.5 percent of all eye injuries in the U.S. are caused specifically by such toy guns. Other toys that may not appear dangerous upon first glance, though, can also cause harm. Toys with sharp parts that protrude from the toy are also potential sources of harm, and should be used with caution.

While such toys may still be used by children, the American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that parents supervise their children whenever toys that pose a risk are being used. The Academy also recommends that children only be given age-appropriate toys with which to play.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, children sustain over 25 percent of all injuries in the U.S annually. In addition, over 44 percent of all eye injuries occur in the individual's home.

Some of the most common eye injuries sustained as a result of children's toys are:
- Corneal abrasion
- Ocular hyphema
- Traumatic cataract
- Raised intraocular pressure

The Academy estimates that over 90 percent of the eye injuries sustained in the U.S. each year could have been prevented had the individual been wearing protective eyewear.

Hold the responsible party accountable for your child's eye injury

If your child has sustained an eye injury due to a defective toy, you may be entitled to recover for medical bills, among other expenses. An experienced personal injury attorney will ensure your rights are protected and just compensation is received.

Article provided by Garland, Samuel & Loeb
Visit us at www.gsllaw.com