There are lots of items in your kitchen that can either harm your eyes or that you should avoid putting in or around your eyes. Some of these things are obvious and some of them may have been thought to help eye related issues but will do more harm than good.
Raw Steak or Food for Black Eyes
One of the first things that comes to mind is placing a raw steak on a black eye. In old movies and cartoons, people would put a raw steak on a black eye in order to heal it. Raw meat contains live organisms that can cause serious infections and may infect your eyes – the same goes for other packaged frozen foods or vegetables.
In the event of a black eye, use a sanitary ice pack or ice cubes wrapped in a clean towel to help with the swelling. And make sure you see an eye doctor should any serious symptoms develop or if you notice any problems with your vision.
Cleaning Products
You should always wear eye protecting when working with cleaning chemicals. Especially oven cleaners, bleach and any other harsh chemical. Many of these chemicals can cause serious, blinding eye injuries should they come in contact with your eyes. In the event you do get any cleaning products in your eyes, immediately flush your eyes out with plenty of water, and seek medical attention. Cleaning products can be one of the biggest dangers in the kitchen. The longer the exposure, the worse the damage can be.
Don’t Put Food in Your Eye
There have been myths going around about food products changing eye color or helping eye conditions. Some of these myths include; honey changing your eye color, or tea curing pink eye. These are not true. The only thing you should be putting in your eye are those things designed specifically for your eyes or are recommended by your eye doctor. If you use any food products cosmetically on the skin around your eyes, such as cucumbers, etc., be careful not to get them in your eyes.
Liquid Splashes while Cooking
Should any liquid splash into your eye while cooking, flush the eye out with plenty of water. Some food liquids may be somewhat acidic and cause burning and tearing. Like steak or any raw meat, liquid from chicken, can also contain organisms that could cause infection.
Hot liquids also can blister or burn the eye. If you get any liquid in your eyes and you see any damage to your eye or if any of your symptoms continue, go see an eye doctor right away.
Spices and Eye Exposure
Pepper, Jalapeño peppers, chili powder, and other spicy ingredients they can stay on your fingers and end up in your eyes if you rub them. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after preparing any foods, or wear gloves while working with these foods. If you get pepper or any spicy ingredients in or on your eye, flush it out with lots of water. You may also use baby shampoo to wash your eyelids and the area around your eye. But never put any soap directly in your eye.
Hot Grease
Be very careful with hot grease or cooking oil because it can easily splatter onto the eye. Eye protection is the best strategy and can prevent most eye injuries. But if you’re not willing to wear safety goggles in the kitchen while cooking bacon, at least use a lid on your pan or a grease shield.
If hot grease does splash in your eye, quickly flush it out with plenty of water. This will help remove the grease and any particles in it. If there is excessive pain, obvious injury, continuing symptoms or you’re worried about your eye, see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
Artificial tears may help make you more comfortable, for minor liquid splashes. But, do not use anti-redness eye drops because you may be more susceptible to eye infections or other eye injuries while your eye is healing.
Be Careful with Sharps Objects
We all know, knives, forks, scissors and other sharp objects can cause serious eye injuries. But did you know sharp objects are the third-most-common cause of eye injuries in kids? Always be careful when handling sharp objects and keep them out of reach of small children. If for some reason, you do injure your eye with a sharp object, visit an emergency room right away!
Falls and Eye Injuries
Be careful with open cabinets, loose rugs and liquid spills on the floor. They could be more of a hazard to your eyes than you realize. The number one cause of eye injury in the United States between 2002 and 2011 were falls. People 60 years old and older are especially prone to eye injuries from falls. Make sure your kitchen is as safe for grandma as it is for the grand-children.
As always with any eye injury, see your ophthalmologist or go to the emergency room if symptoms like pain, redness, blurred vision, tearing or feeling like there is something in your eye persist.
