Eye Injuries From Fireworks In U.S. Have Nearly Doubled

As communities across America enjoy fireworks this July Fourth, folks should keep eye safety in mind.

The number of eye injuries caused by fireworks nearly doubled from 2016 to 2017, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is urging Americans to take proper safety precautions this holiday.

Fireworks-related eye injuries rose from 700 in 2016 to 1,200 in 2017, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Those injuries included ruptured eyeballs and damaged corneas and retinas.

“An average of 280 people a day will go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries during the