Can a foam cup save your eyesight?

This weekend will see thousands of families flocking to fireworks shows, and some will create their own despite strong safety warnings.

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Dr. Donald Glaser, an ophthalmologist with Clemson Eye, said parents and children can use fireworks safely, if they follow reasonable precautions. Even so, accidents will happen — in fact, 9,000 Americans each year experience eye injuries as a result of fireworks accidents, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. One in six of these eye injuries results in blindness.

Quick and correct actions can be vision-saving. Here are three ways Dr. Glaser says you can make a big save if an eye injury occurs:

• A common injury is a cinder or some other particle in the eye. There can be chemicals or ash flying around when fireworks are set off. Ash is alkaline (like bleach), which can cause damage. Flush the eye with water for about five minutes to rinse the material out of the eye. The flushing will rinse the ash or chemicals out.

• If something has gotten into the eye, cut a plastic foam cup in half and place the bottom half over the eye, securing it with tape. This will reduce the possibility of rubbing or putting pressure on the eye until you can be seen by an eye doctor.

• If there is pain or reduced vision, call your eye doctor immediately. If it is after hours, call their emergency doctor-on-call line. If you don't have an eye doctor, go to an emergency room right away.

"Use common sense, and don't try to get anything out of the eye yourself," Glaser said. "Rubbing the eye will only make things worse."

Don't be embarrassed about calling your eye doctor or going to the emergency room, he said. Delaying treatment for an eye injury will only cause more problems.

Of the 9,000 people with eye injuries each year, the American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates 45 percent are children under 15. Adults need to exercise caution with fireworks.

"Never let a child light a bottle rocket or other fireworks themselves," Glaser said.