Wear your SAFETY GLASSES!!!

[njmr2fan]

As the title says, please wear your safety glasses. If you take them off, STOP until you get them on again. My worst fear has always been an eye injury, and I just realized my worst fear. I was helping some family remove an old deck in order to re-deck and began working in a shady spot since the sun was bright and hot. All morning I had been wearing my oversized Oakley Turbine sunglasses. All Oakley sunglasses have ballistic quality polycarbonate lenses, so I was well protected until.... we moved to the shade, I moved under a table attached to the outside of the house and flipped up my shades to see better. I removed 3 old rusted nails with a pry bar, they all fell out and down to the ground. The fourth was coming out and had so much stored energy it left the wood like a bullet. It must have struck my right eye and then got closed in my by eyelid. I sustained a jagged cut to my cornea... We immediately went to the local urgent care who sent us directly to the ER. Opthamologist looked at it, sent me for a CT Scan and then said "See you in the O.R.!" 2 hours in surgery and I was sent home. The next day we saw him again and he had me go right back to the hospital because the eye wasn't holding together... we got to the hospital at 10:30 am and waited while trauma after trauma came in. By 7:30pm I was prepped and taken into the O.R. He thought he had to add a stitch or two, but wound up re-doing eye 3 times, finally gluing part of it and suchering part of it. Satisfied that the eye was closed, he let me go home. He was more pleased after the 2nd surgery when we went back for a follow up. Since of course this happened 3.5 hour from my home, I was lucky that he knew an eye trauma specialist in my area. I just saw her and she was very pleased with his work. Everyone said it could have been worse, and the eye could have been damaged beyond repair so I think I'm really blessed that at this point I can make out shadows and figures and even 2 fingers at 12 inches. Recovery will take up to a year, it may require a hard contact or possibly a full corneal transplant, but there's hope. FOr now, I've rightly screwed up our summer vacation plans. We had just decided we would bear the expense and hardship of trailering the AR to Cape Coral and then to Key West so that we had it. We've never been to the Keys so we figured we'd go all in! Now I can't even swim! No pool, no ocean, I even have to be careful in the shower! So, if with my misfortune I can make someone think twice about safety glasses, then something good will come of all this. God only gave us 2 eyes, try your best to keep them both! Safe boating guys!
Best,
Andy

 

[buckbuck]

I can't imagine what you and your family are experiencing right now. What do you do for a living?

 

[njmr2fan]

I'm a newly retired cop who just was just about to get going in the mortgage business when I get back from vacation on June 20th! Right now I can't drive, so I'm not sure whats going on with that... Such is life right?

 

[Dixie Highway]

As someone that works in industrial settings almost daily, we have had it drilled into our daily routine for years. As a younger man, I would do projects at home, in the garage, etc. without. Safety glasses saved my eye once, stopping a metal fragment shaped like a throwing star from hitting my eye. I don’t have the picture anymore, but imagine a 1”x1” steel diamond shape sticking halfway through a pair of safety glasses. You get the idea. @njmr2fan you were extremely lucky in the unluckiest way, we take our sight for granted every day only when you risk losing it do you truly understand. Heal quick so you can get back to our hobby.

 

[renrab]

Thoughts and well wishes. Good use of a terrible situation to help inform others. Keep your head up brother. ?

 

[Need A Vacation]

Hope you have a full recovery, with he shortest possible time frame!!!

 

[F.M.]

So sorry man. I always get out my safety glasses, and sometimes even wear them. I'm going to make a more conscious effort, definitely. Hope the recovery is fast.

 

[Wayloncle]

Glad it wasn’t worse!
Pretty much my whole working life has involved wearing safety glasses. It’s kind of like a seatbelt to me now, if I don’t have something on I just don’t feel right. They have saved my eyes from damage several times, maybe more than I even know.
A guy I worked with several years ago lost one eye with fireworks, he wasn’t even screwing around, one just went off weird and got him. I never realized how much losing one eye can affect everyday life until it happened to him and I was around him everyday. 3D doesn’t work with just one eye, depth perception is different, and of course peripheral is messed up.....

 

[NewBoater]

Damn bro I am so sorry to hear about this. Glad there’s somewhat of hope though for your eye. Do you have any other pics that you want to share? I can’t imagine what it looked like before the surgery. Best of luck in your healing and hope you have a good summer even without being on the water.

 

[Wisefam22]

@njmr2fan can you ride a boat? When are yall going to florida?

 

[Billtex2000]

Damn!
I'm newly retired as well and I keep thinking as I'm working around the house, "I made it through 26 years on the job without getting hurt, now I'm gonna fall off a ladder while cleaning my gutters!"
Get well soon Brother! I know it's a little late, but Stay Safe!

 

[Scottintexas]

Sorry to hear that and hope recovery goes well
Wear the glasses!

 

[njmr2fan]

Thank you guys for well wishes and prayers. Does mean a lot.
@Wisefam22 I have to ask on Wednesday when i see the doctor if she thinks a boat is okay or too rough, We're getting on the road right after. We won't be bringing the boat either way as my wife hates towing, and I planned on driving while towing, There's always next time right? My boys have been great, wife has been super supportive. Everyone is pitching in to help out getting things done that Dad usually handles. Tough asking them for help when im usually the one who enjoys doing stuff for them. I know they're disappointed that we won't snorkel or dive like we thought, but they assured Dad that we're still going to have the best vacation!

 

[Bluewater272]

Holy crap! I used to hardly ever wear safety glasses unless I was working with some big spinny thing, and certainly never would have just for prying up nails. Had LASIK a year ago, and I'm now way more protective of them. Rest up and best of luck with recovery

 

[MidnightRider]

Wow! So sorry. Thanks for sharing, its a really good reminder what can happen so fast when you let your guard down. I preach to my kids about safety glasses at all times when doing projects, but I can't tell you how many times I don't grab them myself because I'm "just gonna..." or "just gonna quick...". Had a friend take a wood splinter to the eye off a table saw one time, couldn't save the eye. Very unfortunate but need to heed these reminders to keep us vigilant in safety practices cause stuff can go south so quick.

 

[Brad460]

Holy crap..your expression in that picture says it all!

 

[Speedling]

When i got lasik i was surprised how fast the eye heals. I hope you heal just as fast and everything goes well!

 

[W3bexec]

Sorry to hear what you are going through. I'm "that guy" who doesn't put on safety glasses much of the time. I'm going to start using them way more often. Thank you!

 

[Britboater]

All the best and a speedy recovery.

I’m totally with you regarding wearing eye protection and it’s so easy for that split second to lapse with the thinking to wear it. Thank you for posting about your misfortune to warn others.

 

[Julian]

Ok...I will confess I rarely wear them, but do wear glasses now all the time , so you've made me a convert, I'll add safety glasses to my routine from now on!

Hope your healing goes well!