With the summer months ahead and kids out of school, play time is abundant. Sometimes, when kids are having fun, accidents can happen.

Immediate and proper action in an emergency can make the difference between blindness and saving someone's sight forever. This month we take a look at the most common eye injuries and first aid that you can provide. Of course the best medicine is prevention and with some planning and proper equipment most injuries can be avoided.

Chemical in the eyes. Chemical injury to the eyes is a common cause of serious injury in children and adults. Household cleaners, paint thinner, and bleach are especially dangerous. Immediate in-home treatment is critical to save vision. As soon as a chemical contacts the eye it begins to "burn" its way into the eye. The longer the chemical remains in the eye without being washed out, the deeper the burn.

Prompt and thorough irrigation of the eyes can make the difference between vision and blindness. The affected eye should be irrigated with water under low pressure for at least 10 minutes. A sink faucet or hose without a spray nozzle should be used under low to medium pressure. A bottle of saline solution does not adequately rinse the eye. Hold the eyelid open while the eyes are irrigated. After the eyes have been irrigated at home, go to the closest emergency room. Do not drive to your eye doctor or primary care doctor. They are not equipped for this type of emergency.

When you reach the emergency room, the eyes will be rinsed with bags of saline solution until the acidity in the eye is neutralized. An antibiotic eye ointment will be prescribed.

A consultation with an ophthalmologist is also necessary. The emergency room doctors and ophthalmologist will help save vision as best they can. However, what they can do is not as critical as the initial rinsing given at home.

Object in the eye. If a particle falls in the eye under low pressure, it can often be rinsed out. A bottle of eye wash saline solution can be used to rinse out the particle. Hold down the lower lid while gently irrigating.

If the particle is wedged under the upper lid you can often free it by pulling outward on the upper eyelashes while pushing down on the skin of the upper eyelid.

Particles may still be in the eye or injury may have occurred. If the eye hurts or the vision is blurry after rinsing you should visit your eye doctor, pediatrician, or emergency room.

Scratched eye. The eye can be scratched by a fingernail or other sharp object. Eyes can hurt badly when a scratch occurs, making it difficult to open them. This type of injury is usually not serious. A visit to your pediatrician or eye doctor is necessary to examine the eyes and prescribe antibiotics.

Your doctor may patch the eye to soothe it and aid in healing when a large scratch is present. Sometimes a scratch can precipitate a serious infection. Follow up appointments are important to make sure the eye is healing properly without infection.

Blow to the eye. If the eye is struck with a fist, baseball, or other blunt object, injury may occur to the eyeball or the facial bones. Blunt trauma can cause serious bleeding inside the front of the eyeball. Other times the injury is to the back of the eye, causing a retinal detachment.

Facial bones around the eye are thin and quite fragile and can be easily broken with blunt trauma near the eye. The eye muscles can also be injured causing misalignment of the eyes and double vision.

If any significant blunt trauma occurs, the eyes should be covered with glasses or a shield and you should go to the emergency room. At the emergency room the eyes will be examined for injury and x-rays may be taken to check for bone fractures. Proper safety glasses during sports can prevent this type of injury.