Chicago-area optometrist Phillip L. Kaufman, OD surveys toys for their potential to seriously injure or blind either the child playing with the toy or others. His annual list includes toys that he feels parents should avoid because they pose a serious threat to children's vision. Following is the list for 2003.

• Air Hogs Air Pressure Sky Commander — A helicopter with a blade that spins at a high enough rate of speed to seriously damage the cornea (front of the eye) or the lens to create a cataract.
• Hercules the Mighty Warrior Deluxe Playset — This "toy" includes a regular arsenal of weapons: a functional bow and arrow set, a hard sword and a hard plastic dagger. All this for age 5 and over. Any one of these weapons can cause the loss of an eye if you accidentally get hit in the eye with any one of the three.
• Barn Stormer — This hard foam airplane with a hard, unprotected plastic propeller flies free at the end of a 36-inch tether. At full throttle, if the wing hits an eye it will cause a serious scratch. If the propeller hits the eye, it could lacerate the cornea.
• Spy Vision Goggles — This set of glasses has a non-safety green-tinted lens with two small flashlight bulbs on either side of the frame. The bulbs, combined with the tint in the lenses, don't produce enough ambient light to prevent a 6-year-old from tripping over obstacles he would not be able to see in a darkened room. Since the lens is not impact-resistant, it could break and damage the face or eye on impact.
• Tacky Darts — These "safe, soft foam throwing darts" for 5-year-olds have a sticky 17mm tip that is small enough to fit into a child's eye. The surface is sticky enough to adhere to the eye, and when pulled off it can pull off some of the cells of the cornea. This can cause a painful abrasion and possible infection.
• Nerf Air Tech 1000 — This gun for 6-year-olds shoots four "soft foam darts." The problem with these darts is that the suction tip is smaller than most soft contact lenses and will adhere to the wet eye easily. Removal can pull off some cells of the cornea, causing a painful abrasion and possible infection.
• Nerf Atom Blasters Reactor — This gun carries a warning on the front: "Do not aim at eyes or face." The balls on this toy are hard foam and move with enough muzzle velocity to cause a black eye if contacted at close range. In addition, substitute balls can cause even more severe damage. In the hands of an unsupervised 6-year-old (the age this toy is designed for), this toy can cause severe problems.
• Fun Zone Police Protection Law Enforcement Set — This set for 5-year-olds includes working handcuffs with keys and a plastic club that is 5-year-old sized. The tip of this club will fit perfectly into a child's eye, causing severe damage with a direct "hit."
• Range Rider Double Shot Gun — This rifle carries a warning on the box: "Toys are replicas of real weapons and are designed for pretend play. Do not use these toys against any living objects." It shoots "soft" darts with enough force to cause a severe corneal injury with poor accuracy. This tip also will fit into a child's eye, causing the soft suction cup to adhere to the eyeball.
• Multiple Home Tool Kits for children 3 and up — Little boys love these toys to emulate Daddy. Parents wouldn't let a child carry a knife, yet they will give a child a pointed screwdriver to carry. These kits vary from "real" tools for 8-year-olds to plastic "toys" for 3-year-olds. Impact with the eye could cause enough damage to have an eye removed.