What child doesn’t like toys? And what parent or grandparent doesn’t enjoy buying a fun new toy for their young loved ones, particularly around the holidays?
But some toys can pose a serious risk of eye injury — including serious injuries that can result in permanent vision loss.
Toys cause thousands of eye injuries every year
Nearly 231,700 you-related injuries across all ages were seen in U.S. emergency departments in 2023.
45% of these were “head and face” injuries, which include trauma to the eyes and area around the eyes. Children age 4 and under accounted for 36 percent of all toy-related injuries.
Aerosol string that hits the eye can cause a painful irritation of the eye called chemical pink eye.
Online surveys conducted by All About Vision revealed that
- When choosing toys for their kids, 41% of parents said they “rarely” or “never” consider eye safety.
- When asked whether any of their children’s toys could cause an eye injury, 54% of parents responded “definitely” and 22% said “possibly.”
What kind of eye injuries can a toy cause?
Common eye injuries caused by mishaps with toys can range from a minor scratch to the front surface of the eye (called a corneal abrasion) to sight-threatening injuries.
Severe eye injuries can include the following:
- Corneal ulcers
- Traumatic cataracts
- Retinal detachment
- Bleeding inside the eye
While some of these injuries can be treated, others can cause lifelong damage.
Toys to avoid in 2025
World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) is a nonprofit organization founded to protect children from toys that could cause physical harm. At the beginning of the holiday season each year, the group publishes a Top 10 list of the year’s “worst” toys, in terms of safety.
The lists can help parents make informed buying decisions during the holiday season.
The nominees for their 2025 list include three toys that could cause eye injuries in children:
Robotic arm
Recommended for children ages 6 and up it features a rigid, extendable sleeve that can deliver strong force when activated. Both the projectile and the sleeve itself can pose a danger if aimed toward the face. The toy packaging advises players not to aim at eyes or faces, but no protective eyewear is included. Without proper guidance, misuse of this toy could lead to serious eye injuries.
Foam dart launcher
This is designed to shoot foam darts long distances, appealing to children who enjoy fast-paced, action-style games. However, the darts can travel with enough speed to cause harm if they strike the eyes. The toy includes a warning to avoid aiming at the face, yet accidents can occur during group play.
Toy gun
This toy is designed as a realistic replica firearm, which can lead to unsafe play behaviors that involve aiming and shooting motions. Although the product includes a caution to avoid eye contact, its realistic design and small parts can still pose risks.
Other toys that pose a high risk of eye injury
Also consider this list of six types of toys you might want to cross off your list when buying gifts for young children. Each poses a high potential risk for eye injuries — especially if used by young children without adult supervision and guidance:
- Guns that shoot ANY type of projectile. This includes toy guns that shoot lightweight, cushy darts. You might think these soft projectiles would pose little or no risk, but toy guns of this type can shoot up to distances of 75 feet. The darts move at speeds fast enough to cause a serious eye injury – especially when used at close range indoors.
- Water balloon launchers and water guns. Water balloons can cause serious blunt trauma to the eye that can cause retinal detachment and lead to permanent vision loss. Even toy guns that shoot a stream of water can cause serious eye damage, especially when used at close range.
- Games that include toy fishing poles. The end of a toy fishing pole or objects secured to the end of the fishing line can end up in a playmate’s eye.
- Toy wands, swords, sabers or guns with bayonets.
- Aerosol string. The chemicals in these products can cause eye irritation and a type of pink eye called chemical conjunctivitis. When used at close range, aerosol string can also cause a corneal abrasion that could lead to a serious eye infection.
- Laser pointers and bright flashlights. Though technically not toys, many children love to play “laser tag” or “flashlight tag.” Portable laser pointers, like those used for business presentations, are recommended to never be used by children. The light intensity of these devices could cause permanent vision loss. Even high-powered LED flashlights can be dangerous, because they can cause temporary blindness. This could put children at risk of a fall or other accident.
How to choose eye-friendly toys
If you are buying toys for grandchildren or the children of other relatives or friends, you can ask for suggestions from the child’s parents. Discuss any toys you’re thinking about purchasing to make sure the child’s parents are okay with the type of toy you’re considering.
It’s usually best to shop for children’s toys in a store rather than online. This can help you see the toy’s features up close to help you decide if it’s safe enough for a young child.
Toy packaging usually includes a recommended age range of children for whom the toy was designed. But keep in mind that these are general guidelines only. A toy that may be appropriate for one child may not be safe for another child of the same age. (It depends on their level of maturity and personality.)
Finally, when buying toys for older children, keep in mind that they may have younger siblings who could have access to the toys. It’s possible a new toy may not end up in the hands of the child you bought it for.
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