When most people go out to mow the lawn, jump-start the car or gear up to do some serious spring cleaning, the last thing they think about is their eyes, but it should be one of the first.

In honor of Eye Injury Prevention Month, celebrated throughout the month of July, Eye MDs are urging Virginians to stop endangering their eyes. Protect your eyes from extraordinary damage caused by the most ordinary of activities.

According to the U.S. Eye Injury Registry, 43% of eye injuries occur within the home, but 90% of these eye injuries are preventable if you take safety precautions and use a little common sense. Many times, all that's needed to prevent vision loss and blinding injuries is a pair of tight-fitting goggles available at hardware stores.

For example, you should keep a pair of goggles in the trunk for when they need to jump-start their car as battery acid, sparks and debris flying from damaged or improperly jump-started auto batteries can severely damage the eyes.

Many household chemicals, such as cleaning fluids, detergents and ammonia, are extremely hazardous and can burn the eye's delicate tissues. When using chemicals for home improvement, always read instructions and labels carefully, work in a well-ventilated area and make sure spray nozzles point away from you and others before spraying. After use, wash your hands thoroughly. Goggles are advisable, especially when spraying or splashing is involved.

Before using a lawnmower, power trimmer or edger, be sure to check for rocks and stones in addition to putting on your goggles. Stones, twigs, and other debris can become dangerous projectiles after shooting out of the blades of a lawnmower, potentially injuring your eyes or those of innocent bystanders.

Each year hundreds of people end up with terrible eye injuries and burns from fireworks, and a lot of the victims are bystanders and children. There's just no way to use fireworks at home safely. Even sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt gold. Go see a professional fireworks show -- it's cheaper, safer and more beautiful.

Prevention is the first and most important step in avoiding serious eye injuries, so be sure to protect your eyes with appropriate protective eyewear.