Can Airsoft Guns Cause Permanent Eye Damage?

[an error occurred while processing this directive] If you mention wanting to buy an airsoft gun to friends or family, you've probably heard a few stories of airsoft bb gun eye damage injury. However, those stories are just urban legends and you don't need to worry about eye injuries from airsoft guns, right? Well, no. Actually, you can suffer an eye injury from using an airsoft gun. However, if you take the proper precautions, you should be completely safe.

Before you start shooting your airsoft gun, make sure that there are no other people or animals in the area. Even if you aren't shooting directly at anyone, bbs don't always end up where you expect them to go. After all, they are too light to pierce most objects, which means they can easily ricochet off of something and hit someone watching you shoot.

Next, be sure that you are wearing safety goggles or a face mask designed for airsoft or paintball games. These products are designed to protect your eyes from stray bbs. You may be tempted to take your goggles or mask off as you play, because they have a tendency to fog up and become uncomfortable to wear. However, you really should keep them on, even if you stop shooting your airsoft gun, because another player could misfire a bb.

If you do receive an eye injury from a bb, call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately. Eye injuries that aren't treated right away can become much worse than those that get immediate medical attention.

Finally, please do not allow children to use an airsoft gun when they are unsupervised. Many children have received permanent eye damage from bbs.