Why I’m afraid of cats and not bougainvilleas is a mystery; my favorite plant seems far more intent on scratching my face off than any kitty I’ve ever encountered.

And who needs Fourth of July fireworks? I’ve come thisclose to putting an eye out several times in the garden.

Still, I never seem to remember to get myself a pair of safety glasses.

But as the editor of the 4you health and fitness section, I learn scary stuff like this: According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s sixth annual Eye Injury Snapshot, nearly half of the eye injuries Americans suffer annually happen in and around the home, in common places like the lawn, garden, kitchen or garage.

The academy says 90 percent of those injuries could be prevented simply by wearing protective eye wear.

OK, I know what you’re thinking (and just stop it right now). Sunglasses don’t count. Safety eyewear (both the lenses and the frames) must conform to a higher standard of impact resistance than regular eyeglasses or sunglasses. If a branch crashes down on you, you want those suckers to hold up.

If you’re using cost as your excuse, forget that, too. Many safety glasses cost less than $10.

Here’s some more info from the Eye Injury Snapshot:
• Three-quarters of those injured were male.
• The number of eye injuries suffered by children increased from previous surveys: Children 12 years of age or younger represented one in five injuries, well above the previous five-year survey average of 15.5 percent.
• The yard and garden were the place people were most likely to suffer an injury in the home.
• More than 45 percent of injuries occur between noon and 6 p.m.

I wouldn’t think of going out without my gloves, sunscreen and a hat. I’m adding goggles to the list. Sure, the goggles are a little funky looking – but who cares about that when I’m working in the dirt? (And I’m pretty sure I’d look even funkier with a big patch over my eye.)