Common Hawaii plants can hurt your eyes, and most people have no idea — a small but real risk for gardeners, hikers, and anyone gathering flowers.

• Crown flower sap is the biggest offender: it irritates the eye and can leave scarring.
• Plumeria sap and taro stems also burn the eye, and mango sap can burn the skin because it's related to poison oak.
• The fix is to flush the eye under running water for 10 to 15 minutes, holding the eye open so the water actually reaches it.
• None of these plants will blind you, but all of them need treatment, so follow the rinse with a trip to urgent care.
• Eye doctors in Hawaii see crown flower injuries regularly, usually from people making lei without gloves.

Outlook: Simple precautions when picking flowers — gloves and keeping hands away from the eyes — prevent nearly all of these injuries.