It can damage your eyes vs It could damage your eyes

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'It can damage your eyes' is used to express a general truth or possibility, while 'it could damage your eyes' is used to talk about a hypothetical situation or a polite suggestion.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 953 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to express a general truth or possibility.

"It can damage your eyes"

This phrase is used to indicate that something has the potential to harm your eyes.

Examples:

Staring at the sun can damage your eyes.
Using a computer for too long can damage your eyes.
Not wearing sunglasses in bright sunlight can damage your eyes.
Exposure to UV rays can damage your eyes.
Rubbing your eyes too hard can damage your eyes.

Show examples from the web [+]

It gives out a lot of light and heat that would damage your eyes without you even realising.
Never use the telescope to look at the sun. Looking at the sun might cause irreversible damage to your eyes and your equipment.
Careful. it can damage your beauty.
If it gets too high, it can damage your sight.
Substances that have the potential to seriously damage the eyes are classified in Category 1 (irreversible effects on the eye).
If he's taking care not to damage the eyes, then line of sight is probably what's important to him.
If he's taking care not to damage the eyes, then line of sight is probably what's important to him.
Concussive force caused middle ear damage and eye ruptures in both Petty Officer Grayson and Chief Olson.
Looks like he had damage to his eye.
Corrosive and irritant effects including serious damage to the eye
This hazard class is assigned a corrosive pictogram - for consumers using the symbol will lead to confusion with skin corrosion and serious eye damage.
Hyperbaric treatments could cause oxygen toxicity, lung and eye damage.
Several factors need to be considered in determining the serious eye damage or irritation potential of a substance before testing is undertaken.
This product can produce risk of serious damage to the eye.
Ocular corrosive (a) A substance that causes irreversible tissue damage to the eye.
Note: When a substance or preparation is classified as corrosive and assigned R34 or R35, the risk of severe damage to eyes is considered implicit and R41 is not included in the label.
When a substance or preparation is classified as corrosive and assigned R34 or R35, the risk of severe damage to eyes is considered implicit and R41 is not included in the label.
Care should be taken not to damage the eye from the pressure of the spray.
Irreversible effects on the eye/serious damage to eyes (Category 1)
Get the word out... blonde hair, brown eyes, possible damage to the eye.

Alternatives:

It may damage your eyes
It might damage your eyes
It is able to damage your eyes
It has the potential to damage your eyes
It is capable of damaging your eyes

This phrase is correct and commonly used to talk about a hypothetical situation or a polite suggestion.

"It could damage your eyes"

This phrase is used to suggest a possible harm to the eyes in a hypothetical scenario or as a polite warning.

Examples:

If you don't wear safety goggles, it could damage your eyes.
Looking directly at the laser could damage your eyes.
Using expired eye drops could damage your eyes.
Not following the safety guidelines could damage your eyes.
Rubbing your eyes with dirty hands could damage your eyes.

Show examples from the web [+]

It gives out a lot of light and heat that would damage your eyes without you even realising.
Never use the telescope to look at the sun. Looking at the sun might cause irreversible damage to your eyes and your equipment.
Substances that have the potential to seriously damage the eyes are classified in Category 1 (irreversible effects on the eye).
If he's taking care not to damage the eyes, then line of sight is probably what's important to him.
If he's taking care not to damage the eyes, then line of sight is probably what's important to him.
Concussive force caused middle ear damage and eye ruptures in both Petty Officer Grayson and Chief Olson.
Looks like he had damage to his eye.
Corrosive and irritant effects including serious damage to the eye
This hazard class is assigned a corrosive pictogram - for consumers using the symbol will lead to confusion with skin corrosion and serious eye damage.
Hyperbaric treatments could cause oxygen toxicity, lung and eye damage.
Several factors need to be considered in determining the serious eye damage or irritation potential of a substance before testing is undertaken.
This product can produce risk of serious damage to the eye.
Ocular corrosive (a) A substance that causes irreversible tissue damage to the eye.
Note: When a substance or preparation is classified as corrosive and assigned R34 or R35, the risk of severe damage to eyes is considered implicit and R41 is not included in the label.
When a substance or preparation is classified as corrosive and assigned R34 or R35, the risk of severe damage to eyes is considered implicit and R41 is not included in the label.
Care should be taken not to damage the eye from the pressure of the spray.
Irreversible effects on the eye/serious damage to eyes (Category 1)
Get the word out... blonde hair, brown eyes, possible damage to the eye.
The active substance of Masivet can cause severe eye-irritation and serious damage to the eyes.
To minimize mechanical and other types of damage to the eyes, the eyes should be enucleated as soon as possible after death.

Alternatives:

It might damage your eyes
It may damage your eyes
It is possible to damage your eyes
It is likely to damage your eyes
It is probable that it could damage your eyes

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It can damage your eyes vs It could damage your eyes