Vision at Work

March is Workplace Vision Wellness Month, says Prevent Blindness American (PBA). The purpose of this initiative is to teach corporations and their employees about the importance of eye wellness, with advice on how to prevent vision-impairing eye mishaps.

Each day, people are inflicted by job related eye injuries that demand the attention of an eye care professional or doctor. Safety experts and healthcare professionals say that the two main reasons that employees experience eye injuries is either because they fail to shield their eyes or they are using the incorrect type of eye protection.

Common Eye Injuries

The most common hazards found in the workplace include flying particles or falling objects such as dust, concrete, metal or wood that can penetrate or cause abrasions on the eye. Chemicals, fumes and lasers can also burn and seriously injure the eyes.

Protecting your Eyes

Your optometrist can assist you to evaluate potential eye dangers at work and determine the optimal kind of eye safety for you.

Some working conditions have multiple eye hazards and finding the best eye protection should consider all possible risks.
If you work with chemicals you should wear goggles, and if you work in an area where you encounter flying objects or dust, pick safety glasses with side shields.
Working in close proximity to dangerous radiation when welding, working with lasers, or fiber optics requires the use of special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets designed specifically for this sort of work.

Eye Safety with Screens

Those who spend a lot of time working on computers or using mobile devices are also at risk of discomfort such as blurred vision, headaches and eye strain.

Below are some helpful suggestions to prevent eye strain and visual discomfort when working on a computer or using a hand held device:

Try to maintain the 20-20-20 rule which will help your eyes rest. At every 20 minute interval look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. If using a mobile device, enlarge the text so you can use it at a distance more gentle for your eyes.

Also try to adjust the brightness of your screen to a resolution that is not too bright or too dim and position your monitor right under eye level to be less of a strain on your eyes. You should also consider the option of computer glasses.

If you think that you may be at risk of any eye or vision damage due to your work environment don't delay! Give us a call to discuss the hazards and solutions for a lifetime of eye and vision health!