Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has set aside the month of March as Workplace Vision Wellness Month. The goal of this directive is to teach companies and their workers about the necessity of eye health, with advice on how to avoid vision-threatening eye incidents.
Each day, employees are inflicted by workplace related eye injuries that require the attention of an eye care professional or doctor. Safety experts and doctors say that the two most common reasons that workers get eye injuries is either because they don't use anything to shield their eyes or they are using the incorrect form of eye protection.
The most common dangers in the work environment include airborne particles or falling objects such as dust, concrete, metal or wood that can enter or scratch the eye. Chemicals, gases and radiation can also burn and seriously injure the eye tissues.
Keeping Safety in Sight
There are four crucial ways to avoid eye accidents at work:
- Be aware of the eye hazards related to your job.
- Lessen your exposure to risks before you commence work by obtaining machine guards, work screens or other safety devices.
- Use protective glasses that fit correctly and provide enough coverage for your tasks. Your optometrist will be able to assist in determining the best protective eyewear for your circumstances.
- Make sure to keep your safety eyewear in great condition, and have it replaced if even just slightly damaged.
Healthy Screen Vision
Working on computers or using mobile and hand held devices like phones or readers can also be harmful for your eyes.
Here are a few ways to avoid putting your eyes under unnecessary pressure when working on a computer or using a hand held device:
Learn the 20-20-20 rule which will allow your eyes periodic rest. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. If using a mobile device, make the font bigger so you'll be able to use it at a distance more gentle for your eyes.
Additionally try to maintain the light intensity of your monitor to a comfortable resolution and place your screen right under eye level to be less of a strain on your eyes. You should also speak to your eye doctor about 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!
