March is Workplace Vision Wellness Month, an initiative by Prevent Blindness American (PBA). The goal of this initiative is to teach corporations and their workers about the necessity of vision wellness, including advice on how to prevent vision-endangering eye accidents.
Each day, workers suffer from job related eye injuries that require the attention of an eye care professional or doctor. Safety experts and doctors believe the two most common reasons that people get eye injuries is either because they don't use anything to protect their eyes or they are using the wrong kind of eye protection.
Most commonly, eye injuries that take place in the work environment are a result of small particles or falling objects such as building or craft materials that can enter or cause abrasions on the eye. Chemical splashes, fumes and radiation can also burn and injure the delicate eye tissues.
Making Work a Safe Site
There are 4 important tips to protect your eyes from injury:
- Learn the eye hazards found at your job.
- Limit the possibility of danger before even beginning work by requesting machine shields, screens or other safety devices.
- Wear safety goggles that sit correctly and provide enough coverage for your tasks. Your optometrist will be able to help in selecting the best safety eyewear for your profession.
- Keep your protective eyewear in optimal condition.
Eye Safety with Screens
Those who spend a large portion of their day working at the computer or using hand held devices are also at higher risk of discomfort such as blurred vision, headaches and eye strain. Due to the prevailing use of computers in everyday life, these dangers are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Below are a few helpful suggestions to prevent eye strain and visual discomfort when using hand held devices or working on a computer:
Try to maintain the 20-20-20 rule to give your eyes a rest. At every 20 minute interval look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. If you're using a mobile device, make the font bigger so you can use it at a distance more gentle for your eyes.
In addition try to maintain the light intensity of your screen to a comfortable resolution and position your monitor just below eye level to pose less of a strain on your eyes. You may also want to consider the option of computer glasses.
If you think that you may be in danger of any eye or vision damage due to your workplace don't delay! Give us a call to discuss the hazards and solutions for a lifetime of eye and vision health!
