March is Workplace Vision Wellness Month, an initiative by Prevent Blindness American (PBA). The aim of this directive is to teach corporations and their workers about the necessity of vision wellness, including advice on how to prevent vision-threatening eye accidents.
Every day, people are inflicted by workplace related eye injuries that need medical attention. Workplace safety experts and healthcare professionals say that the two main reasons that people sustain eye injuries is either because they fail to use anything to shield their eyes or they are using the wrong kind of eye protection.
Construction, factory work, mining, woodwork, car and truck repair, electrical work, plumbing, metal welding and maintenance are all high risk occupations for eye accidents.
Protection for your Eyes
Your optometrist will help you identify potential eye hazards at work and decide on the best type of eye protection for you.
Some workplaces possess multiple risks for eyes and using the correct eye protection should consider all possible risks.
If you work with chemicals you should wear goggles, while if you work in a place where there are falling objects or dust, pick safety glasses that have side shields.
Working close to dangerous radiation when welding, working with lasers, or fiber optics demands the use of special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets designed specifically for what you will be doing.
Healthy Screen Vision
Working on computers or using mobile and hand held devices like phones or readers can also be unsafe for your sight.
Here are some suggestions to avoid eye strain and visual discomfort when using hand held devices or working on a computer:
Implement the 20-20-20 rule to give your eyes a rest. Roughly every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and watch something about 20 feet in the distance. If you're using a mobile device, increase the font size so you can use it at a distance better for your eyes.
Additionally adjust the light intensity of your monitor to a comfortable resolution and place your monitor just below eye level to reduce any pressure on your eyes. You may also want to consider the option of computer glasses.
If you have any further queries about protecting your vision in the workplace, please talk to us today!