Even minor eye problems can decrease productivity. Moreover, many of us struggle with computer vision syndrome, CVS, and the related eye strain, dry eyes, eye irritation, blurred vision and double vision. Also, some of us work in hazardous environments, with a higher risk of eye injury. This article gives you some tips for better eye health at the workplace.
What are the potential hazards to better eye health at the workplace?
Special eye protection gear is required in case of the following potential eye hazards :
- Projectiles: Risks include blunt trauma, chemical injury as well as foreign body in the eye (dust, concrete, metal, wood and other particles.
- Chemicals: Risks include chemical burns due to splashes and fumes.
- Radiation: Risks include exposure to visible light, ultraviolet radiation, heat or infrared radiation, and lasers.
- Bloodborne pathogens: Risks exposure to hepatitis or HIV and other infections from blood and body fluids
Digital eye health at the workplace
Digital Eye Strain, and Computer Vision Syndrome are synonymous. To help decrease digital eye strain, you must take frequent breaks. You must also follow the 20-20-20 rule; take a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away, after every 20 minutes of screen time.
Decrease your screen time. Blink more often, and follow the basic principles of ergonomic use of screen devices.
Eye injuries at the workplace
In case you are risk of eye trauma at the workplace, you must use the appropriate protective eye wear. The type of safety eye protection you must choose depends on the hazards present.
- Projectile: You must wear safety glasses with side protection (side shields). These must be shatter proof.
- Chemical: You must wear protective goggles.
- Radiation: You must use specially designed safety glasses, goggles, face shields or helmets as prescribed by the regulatory authorities.
How can I protect my eyes from injury?
This is what you can do to protect your eyes from injury:
- Know more about eye health at the workplace
- Ensure a timely and regular eye hazard assessment at your workplace
- Ensure reduction of eye hazards whenever possible
- Ensure that you use the appropriate safety eyewear at all times
- Attend any eye safety workshops and training that are conducted at your workplace
- Keep your safety eyewear in good condition. Get it replaced or repaired if damaged.
It’s also important to have regular eye exams — recommended every two years — to ensure your vision is in good condition to safely perform your job.
Types of safety glasses and protective eyewear for the workplace
These include
- Non-prescription and prescription safety glasses: Especially designed safety glasses provide eye protection. Those with side shields and wraparound-style safety glasses provide additional protection.
These may be made of plastic, polycarbonate and Trivex™. Polycarbonate lenses are considered the best, and provide maximum protection from impact. - Goggles. Goggles provide protection from trauma, impact, debris and chemical injuries. You can use goggles over your prescription glasses and contact lenses.
- Face shields, helmets and full face respirators: Full face shields protect workers from chemicals, heat, radiation and blood-borne pathogens. Use helmets are used for welding or working with molten materials. Face shields and helmets are not sufficient to protect your eyes at the workplace. You need to use safety glasses or goggles as well.
- Special protection. Use helmets or goggles with special filters to protect the eyes from optical radiation exposure for welding or working with lasers.
Safety glasses must fit properly to provide adequate protection. Also, eye protection devices must be properly maintained. Scratched and dirty devices reduce vision, cause glare and may contribute to accidents.
Combined with machine guards, screened or divided work stations, and other engineering controls, using the correct protective eyewear can help keep you safe from any type of eye hazard.
Contact lenses, and eye health at the work place
We know that contact lenses do not provide significant protection from eye hazards in the workplace. However, there is no evidence that they increase the risk of eye injury either.
So if you wear contact lenses for your refractive error, you can safely wear them at the workplace. You must, however, use additional eye safety equipment, such as goggles. In fact, contact lenses may increase worker safety and productivity because they ensure better vision, and a wider field of vision as well.
However, if you are working in an environment hazardous chemical fumes are present, contact lenses may not be the best choice for eye health at the workplace.
What should you do in an eye emergency?
You must contact your eye doctor as soon as possible following any injury. This is especially true in case you have pain, red eyes, blurred vision or loss of any vision.
In case of trauma:
- Do not attempt to remove any foreign body in the eye.
- Do not touch, rub or apply pressure to the eye.
- Place a gentle patch or eye shield over the injured eye.
- Go to the nearest eye emergency department.
In case of chemical or dust/debris in the eye:
- Wash your your eyes immediately with clean water before seeking medical attention. In case your workplace does not have an eyewash station, or if it is not nearby, use any source of clean water.
