In an effort to enlighten businesses and their workers about the necessity of eye wellness, and to spread safety tips on how to prevent vision-impairing eye accidents, Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has marked March as Workplace Vision Wellness Month.
Each day, people sustain 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 people get eye injuries is because they fail to protect their eyes or they are using the incorrect kind of eye protection.
High risk occupations for eye injuries include building, factory work, mining, woodwork, auto repair, electrical work, plumbing, metal welding and general maintenance.
Keeping Safety in Sight
Here are four steps you can take to avoid eye accidents at work:
- Learn the eye hazards present in your job.
- Limit your exposure to risks before even beginning work by asking for machine guards, screens or other engineering controls.
- Request safety goggles that fit well and give sufficient coverage for what you are doing. Your optometrist will be able to assist in determining the best protective eyewear for your particular situation.
- Keep your protective eyewear in great condition, and have it replaced if broken.
Computer Monitors and Healthy Vision
Those who spend a lot of time working at the computer or using mobile devices are also at higher risk of discomfort such as blurred vision, headaches and eye strain.
Below are a few suggestions to avoid eye strain and visual discomfort when working on a computer or using a hand held device:
Utilize the 20-20-20 rule which will help your eyes rest. At every 20 minute interval take a 20 second break to look at something 20 feet away. If using a mobile device, enlarge the text so you'll be able to use it at a distance more comfortable for your eyes.
In addition maintain the brightness of your screen to a comfortable resolution and place your monitor just below eye level to reduce any pressure on your eyes. You should also speak to your eye doctor about computer glasses.
If you have any further queries about vision care at your workplace, please contact us today!