Helpful Tips to Keep Your Vision Safe When You’re On-the-Job!

March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

(Honolulu, Hawaii) March 8, 2023—- Whether you’re working from home, on a job site, or in an office, eye safety and wellness should always be a priority. According to the CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), every day, about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. That is why March has been designated as Workplace Eye Wellness Month, and Hawaiian Eye Center would like to share some valuable tips and advice to protect yourself from workplace eye injuries.

Most job-related eye injuries come from high-risk blue-collar jobs such as construction, plumbing, electrical, wielding, carpentry, and maintenance. Oftentimes, these jobs involve heavy exposure to flying debris, power tools, particles, and chemicals, all of which are leading causes of eye injuries. Due to the nature of these jobs, eye injuries can range from inflammation, contusions and scratches/abrasions (often from debris) to more serious eye injuries that may result in temporary or permanent vision loss and damage to the eye or face. These are typically caused by impact from projectiles, blunt-force trauma, penetration of the eye, and chemical or thermal burns on the job.

However, despite the risks, data from the American Academy of Ophthalmology cites that nearly 90% of the thousands of work-related eye injuries sustained each year could be prevented with proper eye protection and the right precautions. On that account, if you work on a job site or are working in a high-risk field, here are some important tips to remember in order to protect your eyes from workplace eye injuries:

• Wear protective eyewear!! This is the most effective preventative measure to protect your eyes while on the job.
• Remove protective eyewear ONLY after turning off tools, and replace ones that are cracked, pitted, or damaged.
• Follow OSHA safety rules and guidelines (They are there to protect you!)
• Before starting a task, set the correct controls and PPE’s (protective screens, machine guards, etc.) to avoid exposure to chemical, projective, and light hazards.
• Turn containers away from the face while opening.
• Stay concentrated on the task at hand while using power tools.
• Flush out the eyes with water if you come into contact with debris or chemicals and seek medical attention immediately in the case of an accident.

Although there is less risk for eye injuries associated with home and office work, there are however risks for developing eye and vision problems or disturbances. With many home and office jobs requiring hours of staring at a computer screen, the biggest and most important risk to be aware of for home and office work is digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome. This term describes a group of eye and vision-related problems (most commonly distorted or blurred vision, eye strain, dry eyes, and headaches) that result from prolonged use of digital screens. As home and office jobs become more popular, digital eye strain has become the cause of thousands of job-related vision problems.

For that reason, in order to protect your eyes from vision problems resulting from home or office work, we recommend that you keep these tips in mind:

• Use the 20-20-20 rule (Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look at something 20 feet away)
• Wear prescription reading glasses if needed and make sure that your prescriptions are correct and up to date.
• Research has shown that we blink less while on the computer which can contribute to dry eye syndrome. So, remember to blink regularly to rehydrate your eyes and promote eye moisture.
• Adjust your workspace so that the center of your screen is just below eye level and around 20-28 inches away from your eyes. Also adjust your brightness level to be similar to your surroundings.

Whether your workplace is high in risk for your eyes or low, it is important to always know how you can care for your eyes and prevent injuries. Along with preventive measures, one of the easiest and most crucial ways we can protect your eyes from injury and vision problems, both on the job and off, is to visit your eye doctor regularly. Comprehensive and routine eye exams help to identify possible vision problems or evidence of eye damage and build a treatment plan. Hawaiian Eye Center offers regular and in-depth checkups to keep your eyes healthy and your vision beautifully clear! Happy workplace eye wellness month to all our hard workers out there!