March is Workplace Eye Safety Month, a good time to focus on eye injury prevention and first aid. Here are some scary statistics, according to International Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN) each year, nearly 25,000 Americans visit the emergency room due to a workplace eye injury. Each day, over 2,000 Americans suffer an eye injury. This means that almost one million Americans have experienced some vision loss due to eye injury, which has resulted in more than $300 million in lost work time, medical expenses and workman’s compensation. At Optikk 30A we feel it is important to note, eye injuries can occur both in manual labor jobs as well as office settings.
It's no surprise that manual labor jobs like construction workers have some of the highest eye injury rates according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health. Jobs involving hammering, grinding, sanding, and masonry work all share the common risk of various eye injuries from particles like dust, metal and wood entering the eye. Some of the most common issues resulting in eye injuries are the dust, metal, wood and other particles that can enter the eye. The key thing to remember here is: Eye Protection. In industries like construction, protection is essential. Whether it is goggles, face shields, or safety glasses, simply wearing them protects (or may even save) your eyesight.
The office environment is not as risky but you still need to keep ocular health in mind. The most common condition office workers experience is Computer Vision Syndrome, also called Digital Eye Strain which describes a group of eye and vision related problems resulting from computer, tablet and cell phone use. These digital devices can cause headaches, blurry vision, eye fatigue, difficulty focusing, and Dry Eye Syndrome. The following suggestions can remedy vision strain:
· Position your monitor so it is slightly below eye level and keep your computer roughly 28 inches away from your eyes.
· Take frequent breaks. We like the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds and look 20 feet away. Every hour take a 5 minute break to stretch and walk around.
· Remember to blink frequently and use artificial tears as needed. Studies have shown that a computer user’s blink rate is reduced which exacerbates dry eye symptoms.
· Ask us about custom digital office lenses with blue-light blocking technology.
Regardless of your profession, workplace eye safety actions are relatively easy to incorporate and may serve invaluable to the health of your eyes. We want our readers to realize that even minor eye injuries can cause life-long vision problems. So SEE to it that you always use precaution and protect those precious peepers!
Call or stop by our Optical Boutique in Redfish Village in Blue Mountain Beach today! Together, we can get ahead of vision loss!