Healthy Vision in the Workplace Produced by the American Optometric Association

Healthy Vision in the Workplace Eye safety statistics Types of eye hazards Types of eye protection

Eye Safety Statistics According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), every day nearly 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related, vision threatening eye injuries that require medical attention.

Eye Safety Statistics Approximately 60 percent of workers with eye injuries in a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) study were not wearing the proper protective eyewear at the time of their injury.

Types of Eye Hazards Foreign bodies Eye Strain Ultra-violet radiation

Foreign Bodies in the Eye The BLS study reported that 94 percent of the eye injuries which occurred while a worker was wearing protection were caused by sparks, debris or chemicals striking the eye from around or under the protective shield.

Foreign Bodies in the Eye Nearly 70 percent of the eye injuries reported in the BLS study came from flying debris, sparks and small objects striking the eye. Most of the objects were smaller than a pin head.

Protective Eyewear Protective eyewear needs to be properly fitted to be effective. Training employees on the proper use of protective eyewear can reduce workplace eye injuries.

Protective Eyewear Safety Glasses Goggles Face Shields and Helmets

Safety Glasses Safety glasses may look like normal eyewear, however they are designed to provide much more protection.

Safety Glasses Lenses and frames are much stronger than regular glasses and are constructed to prevent the lenses from shattering or being pushed toward the eyes.

Safety Glasses Those working in an area that have the danger of small particles, flying objects or dust should have the wraparound- style of safety glasses or use side shields.

Goggles Goggles with polycarbonate or Trivex® lenses are highly impact resistant and provide protection from dust and chemical splashes.

Goggles They cover a large area around the eyes and protect against hazards from any direction. Goggles can be worn over prescription glasses and contact lenses.

Face Shields & Helmets These secondary protectors do not provide adequate protection alone and should always be used with primary eye protection devices such as safety glasses and goggles.

Eye Safety in the Workplace Employers are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide face and eye protection to workers at risk for job-related eye injuries.

Eye strain is the most common eye problem for those who use computers frequently at work. Eye Strain

Computer use requires specific vision skills that require additional demands on the visual system and contribute to eye and vision discomfort.

Eye Strain Ocular motility Accommodation Vergence

Eye Strain Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is the complex of eye vision problems related to near work that are experienced during or related to computer use.

The use of hand-held devices such as ‘smart phones’ and PDA’s can also cause eye strain. Eye Strain & Hand-held Devices

Prolonged usage of these devices may lead to a host of issues: Eyestrain Headaches Burning or tired eyes Loss of focus Blurred or double vision Neck & shoulder pain Eye Strain & Hand-held Devices

Ease the Strain Give it a rest Size up Sharpen up Reduce glare

Ease the Strain Look down Think blink Diet and nutrition

Ultra-Violet Radiation Exposure to the sun’s ultra-violet (UV) radiation can damage the eyes.

Ultra-Violet Radiation Non-solar sources of UV radiation include: Arc welding Curing of paints and inks Disinfection of equipment in hospitals and laboratories

Ultra-Violet Protection Wear protective eyewear any time the eyes are exposed to UV rays. Choose quality sunglasses that block out percent of UV radiation and screen out 75 – 90 percent of visible light. Clear lenses can be treated with a coating to protect eyes from UV.

New occupational tasks can result in new vision needs. A change in one’s job tasks may require different focusing abilities. This is especially true for workers over 40 years old, whose eyes are susceptible to presbyopia, a natural loss of focusing ability.

Eye Safety at Home & Play Many people are conditioned to wear protective eyewear at work, but forget to wear it at home and during recreational activities such as: Yard work Hammering Wood working Grinding Playing sports – baseball, hockey, golf

In Conclusion… Eye safety in the workplace is proven to prevent loss of vision. To further ensure healthy vision be sure contact your optometrist to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.

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