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-relatedeye injuries.
• Eye strain is the most common eye problem for those who use computers frequently at work.
Eye Strain
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 99 -100 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.
Questions?
Thank You!
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