How to Avoid Eye Injuries at Work

Learn how to keep your eyes safe from work-related injuries no matter what kind of work you do.

Eye injuries at work are more common than you probably think. Even though a lot of people assume they know how to keep their eyes safe, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, approximately 20,000 eye injuries occur every year, costing approximately $300 million a year in lost productivity. But it’s not just manual, physical labor that can cause eye injuries—staring at a computer screen for hours and hours can also take a toll on your vision. In this article, we’ll discuss how to keep your eyes safe no matter what you do for a living.

First, let’s talk about what causes eye injuries in a factory setting. The biggest hazards for eyes are flying shards of metal and glass, malfunctioning tools, wood splinters or shavings, and/or spilled chemicals. Luckily, injuries from these hazards are over 90% preventable by wearing the appropriate protective eyewear: safety glasses with side protection, goggles (for chemicals), or specially-designed safety glasses for particularly hazardous radiation or chemicals. Make sure all your eyewear is designed to meet both OSHA and the American National Standard Institute guidelines, and be sure to keep eyewear on at all times.

Prolonged computer use can also cause eye problems. It’s become so common in the recent years that there’s now a name for it: “Computer Vision Syndrome.” The average American spends seven hours a day on a computer, which can make eyes work harder than they were meant to. This is because words on the screen have blurriness, glare, and contrast issues, which requires more work from eyes than simply reading from a printed page, work which can result in headaches, eye strain and blurred vision. A good way to prevent this is by following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break to focus on something 20 feet away. You could also invest in anti-glare screens or blue light glasses, and position the computer so there’s no glare from outside light sources.

No matter what you do for a living, regular eye exams can help make sure that your eyes stay healthy and aren’t being affected by debris or strain. If you are experiencing pain or trouble seeing, don’t wait to make an appointment with your eye doctor. To schedule an appointment with Sterling Vision, call 866-439-3588 or schedule online.