Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Workplace Eye Wellness Month is celebrated in the month of March. It is promoted by many organizations across the U.S. including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Optometric Association, and Prevent Blindness. Save Your Vision month falls in March, but there is a special need to address vision and eye-related concerns at the workplace, where so many adults spend hours a day.
What are some common workplace eye injuries? External injury can result from dust, scrap, and other tiny, lightweight objects entering your eye. Any sharp object in the office can also cause serious damage. Chemical burns are a common source of injury for cleaning staff and medical professionals.
Why is it important to protect your eyesight? “Begin with safe eyes, finish with safe eyes,” is a common slogan about eye safety. This cannot be overemphasized because eyesight is one of our most important senses, the loss of which may cause significant changes in our daily lives.
HOW TO OBSERVE WORKPLACE EYE WELLNESS MONTH:
- Eat Right – Apart from carrots, there are many fruits and vegetables that are good for eyesight. The “super-ingredient”, beta-carotene, is also available in kale and spinach. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are also important for eye health. These are found in fish, microalgae, and evening primrose oil.
- Practice good habits and posture – The 20-20-20 rule is a simple and effective practice that all of us can adopt in our daily lives. If you are sitting in front of screen for more than 20 minutes, take a break, get up and look at an object 20 feet away from you for at least 20 seconds.
- Organize a meeting at your workplace – March is a great time to review what your organization is doing to protect employees’ eyesight. You can start a conversation with your team or boss about their experience and decide on steps to improve the situation. Posters are a great way to highlight the importance of the issue and can also provide actionable items for both employers and employees.
5 FACTS ABOUT EYE INJURIES THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND:
- Thousands are affected every day – More than 2,000 American workers face eye injuries every day.
- Safety eyewear works – Goggles, face shields, and helmets can mitigate the impact of up to 90% of eye injuries suffered.
- Blinking helps – Another very easy rule to practice avoiding eye dryness is blinking regularly.
- Blue light is bad for vision – Blue light is emitted by digital screens as well as LED’s and can be stopped by special lenses.
- Curved monitors are better – Since curved monitors allow us to look at the full screen easier, it reduces the load on our eyes.
For more information, please visit www.preventblindness.org
