How to avoid suffering from an eye injury
Whether your work involves filling out spreadsheets on a computer or handling heavy machinery, clear vision is essential to getting the job done as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Let’s take a look at five of the main factors that are most important in keeping your eyes safe from harm:
Proper eye protection
The vast majority of eye injuries can be avoided. And the best way to ensure you avoid them or that you have the best possible protection when they do, is to wear the right eye gear.
From non-prescription safety glasses and goggles to face shields, helmets, and full-face respirators, the proper eye protection depends on the type of work or activity you are engaging in.
If you feel what you are doing could harm your eyes in any way, it’s important to talk to a professional who should inform you and provide you with any protective gear you may need to wear.
Your environment
The second best way to prevent eye injuries is to ensure the environment is free from any hazards that could potentially lead to a problem.
Again, hazards are specific to the environment you are in. But a few common things to look out for are sharp, pointy objects, slippery surfaces, objects blocking walkways, loose wires and leads, low-hanging lights, and loose cupboard doors or wall fixtures.
Education/right information
Another of the best ways to avoid eye injuries is to be well educated about how and when they can occur.
For instance, it is estimated that more than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day, with ten to twenty percent of cases leading to temporary or permanent vision loss.
Most of these cases occur in the production, construction and extraction, installation, maintenance, and repair trades. For example, people who work on building sites, are exposed to chemicals or are in an environment in which there are flying objects.
Knowing where and when eye injuries are most likely to happen means you can put the measures in place to protect against them. Not only that, but you can be much more aware and on guard, for the rare times accidents can’t be avoided.
Limit screen time
Limiting screen time may not seem like a way to avoid eye injuries. After all, it’s not like by sitting in front of a computer you are at much danger of an injury.
However, as using a screen for prolonged periods of time can cause eye fatigue, reducing their use means you help keep your vision sharp and clear, and that you stay alert and awake.
The best way to limit your screen time is by using the 20/20/20 method. Basically, for every 20 minutes of screen time, you take a break of at least 20 seconds to look at an object at least 20 feet in the distance.
Taking such breaks and performing such exercises on a regular basis is essential for maintaining good eye health and safeguarding both your near and distance vision.
Regular eye exams
Along with all the above, there are many other preventative measures you can take to avoid eye injuries, such as handling hazardous material or hardware safely and with proper lifting techniques.
However, by far the best way to look after your eye health is to visit your eye doctor and have regular eye examinations.
Eye professionals can spot signs of injury or diseases long before they show visible signs. In this way, having regular check-ups can ensure you spot something early, or something minor you may have missed, and help you retain clear and healthy vision over the long run.
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