Workplace Eye Wellness Month: Protect Your Eyes

Eyes are amazing, living structures that in daily life are self-maintaining through tears, internal blood flow, blinking, and other mechanisms. Even when eyes are injured, with the right care they can sometimes heal themselves quite well. Because of their important role in sight, our eyes aren’t covered with as many layers of protection as the rest of our body. It’s up to us to provide protection when necessary, especially at work. Hazards in the workplace can include:

• Grit and sharp particles — even propelled from a nearby workspace
• Powdered and liquid chemicals — airborne or splashes, especially caustic
• Arc flashes and UV light — causing harm to the retina or cornea
• Excessive heat, cold, dryness, or humidity — reducing the eye’s ability to care for itself
• Infection — in laboratories and medical environments, eyes need to be protected from pathogens

Possible Injuries

Damage to the cornea on the surface of the eye is one of the most common workplace eye injuries. Cuts, scratches, or embedded particles and objects can all require a trip to the eye doctor for treatment. Chemical burns and infective agents may require use of an eye wash station and be sure you use it for the required length of time. Chemicals can affect the cornea, sclera, or other surfaces of the eye or adjoining membranes. Impact injuries can also cause damage to the eye or internal structures, so see an eye doctor if you experience trauma to the eye or surrounding bone.

PPE — A Term You Should Know Well

Eye protection for work can vary depending on your concerns. For example, while protective eyewear is enough in some cases, side coverage may be required as well. In areas with caustic vapors or airborne particles, sealed protection may be needed. Check with your company or do proper research for home protection.

Workplace Hazards Extend to Home and Sports

Think about your eyes when you’re performing an activity where you’re distracted by the work at hand, whether it’s at work, playing baseball in the evening, or finishing a construction or automotive project at home. Make sure you take precautions with PPE and eye care whenever hazards might be present.

Eye Injuries Now Can Limit Your Vision Care Options Later

As a leading provider of cataract and LASIK eye surgery in Denver, we’d like to remind you that eye injuries can affect your future eye surgery options, whether you have acquired a dry eye condition or experienced some damage to your cornea.

For help taking care of your eyes including prescription PPE for vision needs and protection, visit ICON Eyecare. Our eye doctors are specialists in every type of eye condition, as well as cataract and LASIK eye surgery in Colorado, providing the most advanced procedures performed by highly experienced ophthalmologists. Give us a call for expert eye care.