One pair and no spare!

By Stephanie Koscher, Director of Marketing and Community Services, Prevent Blindness Ohio

Your eyes! Just think about it. You have two eyes that need protection at work and at home. When it comes to vision health and safety, there is no Plan B! A second pair of eyes are not an option.

Eye injuries often occur at the workplace. In 2013, more than 94,000 individuals received treatment at an emergency room due to a work-related or home-related eye injury.

Power tools cause the largest number of eye injuries per year with welding and workshop grinders, buffers and polishers as a close second and third respectively. Appropriate safety goggles or glasses are vital to avoid eye injuries.

Once someone sustains an eye injury, their chance of developing glaucoma also increases. The importance of preventing eye injuries cannot be overstated.

Eye protection must meet the American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection (ANSI Z-87). The Z-87 notation must be marked on the protection piece. If an individual wears corrective lenses, the industrial lenses can be manufactured to fit a prescription.

Individuals that work outside may be exposing their eyes to dangerous ultraviolet rays. Extended time in the sun can impact the cornea, lens and retina of the eye. Eye diseases, such as cataracts, may develop earlier due to this exposure. Sunglasses that provide he eyes protection from both UVA and UVB rays should be worn at all times.

Everyone should receive a comprehensive eye examination at least every two years.

An individual with diabetes should receive an eye examination every year. Although your doctor’s recommendation is the gold standard, this is a simple guideline for maintaining healthy vision.

Key considerations

• Wear appropriate safety goggles or glasses in a work environment that includes chemicals, flying objects, power tools and lawn equipment.
• Working outdoors requires eye protection from the sunlight’s damaging rays.
• Everyone should receive a comprehensive eye examination a minimum of every two years.
• An eye injury can have lasting effects for a lifetime.

For more information and to access eye safety fact sheets, please visit Prevent Blindness Ohio’s website, or call Prevent Blindness at 800-301-2020.