Is Your Workplace Taking a Toll on Your Eyes?

During Workplace Eye Wellness Month this March, Hattiesburg Eye Clinic recommends these 7 tips to protect your vision on the job.

Regardless of whether it’s physically demanding, mentally challenging, or both, your job environment could be putting you at risk for eye problems. Workplace accidents or the cumulative effect of certain tasks can adversely impact your eye health.

 But the physicians at Hattiesburg Eye clinic say there are things you can do to minimize work-related eye issues. Here are 7 tips from the team for protecting your vision on the job.

1. Wear appropriate safety glasses. This tip tops our list, particularly if you work with or around heavy machinery. If your work includes the potential flying splinters, metal slivers, or hazardous chemicals, be sure you wear OSHA-approved safety glasses with wrap-around protection.
2. Act fast after an accident. Even if you follow safety protocols, hazardous work environments still carry risk for accidents. If one does occur, take immediate action like flushing out chemicals with clean, flowing water, or seeing an eye doctor ASAP for foreign objects in the eyes (even if it’s already out).
3. Adjust your device screens. Office workers are also prone to eye hazards, particularly via electronic viewing screens. To avoid eyestrain, match the brightness of your screen to your surroundings, and choose dark on white backgrounds. Position screens 4 to 5 inches below your eye level and 20 to 30 inches from your eyes. Reduce glare by angling your screen or using an antiglare screen protector.
4. Take frequent breaks from screen-viewing. Long durations viewing a computer screen can significantly increase eye fatigue, so, be sure to take frequent breaks. Hattiesburg Eye physicians recommend the 20-20-20 screen break rule: every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This practice is short enough not to interrupt you “being in the zone,” but long enough to give your eyes a needed rest.
5. Keep your eyes lubricated. When your eyes feel dry, itchy, or gritty, use over-the-counter lubricating eye drops to restore moisture—or use nature’s remedy by blinking more often. And if dryness becomes a frequent problem, it might be a medical issue—in which case, be sure to see your eye doctor.
6. Wear your prescription glasses. If you wear prescription eyeglasses or contacts, or you use magnifying glasses or “readers” for close-up viewing, be sure to wear them while working. Not seeing clearly at work not only increases the potential for eye strain, it could reduce your productivity by 10% or more.
7. Get regular eye exams. Vision problems on the job may not necessarily stem from the work itself—it might be an underlying medical issue. To stay ahead of any developing vision problems, get a regular eye exam (annually, if you’re over 40). Routine exams could detect serious eye conditions early before they diminish your quality of life—and your job performance.

You depend on your eyesight to do your job, and to do it well. By following these important safety tips, you can help ensure your eyes stay healthy and functional not only at work, but also in the rest of your life. To learn more about Hattiesburg Eye Clinic’s comprehensive vision care services, be sure to visit our website. To find out how Hattiesburg Eye Clinic can improve your vision health, call 601-268-5910 (or toll-free 800-624-8254) or schedule a consultation with us at www.hattiesburgeyeclinic.com/contact-us/