Free resources for Workplace Eye Wellness Month

Chicago — Eye safety and protection should be a workplace priority, advocacy group Prevent Blindness is reminding employers and employees.

Citing a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Prevent Blindless says U.S. workers suffered nearly 19,000 eye-related injuries and illnesses in 2020. The use of eye safety equipment can protect against flying shards, wood splinters, metal shaving, chemicals and other hazards. All eye safety gear should meet ANSI standards.

For Workplace Eye Wellness Month – observed every March – Prevent Blindness is offering free resources. They include:

• Fact sheets on eye safety
• A First Aid for Eye Emergencies fact sheet
• Shareable social media graphics in English and Spanish
• The Healthy Eyes Educational Series – includes a workplace safety module and is available on demand

The organization is also focused on protecting office workers from digital eyestrain. Symptoms include blurred or double vision, eye fatigue, eye redness or discomfort, and headaches.

To avoid eyestrain, Prevent Blindness recommends workers:

• Place your screen 20 to 26 inches away from your eyes and a little bit below eye level.
• Use a document holder placed next to your screen. It should be close enough so you don’t have to swing your head back and forth or constantly shift your focus.
• Change lighting to reduce glare and harsh reflections. Glare filters over digital screens can also help.
• Use an adjustable chair.
• Choose screens that can tilt and swivel. A keyboard that can be adjusted is also helpful.
• Wear computer glasses with yellow-tinted lenses that block blue light. This can help ease digital eyestrain by increasing contrast.
• Wear anti-reflective lenses to reduce glare, increase contrast and block blue light from digital devices.

“Whether working at a jobsite or in a home office, we must make sure to protect our eyes and vision in order to maintain productivity and independence,” Prevent Blindness President and CEO Jeff Todd said in a press release. “Making vision a priority should be part of everyone’s daily routine to keep our eyes healthy today and for years to come.”