Occupational Eye Hazards: A Guide to Protecting Your Eyes in High-Risk Industries

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 2,000 workers sustain a job-related eye injury every day that requires medical attention. While you might automatically conclude that most of these eye injuries occur in high-risk scenarios, the reality is that a significant number also take place in the office.

The bottom line is that any occupation can pose risks to your eyes, which is why it’s essential to talk with your doctor about your specific high-risk exposures during your comprehensive eye care sessions.

Below are several industries that have the highest eye injury instances, along with several different methods you can use to help protect your eyes.

Industries With High Risk of Eye Injury

Most industries, even office work, come with their own hazards. Let’s take a high-level look at each one.

Construction

Construction work involves a variety of tasks that vastly increase the chances of sustaining eye injuries. Examples include:

• Nailing;
• Welding arcs;
• Small particles and dust from hammering, grinding, sanding, and masonry work;
• Larger pieces of flying wet or dry cement, metal slivers from wire, and wood chips ejected by tools, the wind, or from a worker;
• Falling debris from construction materials;
• Chemical spills;

For these reasons, the CDC reports that the construction industry has a much higher rate of eye injuries than any other.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing involves fabricating, processing, or preparing products from raw materials and commodities. Employees often use high-risk tools, machinery, and materials, which is why the industry has its fair share of eye injuries.

Manufacturing employees are especially prone to eye injuries if they work in assembly, sanding, and grinding positions, and if they’re exposed to caustic chemicals or dust.

Automotive Repair

Auto service technicians are exposed to many eye-related dangers during the course of their work, including dust, sparks, airborne metal particles, bench grinders, and welding torches, to name just a few.

Despite the inherent risk of eye injuries in the automotive repair industry, whether here in Detroit or elsewhere, the American Academy of Optometry reports that many mechanics don’t wear proper eye protection due to a lack of availability and inadequate training.

Healthcare

The most significant risks for eye injuries in the healthcare field are related to viral and bacterial pathogens transmitted by blood or other bodily fluids.

Dentists are especially prone to eye injuries. The tools they use for working on teeth can create fine airborne particulates or larger particles that can become lodged in the eyes and cause damage, which is why proper protection is important.

Office

According to some research, between 50% and 90% of individuals who work in front of a computer screen daily can experience a combination of symptoms such as blurred or double vision, dry or irritated eyes, headaches, and neck and back pain.

Cumulatively, this is known as “computer vision syndrome,” which is caused by eye strain from sitting in front of a screen for too long without taking breaks.

Keep in mind that although the blue light emitted from computer screens carries high energy levels, there’s little evidence to suggest that it alone causes eye damage, such as retinal tearing or detachment.

Eye Protection in Manual vs. Office Work

While the risk of sustaining eye injuries is much greater with manual labor, there are still several ways you can damage your eyes in the office. Examples include:

• Computer screens — Eye strain and related headaches from staring for too long without taking appropriate breaks;
• Dust — Irritation and scratching from airborne particulates;
• Foreign objects — These become stuck in the eyes and can lead to cuts or scrapes on the cornea.

Whereas manual labor requires more robust eye protection, office workers can benefit from computer glasses that reduce glare, along with the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes. Some models are also impact-resistant to help avoid dust and other particulates from entering your eyes.

Manual Work Eye Safety

When performing manual labor, it’s especially important that you protect your eyes. Here are some measures that can help you accomplish this:

• Protective goggles — Wear protective goggles when working with high-risk materials, such as chemicals, which can drip or splash into your eyes. Many higher-end goggles can be worn over safety glasses and feature indirect ventilation that protects while also reducing fogging.
• Safety glasses — Most safety glasses, many of which look similar to clear wraparound sunglasses, are made from a strong, lightweight polycarbonate material that resists breaking if struck by high-impact particulates.
• Face shields — Face shields are made from sheets of acetate, Mylar, PETm polycarbonate, or other types of transparent plastic film that cover and protect your entire face.
• Other protective equipment — Other eye protection equipment includes prescription eyewear that doesn’t distort your vision, as well as sunglasses for people working outside.
• Eyewash stations — These feature a sprayer that splashes water into the worker’s eyes and face to help flush away chemicals.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), employees with contact lenses should not wear them while working with chemicals that present an eye irritation or injury hazard.

The good news is that LASIK — an inpatient surgical procedure that changes the shape of your cornea — can help you see better without contacts.

Office Safety

Even if you work in an office, it’s still essential to protect your eyes from potential damage. Here are some methods that can help you accomplish this:

• Location of the computer screen — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that you keep your computer screen between 20 and 40 inches in front of your eyes, which helps reduce excessive fatigue, eye strain, neck pain, and back pain.
• Lighting and screening glare — You want enough ambient lighting to see the text on your screen, but not so bright that it causes glare. If it does, you can attach an anti-glare cover over your monitor.
• Blinking — Staring at a screen reduces your blinking rate, which can lead to dry, burning, tired eyes. Instead, make it a habit to take a vision break every 15 minutes and blink frequently.
• Rest breaks — Speaking of which, you should follow the 20-20-20 rule to minimize eye strain, where you take a break every 20 minutes, stare at a spot 20 feet away, and hold your gaze for 20 seconds.
• Blue-light glasses — These models feature special lenses that filter out high-energy blue light from computer screens, which can help reduce eye strain and fatigue.