Protecting your eyes from accidents and injury

Summary: Ideas to help you keep your eyes safe when at work or play.

• At work
• In leisure time

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Accidents involving the eyes can have potentially sight-threatening consequences. There are a few simple things that can be done to lessen the risk of activities that may lead to eye damage or accidents.

At work

There are two main strands to eye safety at work. These largely depend on where you work and the type of work that you are involved in.

Office work and computer use

Computers do not cause eye damage, they do not cause permanent changes to the eye, or make eye conditions worse. However there are some important safety considerations:

• Take frequent breaks from your screen. Eyes can become tired when they are being used for long periods. Resting them can avoid headaches which result from tired eyes.
• Make sure there is adequate lighting for your task and that glare on your screen is at a minimum.
• If you need to wear glasses then wear them when using the computer. Some people may need a different pair of glasses especially for computer work. These may be different from ordinary reading glasses. You should ask your optometrist if you feel that your reading glasses aren’t helping with your computer screen.

If you do seem to suffer from headaches when using the computer for long periods even with breaks, then you may also need to have a pair of glasses especially for computer work - your optometrist can assess this

Industrial or chemical work

Industrial work presents obvious dangers for the eye. There is a particular danger for people operating any kind of pressing or grinding equipment.

• Wear the correct eye protection - your employer should provide the correct protection for you and for each job you may have to perform.
• Welding should always be undertaken using a welding mask. The bright light of a welding torch can cause permanent damage to the cornea and the retina.
• All chemicals should be handled with care following manufacturers or site specific instructions.
• People that are watching you work in industrial environments should also wear eye protection as if they are doing the task.

In leisure time

There are some activities which many of us enjoy which may also pose a threat to eye safety, the following may help keep your eyes safe while you have fun.

Do it yourself

Many people enjoy work around the house, however accidents can and do happen. Much can be done to make DIY safer and to help protect your eyes.

• Wear appropriate eye protection. Many activities including sawing, sanding, drilling or hammering can result in eye injuries. It is easy for large particles to enter the eye and cause serious damage. Fine particles of dust and debris can also cause problems. Safety goggles, which can be bought from most DIY shops, can help prevent these accidents entirely.
• Keep tools in good condition and make sure that you use the right tool for the job, as improvising can lead to serious accidents. Also make sure there is enough light to see what you are doing.
• Read manufacturers' instructions carefully, especially when using any kind of chemicals. Some chemicals should only be used while wearing eye protection to avoid chemical splash injuries that can have serious consequences for sight.
• Make sure aerosols are pointing away from your face when they are used.
• Don’t over stretch yourself. Many accidents occur when people attempt jobs that are too difficult for them. Gas and electrical work should always be carried out by qualified individuals.

Gardening

There are a number of simple safety precautions in the garden that can help to prevent eye injuries.

• Always inspect your lawn for debris before you start to mow as flying stones or wood can cause eye damage.
• Be aware of low branches and take care when pruning. Protecting your eyes with safety goggles greatly reduces the risk of accidents.
• Any canes that are used in your garden should be easy to see. Marking the top of the cane something brightly coloured can avoid nasty accidents.
• If you use chemicals in your garden, read manufacturers' guidelines carefully. Most chemicals should be kept away from the eyes and often it is sensible to wear safety goggles when using them, especially over large areas.

Sport

The following are ideas which may help protect your eyes when playing sport.

• Eye injuries can result from people playing racquet sports, so eye protection should be used. This is especially important when playing Squash because of the size of the ball and the speed at which it travels. England Squash, the sport's governing body, has guidelines and rules for the use of eye protectors in their sport. There is also a British standard for eye protection suitable for squash BS7930:1.
• Contact sports such as rugby, martial arts or boxing may have some potential for causing eye damage, and should only be undertaken with proper supervision. If you have had any eye problems in the past, particularly surgery, then you should ask your ophthalmologist whether it is advisable to take part in contact sports.
• If you wear corrective spectacles ordinarily, then it is best to have the same correction when playing sports, both for your ability and for safety. Ask your optometrist if you feel you need a different way of correcting your vision while playing your sport.

(from http://www.rnib.org.uk)