March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

Optometrists will be front and center during the month of March as several organizations put the focus on eye health and eye safety as we head into Spring and eventually the Summer seasons. Prevent Blindness, the nation’s oldest eye health and safety nonprofit, has declared March as Workplace Eye Wellness month and is providing sight-saving resources to employees and employers alike. In addition to Prevent Blindness, other organizations, including the American Optometric Association and the Centers for Disease Control, are focusing on various eye health and safety programs this month. Prevent Blindness is providing free resources, including an overview of proper eye protection and safety glasses for various industries, as well as information on the effects of extended digital screen use.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 15,730 eye injuries involving days away from work in 2020. Proper eye protection minimizes the risk of significant eye injury. Prevent Blindness recommends that the type of eye protection that should be used depends on the hazards in the workplace.

For example, someone working in an area that has particles, flying objects, or dust, should wear safety glasses with side protection (side shields). If working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers, or fiber optics) special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets designed for that task should be worn. Click here for more resources on this health topic from VisionMonday.