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Eye Safety in the Workplace

7 min read

Written byDanielle Stoken
Reviewed by Jovi Boparai, MD
Danielle StokenEye Health & Wellness ContributorPittsburgh, PA

Bio

I was so excited when I learned about CorneaCare and am honored to share content, tips and stories about dry eye! I am a certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative nutrition so the intersection of nutrition/lifestyle and dry eye disease is one that I am particularly passionate about. Since recently becoming a mom, I care even more about my eye care and self-care and am learning so much through CorneaCare's educational resources.

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: baking sourdough bread
Food: pasta
Superhero: my dad
Guilty pleasure: cold brew coffee (really, any coffee)
Secret power: serious facial recognition/recollection

Training:

Undergraduate: Carnegie Mellon University
Nutrition training: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Jovi Boparai, MD
Jovi Boparai, MDCo-founder & CEO of CorneaCarePhiladelphia, PA

Bio

Dry eye disease is tough! I get it. I have struggled with dry eyes for several years from contact lens use, and from spending countless hours looking at computer screens. In college, my dry eyes got so bad that I couldn’t wear contact lenses, because of a constant “foreign body sensation” when I had them in. I had to stop reading every 30 minutes because my eyes would start to burn and my vision would get blurry. I tried a plethora of treatments and nothing seemed to work. Dry eye disease was not only impacting my eyes, but also my emotional wellbeing. It was preventing me from enjoying life, and getting in the way of my professional training. I felt overwhelmed, frustrated and hopeless.

It was only when I realized that my dry eyes were linked to my lifestyle, environment and overall health did things start to make sense. I noticed that on days when I spent less time on the computer, my eyes felt better. My symptoms would flare when it was windy, or when there was low humidity. I knew that if I wanted to get ahead of my dry eyes, I needed to not only treat my eyes, but to also address my lifestyle. I started a consistent regimen of artificial tears and eyelid hygiene. I switched from monthly contact lenses to daily contact lenses. I started taking scheduled breaks from looking at a computer. I ate a healthier diet focused on anti-inflammatory/antioxidants foods, and I bought a humidifier for my room. In the beginning doing all this seemed impossible, but over time it became part of my usual routine. Not only did my eyes feel better, but I was overall healthier and happier! Turns out what is good for my eyes, was also good for my mind and body. I carried this lesson with me as I started my career to become an ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon.

Because of my personal journey and professional training, I believe dry eye treatment starts by listening to and empowering the patient. I listen for the struggles and cue in on their strengths, while picking up on their lifestyle. Only then do we together start building a treatment plan that incorporates good eye hygiene with small, but impactful lifestyle changes. Our sight is our most important sense, and it is intimately linked to our very being. I want dry eye patients to not only get their dry eyes under control, but to also enjoy good mental and physical health, and live a fulfilling life. What is good for the eyes should also strengthen the mind and fortify the body!

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: vintage watches
Food: peanut butter
Superhero: Superman
Guilty pleasure: desserts
Secret power: has never had a headache

Training:

Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh Honors College
Medical school: Weill Cornell Medicine
Ophthalmology residency: Wills Eye Hospital.

Eye Safety in the workplace can prevent serious injury

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Table of Contents

Key points

  • Eye injuries can occur in any workplace, including high-risk environments, offices and at home.
  • Understanding your work environment and taking preventative measures can help stop workplace eye injuries before they happen.
  • Practicing eye health and wellness at work and in your everyday life can ensure you stay healthy, happy and productive.

Keywords

Eye injuries, eye safety, workplace eye wellness

Eye Safety in the Workplace: Taking the first step

Because of the amount of time spent at work, practicing eye safety in the workplace is a key piece of your overall eye health and wellness strategy. The best way to keep your eyes safe at work is to understand how the eyes can be affected by your work environment and take preventative measures to avoid eye injuries. Whether you work in a high-risk environment like a manufacturing floor or sit at a desk all day, learning the basics of workplace eye safety can protect your eye health for the long term. 

Understanding how the eyes work

Before diving into eye safety in the workplace, let’s get to know our eyes better. At CorneaCare, we believe that understanding how the eyes work will empower you to keep them safe. 

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    Your eye’s ocular surface

    The ocular surface includes the cornea, tear film, the conjunctiva, and the eyelids. The ocular surface plays a vital role in protecting your eyes at work and in everyday life. Because of its exposure to the environment, the ocular surface experiences the most frequent injuries and infections.¹ The ocular surface also helps you see clearly and keeps your eyes comfortable, both important to function on the job!

    The tear film and its layers

    Your tear film sits on top of the cornea, and is comprised of three unique layers:²

    • Mucin layer – the “glue” 
    • Aqueous layer – the “water”
    • Lipid layer – the “oil”
    Tear film

    The mucin layer is secreted by cells located in your conjunctiva, the clear film that lines the white part of your eye. The aqueous layer is the largest layer and comes from the lacrimal gland. The lipid layer is comprised of oils secreted from your meibomian glands which line the eyelid margin. 

    The mucin layer attaches to the cornea, the aqueous layer sits on top of the mucin layer, and the lipid layer sits on the aqueous layer. All three of these layers work together to stabilize the tear film. When we look at computer screens for an extended period of time, our blinking decreases, which causes us to not adequately replenish our tear film. This can lead to the classic symptoms of dry eyes like burning, grittiness, redness, watering eyes, and itchiness. 

    Key symptoms of dry eye disease

    The shield: your eyelids

    The eyelids protect the ocular surface from potential eye hazards, and help with stabilizing your tear film. In addition to protective eyewear, practicing good eyelid hygiene can help keep your eyes safe and functioning properly. 

    Eyelid hygiene routine

    Common workplace eye injuries and how to prevent them

    There are very few, if any, jobs that don’t pose some risk to the health and safety of your eyes. Think about it, most jobs require looking at screens, driving, working in hot or dry temperatures, exposure to chemicals, sitting under overhead lights, exposure to UV rays, or even just being in air conditioning. All of these things can be potential irritants to the eyes. Our environment affects eye health and since we spend most of our time working, our work environment directly impacts our eyes. 

    Indoor conditions affecting dry eye disease

    High-risk environments

    According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), each day, about 2000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment.³ These injuries often result in lost wages and costly workers’ compensation claims that negatively impact both the employee and employer. The good news is that employees can prevent most injuries by wearing safety glasses, face shields, and in some cases, full-face respirators. 

    The most common workplace eye injuries occur in high-risk environments where workers are exposed to flying particles such as dust, debris or small pieces of metal or glass. If workers fail to wear appropriate eye protection, these small particles can strike or scrape the ocular surface. Even larger objects like tools can cause blunt-force trauma to the eyeball. Ouch!

    Chemical splashes from cleaning products or industrial chemicals used in manufacturing can cause burns to the eyes. Building materials like wood, staples and nails can actually puncture the eye and lead to permanent vision loss, something no employee or employer wants to experience. 

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    If your worksite poses a risk to your eyes, the steps below may help prevent work-related eye injuries:

    1. Review the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) eye hazard assessment to understand potential eye hazards at your worksite.⁴ Your employer should have signs posted clearly displaying any hazards. If you’re unsure where to locate the assessment at your worksite, ask your supervisor or health and safety team.
    2. Know where to locate the first aid kits and eyewash stations. Every second counts when it comes to treating your eyes after an injury, so you want to ensure you know where to locate first aid and the eyewash station in an emergency. 
    3. Ensure the protective equipment you use for your eyes and face is in good condition, and make sure you wear it consistently. OSHA will recommend the proper eye protection for your specific job.⁴ Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be provided by your employer and can include safety glasses, face shields, full-face respirators, and side shields. If you ever feel that your PPE does not safely protect your eyes or provide adequate face protection, discuss it with your supervisor or health and safety team. 

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    Digital eye strain

    Office employees and even those who work from home are not exempt from practicing eye safety in the workplace. While you may not have to worry about flying objects or chemical splashes, there are still steps you can take to keep your eyes safe from digital eye strain.

    Digital eye strain, sometimes referred to as “computer vision syndrome,” is what many individuals experience when viewing digital screens for an extended time.⁵ If you work in front of a computer all day, you may notice that your eyes feel dry after some time, and your vision gets blurry. You may even experience head, neck and shoulder pain from poor posture or straining to see the screen.

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    We mentioned before that when you stare at a screen for too long, your blinking decreases, and the tear film that keeps your eyes feeling comfortable starts to lose hydration, causing discomfort. However, there are some steps you can take to alleviate digital eye strain and even prevent it in some cases. 

    1. Adjust your computer screen height. Try to position your screen about 4 or 5 inches below eye level and between 20-28 inches away from your eyes. If your computer screen is higher than your line of sight, more of your ocular surface is exposed, leading to dry eye symptoms. 
    2. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. After 20 minutes of looking at your screen, look into a distance about 20 feet away for 20 seconds to give your eyes a rest. 
    3. Minimize blue light. Utilize the blue-light blocking features on your computer screen or mount an anti-glare screen on your monitor to prevent eye strain. Non-prescriptive blue-light blocking glasses may also help. 
    4. Start an eyelid hygiene routine. Because your eyes and eyelids work together to maintain your tear film and protect your eyes, taking care of your eyelids is an important step in keeping your eyes safe. Not sure where to start? Read more about eyelid hygiene here. 
    5. Use the right artificial tears. Artificial tears, or eye drops, can be beneficial in replenishing your tear film and keeping your eyes lubricated and comfortable. Not all artificial tears are created equal, and the type you need will depend on your individual symptoms. Talk with your eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) to discuss the best type for you. 
    6. Get regular eye exams. Visiting your eye doctor for regular eye care is a great way to ensure your eyewear, whether glasses or contact lenses, are adjusted appropriately for your vision. If your prescription is off, you may end up straining to see your screen, causing further damage to your eyesight.

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    Putting it all together

    Our eyes are vulnerable to injury no matter what line of work we’re in. When you drive, you wear a seatbelt to protect your body from injury in case of an accident, so why not protect your eyesight while working to prevent immediate and long-term damage? The best way to prevent injuries from happening is to understand the hazards that exist at your worksite (or at home), wear protective eye and face equipment, take regular breaks from screens and practice good overall eye health and wellness. Eye health and wellness also includes eyelid hygiene which can be a great addition to your overall self-care plan. Using cold or warm compresses and keeping eyelids clean with eyelid wipes can be beneficial to all occupations.  At CorneaCare, we care about you as an individual, and we know firsthand how good eye health can positively impact your quality of life. 

    Lifestyle Changes: balanced diet, working with the weather, taking regular breaks

    What’s next

    To learn more about eye health and safety in the workplace and eye health and wellness in general, check out more articles in our Eye Health and Wellness blog.

    Bibliography

    1. Gipson, Ilene K. “The Ocular Surface: The Challenge to Enable and Protect Vision.” NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2886589/. Accessed 2 March 2022.
    2. Tsun, Trent, and Andrew A. Dahl. “Dry Eye Disease (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca): Practice Essentials, Background, Anatomy.” Medscape Reference, 3 January 2022, https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1210417-overview#a3. Accessed 2 March 2022.
    3. “Eye Safety | NIOSH.” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/. Accessed 2 March 2022.
    4. “Eye and Face Protection – Standards | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.” OSHA, https://www.osha.gov/eye-face-protection/standards. Accessed 2 March 2022.
    5. “Computer vision syndrome | AOA.” American Optometric Association, https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome?sso=y. Accessed 2 March 2022.

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