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  • Eye Health & Wellness

March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

  • Last updated November 21, 2022

7 min read

Danielle Stoken
Written byDanielle Stoken
Jovi Boparai, MD
Reviewed by Jovi Boparai, MD
Danielle Stoken
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.

Mark is workplace eye wellness month

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Table of Contents

Join us in raising awareness for Workplace Eye Wellness during Workplace Eye Wellness Month. It’s important to take steps to avoid eye damage in the workplace.

Keeping your eyes healthy at work is an important step in your overall dry eye treatment plan.

Key Points

  • The Prevent Blindness non-profit organization declared March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month.
  • Because of the amount of time spent at work, taking care of your eyes at work is important in overall eye healthcare, as well as in your dry eye treatment plan.
  • Maintaining good workplace eye health and eye safety is crucial in optimizing productivity and having a good quality of life.
You brush your teeth,
moisturize your skin,
what about your eyes?
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Taking the First Step

At CorneaCare we believe that dry eye disease (DED) is more than just dry eyes! As we’ve shared before, dry eye disease directly impacts your daily life. And as you’ve likely experienced, our jobs directly impact our quality of life.

Good eye health is crucial to being able to function at home and at work. We are happy to join others in the eye health industry in declaring March “Workplace Eye Wellness Month”.¹ Because of the prevalence of blue light, digital screens and environmental factors in the workplace, eye safety at work is important in your overall dry eye treatment plan.

Our goal at CorneaCare is not just to help treat your dry eyes, but to treat the whole you, which includes your work life. We want to give you the tools and skills to be productive and happy at work and beyond.

A Quick Review of Dry Eye Disease

Before we explore how DED is connected to Workplace Eye Wellness Month, let’s review some dry eye basics. DED is also known as dry eye syndrome, ocular surface disease and keratoconjunctivitis sicca.² The main causes of dry eyes are aqueous deficient (decreased tear production) and evaporative (rapid tear evaporation). 

Causes of dry eye disease

With aqueous deficient dry eye disease, your lacrimal glands don’t produce enough tears to lubricate the eye surfaces (the cornea and conjunctiva). With evaporative DED, your body produces enough of your own tears, but they evaporate too quickly because your tear film is unstable.

Common dry eye symptoms include burning, pain, tearing or watery eyes, redness, grittiness, dryness, blurred vision, foreign body sensation, irritation, and eye fatigue. DED is a chronic condition.

Key symptoms of dry eye disease

Your symptoms may get better or worse, but you will typically have dry eyes for life. Some environmental factors can exacerbate dry eyes, like living, working or traveling to dry climates, air pollution, indoor air conditioning and high winds. Workplace and lifestyle risk factors, like extended use of digital screens (laptops, tablets and smartphones) and poor nutrition (low in vitamin A, lipids, and healthy fats and minerals), can worsen dry eyes and lead to vision problems.

Environmental conditions that affect dry eye disease

Even though dry eye disease does not cause vision loss directly, it increases the risk for many vision-threatening complications. Taking care of your eyes at work, and starting dry eye treatments sooner rather than later is important to avoid long-term damage.

There are various treatment options for dry eyes. These include over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears, gels, or ointments, and eyelid hygiene, including warm compresses and eyelid wipes. Other OTC options include oral supplements (omega-3 fatty acids), humidifiers, and air purifiers. If the OTC options don’t work, prescriptions and procedures for dry eyes are also available.  

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DED is a complex condition with many causes and symptoms. The good news is you have several options for treatment. With the proper routine and support, you can thrive at home and at work with dry eye disease.

What is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

Companies across the US have joined together in declaring March “Workplace Eye Wellness Month”. This movement aims to raise awareness of eye strain due to digital devices and provide tips on ways to minimize the harmful effects of increased time spent in front of screens. 

Because the environmental factors present in the workplace can affect dry eye, we are happy to join others in bringing attention to eye health in the workplace. Not only can good eye hygiene and safety practices prevent blindness long term, but they contribute to an overall eye wellness plan to help employees enjoy their time at work and stay productive.

We all know the feeling of having tired, dry and burning eyes after staring at a screen for too long. With simple tips, you can alleviate the symptoms associated with eye strain and continue on with your important work.

Indoor conditions affecting dry eye disease

Even more, it’s important to bring attention to serious hazards in the workplace that can lead to severe eye injuries. The first step in preventing eye injury and maintaining your eye health is being aware of the environment in which you work. Educated yourself about proper eye protection and when to seek medical attention. 

Work-related Eye Injuries

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), thousands of workers are blinded each year due to workplace injuries.³ While Workplace Eye Wellness Month aims to bring awareness to eye damage caused by computer vision syndrome and digital eye strain, it’s important to note that work-related eye injuries can occur in many occupations that don’t require heavy screen time.⁴

The workplace and dry eye disease

Construction workers, heavy machinery operators and manufacturing employees experience some of the highest rates of work-related eye injuries. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) site that the most common causes of eye injuries in these fields include scrapes, burns and poking or penetration.⁵ Dust, debris, harmful radiation and building materials such as cement, wood and small pieces of metal can harm the eyes if employees do not wear proper eye and face protection.

For those of us who sit in front of a computer each day, eye injuries can be less abrupt, but just as damaging over time. Working on a computer often means their eyes don’t get enough rest, tend to blink less, and may experience vision impairment over time. These can impact dry eye disease and contribute to or worsen dry eye symptoms. 

Workplace Eye Safety Tips

Thanks to the organizations bringing awareness to workplace eye wellness, many eye injuries and damage can be prevented with a proper hazard assessment. Such an assessment helps employers understand the hazards that affect workers and plan accordingly.

Safely protecting your eyes from damage is one important step you can take to reduce the effects of dry eye disease and maintain your overall eye wellness. Remember, treating your dry eye disease affects your whole body, mind and daily quality of life!

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The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) released updated guidelines for eye safety at work due to the increase in eye injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic.⁶ Because so many workers have gone into new workforces where they may be unaware of work-related eye injuries, it’s more important than ever to ensure each workplace has an eye safety program put into place for eye injury prevention.

For especially-hazardous work environments, the AAO suggests face shields, protective eyewear, welding helmets, full-face respirators and goggles. These tools can help prevent flying debris and dust from irritating the eyes. Safety eyewear, including prescription safety glasses, should be worn anytime you are around flying objects, dust or small particles that can damage the eye. 

Because blue light from screens can be an eye hazard, many specialists suggest wearing blue-light-blocking glasses. Available in prescription or non-prescription form, blue light glasses can prevent digital eye strain. While blue light glasses can help reduce eye strain and eye fatigue, you may still experience symptoms of dry eyes. A good eye hygiene plan is essential in managing your dry eye symptoms.

Taking timed breaks from digital screens and placing computer screens at or below eye level can make a big difference. Increasing font size and using the accessibility features on your devices can help reduce eye strain and eye fatigue.

Get regular eye exams to ensure your eyewear is adjusted correctly and your eyes are not overly straining to read, drive or perform essential functions of your job. 

Lifestyle Changes

What to do if Your Eyes are Injured at Work

Although there are several ways to keep your eyes safe at work, unfortunately, accidents can happen. Injuries can range from minor to severe. As the patient, you may not know how bad your injury is. If you suspect or know that your eyes have been injured at work, it’s important to seek help from an eye care professional who may recommend medical treatment. 

Because dry eyes can worsen due to injury and long-term use of digital screens, we recommend working with an eyecare professional to diagnose any immediate issues and develop a plan to treat them. They should be able to help you develop a long-term strategy for taking care of your eyes.

A doctor-recommended strategy combined with lifestyle and hygiene modifications can significantly improve your eye health and dry eye symptoms. 

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Putting it All Together

We hope that you’ll join us in raising awareness for Workplace Eye Wellness during Workplace Eye Wellness Month. Your eyes can be exposed to dangers in the workplace, but there are ways to stay safe.

Talk to your employer if you are concerned about hazardous eye situations at work. Ask for help coming up with a solution for your eye health. If you do experience an eye injury at work, seek help right away from a trusted eye care professional. 

Keeping your eyes healthy at work is an important step in your overall dry eye treatment plan. We want you to find joy in what you do every day, and that includes your daily activities and productivity at work.

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What’s Next

Want to learn more about dry eye disease and overall eye health? We recommend taking our Dry Eye 101 course!

If you’ve already taken it, amazing! Check out more articles in the Continuing Education section below.

Bibliography

  1. Prevent Blindness. “March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month.” Prevent Blindness, 25 February 2021, https://preventblindness.org/march-is-workplace-eye-wellness-month/. Accessed 10 February 2022.
  2. Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society. Dry Eye Workshop II Report. Ocular Surface Journal, 2017. TFOS DEWS II Report, https://www.tfosdewsreport.org/.
  3. OSHA. “Eye and Face Protection – Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.” OSHA, 2022, https://www.osha.gov/eye-face-protection. Accessed 11 February 2022.
  4. American Optometric Association. “Computer vision syndrome | AOA.” American Optometric Association, https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome?sso=y. Accessed 11 February 2022.
  5. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). “Eye Safety | NIOSH.” CDC, 2013, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/default.html. Accessed 11 February 2022.
  6. Dang, Shirley. “Prevent Workplace Eye Injuries During COVID-19.” American Academy of Ophthalmology, 12 January 2021, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries-work. Accessed 11 February 2022.

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