First, with respect to last week’s blog, we at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley
wish to congratulate Matthew
McConaughey and Jared Leto for their Oscar-winning performances (along with
wearing shades in style) in “The Dallas Buyers Club.” The Academy has voted, the red carpet
has been rolled up, and now…onto a new topic for a new month.
We all know how the goal of making New Year’s resolutions
plays out: we are determined to make one or more changes that we swear we are
going to keep – only to let them eventually fall by the wayside. But who says
you have to wait until the beginning of a new year to make a change for the
better? When you fully and truly realize that something is beneficial for you,
it is easier to adapt to it – and stick to it, regardless of the time of year.
As this is the first edition for March, we ask all of you
who are employed – part-time, full-time, and overtime – to begin this month by
thinking about (and adapting to) something that we all at some point take for
granted, which is eye wellness in the workplace.
From this point on, keep in mind that if it’s March…it must
be “Workplace Eye Wellness Month.”
Eyestrain or eye injury when performing on the job is very
serious and happens all too often, as this recent infographic
from the American Academy of
Ophthalmology explains in detail. One statistic that stands out (spoiler
alert) is that 90% of work-related eye injuries are preventable. To prove this
point, it is mandatory for those who work with machinery and are exposed to
potentially vision-threatening objects such as flying or broken wood, glass,
stone or chemicals, to wear goggles or some kind of protective eyewear. (If it
were not mandatory, it would be second nature for anyone with a construction or
manufacturing job to buy or request a pair.) A recent article on Saftey.BLR.com®
offers a summary of the eye and face protection standards established by the
Occupational Health & Safety Administration. These include having
supervisors note any potential “injury patterns” that take place in a
particular part of a factory or plant, having first-aid procedures at the ready
and the setting up of eyewash stations, among other practices. Another rule
(and one that has been mentioned in this blog countless times), is to have your
eyes checked on a regular basis.
Now…we move from the factory to the office, where things are
much safer, right? (Not so fast…)
We’re not conscious of it, but our vision gets overtaxed
(and is at risk, we might add), in an office setting. With advancements in
technology, more employees find themselves sitting in front of computer screens
of some kind or other. They may not know it, but they are at risk of getting a
condition known as Computer Vision Syndrome. Eyestrain among white collar
employees is at an all-time high (and the numbers will only increase). With
some sage suggestions from our friends at CooperVision®,
to offset the possibility of Computer Vision Syndrome zeroing in on you, make
it a point to practice the “20/20/20 Rule.” This is how it works: you are
sitting at your computer screen. After 20 minutes – take a 20-second break –
and look at something (other than the screen) 20-feet away. Also, get into the
habit of blinking every so often to prevent your eyes from drying out, and try
to take “mini breaks” by standing, stretching, and walking around for a (short)
while. If you have the money, and are inclined to do so, you may want to look
into buying specialized computer eyewear. Finally (we said it before, and we’ll
say it again), schedule your eye exam. Follow the above suggestions, and the
odds will be in your favor in avoiding (or at least minimizing) Computer Vision
Syndrome.
Well, there you have a variety of precautions, safety tips,
or whatever term you wish to apply to the importance of taking care of your
eyes in the workplace, be it a factory or office. Thanks for reading. Keep your sites on healthy vision (it’s your
latest resolution, isn’t it?).
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