Promoting Eye Health in the Workplace
Good retinal health is crucial for your wellness and productivity in the workplace. Whether you operate a factory or run a corporate office, there are ways to promote proper eye care among your team and prevent poor vision, eye strain, and accidents. Let’s discuss why retinal health is important at work and how you can encourage your team to take better care of their eyes.
The Importance of Eye and Retinal Health at Work
If you want to be as productive as possible, you must be able to not only see well but be comfortable. Something as simple as eye strain can negatively impact performance, causing you to take more breaks or work slower.
Unfortunately, eye-related injuries in the workplace are common. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 20,000 eye injuries occur annually at work. These injuries can range from simple eye strain to severe eye trauma from hazards like flying shards of metal. Fortunately, most these injuries are preventable if you put the right precautions in place.
Tips for Promoting Retinal Health
No matter what line of work you’re in, you can promote eye health and spread the word to your team. Here are some ideas to get started:
Invest in Protective Eyewear
If your workplace demands physical labor or the use of tools and materials like metal, glass, and wood, protective eyewear can benefit employees and prevent eye-related injuries. If you already require protective eyewear, conduct regular check-ins to ensure they’re holding up. Encourage employees to speak up if they notice any defects or if their eyewear doesn’t fit them properly.
If you work with hazardous chemicals or other materials it is important to be aware of the location of the eye wash station and how to properly use it. Accidents happen, but you may limit or prevent significant damage by acting fast after any exposure to your eyes.
Dealing With Screen Time
If you work on computers most of the day, the 20-20-20 rule can help prevent eye strain. Every 20 minutes, you should look at an object about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You can also encourage others to avoid sitting too close to the computer screen, minimize brightness on their screen settings, and use blue light glasses to reduce strain.
Don’t forget to blink! The average blink rate decreases when using and focusing on a screen which can lead to eye dryness and result in blurry vision and strain. Using artificial tears when using screens for extended periods of time can also help limit dryness.
Educate Your Team
Ensure your team understands any hazards in the workplace that may impact their retinal health. Offer them resources to help them protect their eyes and teach them how to recognize an eye injury both within themselves and in their coworkers. You should also encourage yearly eye exams.
Good Retinal Health Makes a Great Workplace
Encouraging proper retinal and eye health can make for a happier, more productive team. If any employee experiences an eye-related issue, ensure they get it checked out right away. At the Retina Group of Florida, we specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the retina and related structures of the eye. For more information or to schedule an appointment with our expert specialists, contact us today.