Eye injuries at work are common. Luckily, 90 percent of all workplace eye injuries are preventable with the use of proper safety eyewear.
- Unprotected workers will not knowingly be subjected to environmental hazards.
- Protective eyewear is required whenever there is a reasonable probability eye injury may occur.
- Employers must provide the type of eye protection best suited to the task to be performed. Employees are required to use the eye protectors provided.
A written eye safety program should be implemented in the workplace to help prevent workplace eye injuries.
Employers should consider these tips in developing their safety plan:
- Determine potential of eye injury for the tasks performed.
- Decide how best to protect against the injury, e.g., dark lenses for welding, face-shield for flying objects, tight seal for chemical spills, etc.
- Identify the visual needs of the job, e.g., magnification, dark lenses, etc.
- Post rules requiring when and how eye protection should be used.
- Provide adequate supplies of eye protection and have them readily available at the work site.
- Instruct employees on appropriate treatment if injury should occur.
- Require vision screening for new employees to determine any eye disease.
HOW TO INSTILL EYE DROPS
Infections, inflammation, glaucoma, and many other eye disorders are treated with eyedrops. Surprisingly, even the small amount of medication in an eyedrop can create significant side effects in other parts of the body. It is important to remember that all medicines have side effects.
There are ways to decrease the absorption of the eyedrop into the system, and to increase the time the eyedrop is on the eye, making the medicine more safe and effective.
- Instilling eyedrops may seem difficult at first but becomes easier with practice. To put in an eyedrop, tilt the head back. Then create a pocket in front of the eye by pulling the lower lid down with an index finger or gently pinch the lower lid outward with the thumb and index finger.
- Let the drop fall into the pocket without touching your eye or eyelid (to prevent contamination of the bottle).
- Immediately after instilling the drop, squeeze the bridge of your nose for two to three minutes with your thumb and forefinger. This prevents most of the drop from travelling down the tear duct to the rest of the body.
- Keep your eyes closed for three to five minutes after instilling the drop. Because the volume of a single drop exceeds the capacity of the surface of the eye, it serves no purpose to use two drops at the same time.
- Before opening your eyes, dab unabsorbed drops and tears from the closed lids with a tissue.
- If you are taking two different types of eyedrops, wait at least five minutes before instilling the second drop
FIRST AID FOR EYE INJURIES
The most common type of eye injury that needs immediate action is a chemical burn. Alkaline materials (hair relaxers, plasters, cements, and ammonia), solvents, acids, and detergents can be harmful to the eye. Eyes should be flushed liberally with water if exposed to any of these agents.
If sterile solutions are readily available, use them to flush the affected eye. If not, go to the nearest sink, shower or hose and begin washing the eye with large amounts of water. If the eye has come in contact with an alkaline agent, it is important to flush the eye for ten minutes or more. Make sure water is getting under the upper and lower eyelids.
Abrasions or scratches of the eyelids or cornea, the clear covering of the eye, occur frequently and can be quite uncomfortable.
In the case of a blow to the eye, do not assume the injury is minor. The eye should be examined thoroughly by an eye doctor because vision-threatening damage could be hidden.
First aid is only the first step for emergency treatment. If you experience pain, impaired vision, or any possibility of eye damage, call your eye doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.
