March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

 

Approximately 25,000 Americans visit the emergency room due to a workplace eye injury each year.

For those of you not in an office setting, use proper eye protection such as non-prescription and prescription safety glasses, goggles, face shields, and welding helmets!

If a chemical gets splashed into your eye, get yourself to an eyewash station or jump in the shower to give your eyes a thorough rinsing. Remove your contact lenses if you are wearing them and do NOT rub your eyes. Then immediately get seen by your eye doctor or the emergency department!

Not all work injuries are associated with “outdoor” jobs – they can happen indoors too! Studies have shown that Computer vision syndrome is absolutely real and is characterized by dry eyes, headaches, eye stain, and neck/back pain.  To keep your eyes comfortable, follow these steps:

1. Check screen position: Ensure your screen as at a right angle away from a direct light source

2. Consider prescription computer glasses to ensure better comfort.

3. Blink often! Use an over-the-counter artificial tear (Systane, Refresh) to keep those eyes lubricated.

4. Drink lots of water!

5. Adhere to our 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes they break they need to reduce that fatigue!

6. Schedule your regular comprehensive eye examination.  I cannot emphasize enough the importance of these exams. If you have any concerns or are experiencing changes with your eyesight, please do not delay in giving us a call (775-783-1111) and scheduling an appointment!

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Brewer