The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports around 2,000 U.S.workers sustaining job-related eye injuries each day that require medical treatment. In response, March has officially been declared Workplace Eye Wellness month—dedicated to educating the importance of eye safety. While engineers and mechanics are no stranger to eye safety videos, you probably didn’t have to watch one for your desk job; but that doesn’t mean you’re out of the danger zone.
Office Hazards
While a stray paper clip or copier rays aren’t exactly what we mean, there is a little risk to the seemingly-harmless job of pushing paper around. In addition to the havoc it can wreak on your back and joints, your vision also takes a hit: it’s called computer vision syndrome (CVS).
Similar to carpal tunnel, CVS is a repetitive stress injury, meaning it occurs when you perform the same action over and over again each day at work. By repeating the action without stopping for rest or treatment, the condition worsens. Although you may not feel it, there is a serious strain on your eyes from staring at a computer screen all day—especially when you’re looking at papers and back at the screen.
The back and forth motion causes your eyes to continuously refocus and accommodate to the changing images on screen. In addition to that, your eyes are also straining against the glare and light, not to mention the skewed colors. All of these functions put a lot of strain on your eye muscles, causing them to work twice as hard as they would if you were only looking at paper.
As you get older, the flexibility of your eye decreases—meaning that the problems may only get worse. Instead of dismissing the idea of your job being detrimental to your health, talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms:
- Blurred or double vision
- Dry, red eyes
- Severe, chronic headaches
- Neck or back pain
- Other eye irritation
If your job isn’t in an office, don’t think you need to dismiss the warning here completely. If you’re in a potentially harmful environment that could lead to facial injury or debris flying into your eye, make sure you’re utilizing the proper protective eyewear. Healthcare workers, janitorial staff, animal handlers, and other such workers may also want to take special care to avoid infectious diseases through ocular exposure.
Regardless of your occupation, we’re here to look out for you. Please contact us for any questions you may have about how to keep your eyes healthy without compromising your job.
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement or health program, especially if you have existing medical conditions or take prescription medications.