Eye safety tips to prevent injury

Eye safety at work

Not every job will require safety goggles, but many work environments may have other potential safety risks for your eyes. It’s important to know what those might be and how to practice eye safety in the workplace.

Safety goggles meet OSHA requirements

Safety goggles are among the top eye protection safety tips. They should comply with the eye and face protection standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Your workplace should comply with the standards and provide safety goggles to you since they will be tailored to specific hazards.

Use face shields

Some careers require wearing face shields, which will also comply with the OSHA eye and face protection standards. They protect your eyes, nose and mouth. 

Learn the location of the emergency eye wash station

Eye wash stations thoroughly wash your eyes with a continuous water flow. These remove hazardous materials that might have entered your eye and help prevent permanent damage from injuries. 

Install barriers in debris areas

Workplaces that handle debris or are undergoing construction should have barriers in place to help protect you from dust and other particles that could be harmful.

Eye protection from computer screens

Most jobs today use a computer, tablet, phone or other technology. While screens might not threaten physical injury, they can pose other vision-related risks or posture issues while working.

Wear blue-light-blocking glasses

Screens emit blue light, a short, high-energy wave of light that’s only slightly less powerful than UV light. Blue light exposure has been linked to sleep disruption, eyestrain and potentially serious eye health concerns.

While your eyes are equipped with their own protection against retinal damage, they can’t block blue light. Blue-light-blocking glasses are a simple solution. You can get them for eye protection safety at most grocery stores or online.

Adjust screen brightness

Many devices have built-in protections against blue light damage and eyestrain. You can go into your settings to reduce the screen brightness and turn on a blue light filter. 

Use eye drops 

If left untreated, dry eyes can promote double vision and a higher risk for eye infections. Artificial tears are intended to replace the tears your eyes aren’t producing. Avoid eye drops that claim to reduce redness, as they work by shrinking the blood vessels that can make dry eye worse. Talk to your eye doctor about the best option.

Use the 20-20-20 rule

To reduce eyestrain, ophthalmologists created the 20-20-20 rule that anyone can use. After staring at a screen for 20 minutes, you will stare at something else 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Set an alarm to remind yourself. 

Eye safety at home

You might not be performing science experiments at home, but your eyes might still be subjected to potential dangers. Consider these eye safety tips at home.

Wear safety goggles 

Safety goggles are inexpensive and can come in handy if a project goes awry. For example, handling power tools, doing yard work or anything that could result in something bursting, breaking or spraying particles.

Always read labels when using chemicals

Some chemicals can have tragic consequences, including blindness. Read the warning labels on chemicals you use for cleaning and eradicating weeds. It will tell you what to do if the product comes in contact with your eyes.

Wash your hands

Hand hygiene is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect our health, including our eyes. Wash your hands when you return home, after using the restroom or after handling a chemical product, so you don’t transfer something harmful to your eyes. 

Protect your eyes while cooking

How can your kitchen harm your eyes? Hot oil or boiling water could spatter. Cutting onions can trigger intense tear production and burn for some people. Cutting hot peppers can transfer capsaicin to your eyes. Wearing goggles can help.

Visit an urgent care for eye injury

If you need help assessing and treating an eye injury, go to your nearest urgent care location. We are open seven days a week and equipped to help adults and children. You can walk in without an appointment, or you can check in online. We’ll have you back to feeling better in no time.