Eye Health in the Workplace: World Sight Day and Preventing Visual Impairments

2023-10-24 16:54:23

On “World Sight Day”: Eye health in the work environment

Visual impairments are among the most disabling disabilities physically, emotionally, socially and economically, and play an essential role in determining an individual’s quality of life.

Increasing incidence of visual impairment

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports indicate that regarding 12 million people, aged 40 and over in the United States, suffer from poor vision. Including 1 million people who are blind, 3 million who suffer from visual impairment following correction, and 8 million who suffer from vision loss due to uncorrected refractive error.

These numbers are expected to double by 2050 due to increasing epidemics of diabetes, other chronic diseases, and rapid aging.

About 6.8 percent of children under the age of 18 in the United States suffer from eye and vision diseases, and regarding 3 percent of them are blind or visually impaired, defined as having difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses.

Dr. Borja Salvador Colla

“World Sight Day”

In the coming years, an aging population and a higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, may exacerbate eye health difficulties. Decreased vision can be caused by a variety of causes, including diabetes and trachoma, eye damage, or conditions such as refractive error, cataracts, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration.

People of all ages are affected by vision loss, but people over the age of 50 are most susceptible. Women, rural communities and ethnic minorities are more likely to suffer from visual impairment than other groups, and are less likely to access care.

To avoid this outcome, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to support universal access to high-quality eye care services, as well as to advocate for the four cornerstones of lifelong eye health: prevention, protection, conservation and prioritization.

According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), there are regarding 350,000 eye injuries that occur in the workplace each year. Of all cases of blindness, 90 percent can be avoided or treated if detected early. Therefore; Awareness plays a vital role in preventing eye diseases and delaying their development.

So; World Sight Day 2023, which was celebrated last week, creates a platform to emphasize awareness of eye health, increase public knowledge of its value and preventive measures, call for improved eye care services, and promote measures to prevent blindness and low vision. This “Day” also aims to encourage cooperation between international organizations, national governments and local communities in order to reduce preventable blindness, provide vision care, and strengthen the eye health system. This “day” emphasizes the need for comprehensive policies and strategies, and to address the social and economic impacts of vision loss, which helps achieve the goals of eliminating avoidable blindness, and ensuring the right of every individual to clear vision and excellent eye health, by drawing attention to these problems.

Eye health in the work environment

On the occasion of “World Sight Health Day,” Dr. Borja Salvador Culla, an ophthalmology consultant at Barraquer Eye Hospital UAE, who has more than 17 years of experience in treating eye diseases, spoke to “Sehhatak.” He stressed that eye health is an essential pillar in our daily and working lives, and that paying attention to eye health in the workplace is essential for eye safety, especially with the increasing use of electronic devices, and that good vision is not just a factor in increasing performance, but also contributes to enhancing safety and employee comfort. And focus on the following:

– Awareness and training regarding the importance of eye health enhances a positive work environment.

– Workshops and training courses strengthen awareness and encourage healthy behaviors.

– Business owners must ensure the provision of high-quality facilities and tools, such as protective glasses and screens with modern glare reduction technologies.

– A shared commitment to eye care provides a healthy and effective work environment.

Ultimately, eye health is a collective responsibility that falls on employers and employees alike.

Dr. Kula added that vision health is a vital part of health and safety standards within the work environment for business success and improving the work of institutions. With increasing reliance on technology, many people spend long hours in front of screens, causing vision problems and eye strain. Therefore, the following measures must be followed to support eye health:

– Lighting: Emphasis must be placed on providing appropriate lighting to reduce eye and vision fatigue.

– Workplace: The screen must be positioned so that it is level with the eyes or slightly lower within a suitable area for the workplace.

– Rest periods: It is necessary to take periodic breaks to rest the eyes.

– Optical correction: checking the correctness of the glasses or lenses used.

– Means of protection: In dangerous environments, specialized means of protection must be used.

– Healthy lifestyle: Follow a balanced diet and stop harmful habits, as this will support eye health.

Vision screening in the workplace

“World Sight Day” adopted a slogan calling for eye care and maintaining their health and safety, “Love Your Eyes at Work.” The entire focus is on helping people understand the importance of protecting their vision in the workplace and calling on business leaders to prioritize the eye health of workers, everywhere. .

The importance of vision screening in the workplace cannot be overstated. The goals of vision screening include identifying visual problems when they are still treatable, providing education, and (if necessary) referring the patient to an eye care specialist for a comprehensive eye examination.

The importance of this examination is:

– First: It ensures that workers have sufficient vision to carry out their responsibilities safely and effectively, which contributes to maintaining a safe and productive work environment. Accidents and errors can be avoided by early detection of visual problems.

– Second: It enhances the well-being of employees; Because untreated eye problems can cause discomfort, fatigue, and decreased job satisfaction. Detecting diseases such as glaucoma or diabetes-related eye problems through routine screening can help prevent catastrophic vision loss.

– Third, and finally: It motivates employees to prioritize their eye health and get the treatment they need, which leads to improving their general health, quality of life, and quality of productivity.

An electronic application for vision testing

The World Health Organization launched an electronic application called “WHOeyes” and it is available for both iOS and Android mobile operating systems, and is compatible with mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets.

The application is available in 6 UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The organization called on all users of these devices around the world to download this application for free and benefit from the technology of checking visual acuity in less than a minute and in an easy way for everyone.

The organization calls for:

– Everyone to pledge to take a sight test and add their name to millions of others who are doing the same.

– Every association or organization and every eye care specialist pledges to encourage all of its members to undergo vision tests.

– Every employer undertakes to make vision testing available to all its employees.

– Taking a vision test will raise awareness and increase demand for eye care services.

The organization hopes to reach 10 million people who undergo vision tests by next “World Sight Day”!

4 cornerstones of lifelong eye health: prevention, protection, conservation and prioritization

Love your eyes and avoid blindness

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), founded in 1975, has a proud heritage of leading international efforts to prevent blindness. IAPB is the global voice of the eye care industry, working to end avoidable vision loss and provide everyone with access to eye care and rehabilitation services.

The agency (IAPB) provides 10 tips to help care for the eyes, preserve them and prevent blindness:

– Follow the 20/20/20 rule to give your eyes breaks and intervals from staring at the screen: When using a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes, to avoid eye strain and headaches.

– Spend some time outside: Children should spend at least two hours a day outside the house to rest their eyes. This also helps their eyes develop in a healthy way and helps them avoid developing nearsightedness.

– Wear sunglasses outside: Make sure your sunglasses provide UVA and UVB protection to prevent sun radiation from damaging your eyes.

– Wear prescription glasses if you need them: You should wear your prescription glasses so you can see clearly and keep your eyes from having to work harder; Which may lead to eye strain and headaches.

5- Check cosmetics to avoid eye infections: Check the expiration date of eye makeup, and replace your brushes regularly to prevent the accumulation of bacteria that may cause eye infections.

– Exercising regularly: Regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure that can affect your eyesight.

– Follow a healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet ensures that you get the vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain healthy eyes.

– Do not smoke: Smoking increases the risk of serious eye diseases and permanent vision loss.

– Book an appointment for an eye test to detect problems before they appear: An eye test can detect an eye condition even before it affects your vision, so even if you do not think there is anything wrong with your eyes, you should book an appointment for a regular eye examination to detect problems before Her appearance.

– Give priority to your eyes; You need them to last your whole life: Put reminders in your calendar for regular eye exams. You should have your eyes checked between one and two years.

* Community medicine consultant

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