Vision Health Month

Usingpropereyeprotectionisjustonesmall investmentyoucanmakeinsafetyatwork. Findresourcestoprotectyoureyes–and everythingelse–atsafemanitoba.com Injuriespreventedandlivessaved that'stheVALUEof SAFEWork pag e 11 focus on safety By donna Minkus For The Free Press M ost people would agree that industrial workers who use tools that can propel foreign objects into the air should be wearing protective eyewear. But what about a homeowner cutting the lawn or doing other types of yard work? Anyone who might be in danger of foreign objects entering the eye should be wearing protective eyewear, says optometrist Dr. Michelle Georgi, co-owner of Village Optical, located at 1079 St. Mary's Road. The removal of foreign bodies from the eye is the eye injury hospitals see most often, Georgi says. As chair of the Occupational Vision Committee for the Manitoba Association of Optometrists, her discussions with ophthalmologists at the Misericordia Health Centre's Buhler Eye Care Centre confirm the prevalence of eye injuries due to foreign objects. Yet the message about the importance of safety eyewear is not getting through to those who need it most. Prescription safety eyewear has a number of distinguishing features built into the frame and lenses to provide protection to the eye. First and foremost, the frames must be CSA approved. Secondly, the frames must have minimal metal in case they get pushed into the face. In addition, the lenses must be slightly thicker, which makes them more shatter-resistant. The lenses are seated in the frames in a way that prevents them from being pushed through onto the eye. While there are many types of protective eyewear, the most important aspect of any safety glasses is ensuring the frame fits the face so they don't fall off when they are needed most, Georgi says. Most industries require their workers to wear protective safety eyewear, Georgi points out, but each industry has its own safety policy. "In the manufacturing industry, for instance, safety glasses must be worn at all times by employees, or foremen, if they are on the shop floor," Georgi says. "Auto-body businesses require workers to wear safety eyewear as welding or grinding can propel metal objects toward the eye and cause injury. Chemical splashes such as battery acid can also cause damage to the eye." While most industries have a policy, not all of them provide a plan, Georgi says. When there is no plan, getting workers to adhere to a policy can be difficult, especially if the worker doesn't need prescription lenses. "Workers who don't need prescription lenses will be wearing plain lenses," Georgi says. "Unfortunately plain lenses scratch easily and need to be replaced often. "A generous plan which includes protective eyewear for all workers, whether or not they need prescription lenses, would encourage compliance." Protective eyewear should not be exclusive to industry workers. "Safety glasses should also be worn by weekend hobbyists or handymen/ handywomen," Georgi says. "A lawnmower or whipper-snipper can propel twigs or particles to the eye so safety eyewear is as important around the home as it is at work." Sports-related injuries could also be prevented by the use of safety glasses. "I've seen bleeding in the eye from tennis and squash balls and even badminton birdies," Georgi says. "This type of injury can also cause retinal detachments, which could require surgical repair. "Protect your eyes at work and at home. It only takes a second to put on some safety glasses, but you might spend a lifetime regretting not having done so." For more information about protective eyewear go to optometrists.mb.ca or call 204-943-9811. ◗

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