Vision Health Month

EYE SAFETY AT WORK & HOME BY TODD LEWYS It's a startling statistic: in 2016, around 720,000 Canadians will incur an eye injury. J ust as startling is where those injuries will occur. While there's long been a campaign promoting workplace safety, the fact is that people are more likely to sustain an injury while doing chores at home, says doctor of optometry Dr. Natasha Sookermany, who practises at Lotus Vision Care in Polo Park Shopping Centre. "Of the 720,000 eye injuries, about 44 per cent of them will happen at home, while about 16 per cent will be workplace- related," she said. "While everyone thinks about protecting their eyes at work, they don't always think about protecting them when they're working around their home." Truth is, there are dangers lurking at home, though they tend to be less obvious—things as seemingly innocuous as dust and dirt. "For some reason, people forget about how harmful dust and dirt can be to their eyes, especially during the spring, when it's on driveways, sidewalks, in your garage and, of course, on your lawn," said Dr. Sookermany. "Dust can cause abrasions, micro scratches as well as irritation, redness and tearing to unprotected eyes. And if dust is mixed with dirt, it can create an environment where an infection can start." That being the case, people should always wear eye protection — ideally safety glasses, or at the very least a shatterproof (polycarbonate lens) pair of wrap-around sunglasses — when they perform sweeping, cleaning, raking or pruning chores around the home. "You should always wear safety glasses," said Dr. Sookermany, who is also president of the Manitoba Association of Optometrists. "They're not just there to protect you from flying debris or a poke in the eye—they're there to protect you when you do spring cleaning or any work outdoors." She added that contact lens wearers should be particularly conscientious about wearing eye protection, no matter whether they're at home or work. "It's especially important to have eye protection if you wear contacts. Not only can fine dust and dirt particles get trapped in contact lenses, but they can also absorb hazardous liquids that get splashed into your eyes. They can harbour the liquids, causing them to do more damage to your eyes than if you weren't wearing contact lenses. Whether it's liquids or dust from mowing the lawn, contacts can re-introduce them into your eyes." What's the best way for contact lens wearers to avoid discomfort and potential infections? "I would advise getting prescription safety glasses that you can wear while doing work at home or at your workplace," said Dr. Sookermany. "Your vision will still be clear, and, most importantly, you won't have to worry about your contacts trapping particles or liquids (such as noxious household cleaning agents) that could cause damage to your eyes." There's a second equally-important reason to wear eye protection while working outdoors at home and on job sites that are out in the open: the sun. "It doesn't matter whether it's summer or winter—you need to be wearing safety glasses, or at the very least wrap-around sunglasses, that provide your eyes with protection from the sun's damaging rays," she said. "When the sun bounces off snow in the winter, it can burn the surface of the eyes, causing snow blindness. All year round, its rays can cause damage that can lead to early-onset cataracts, or even macular degeneration." There's another accessory you should com- plement your sunglasses with, she added. "Wear a hat with a wide brim (or cap with bill) that extends out over your sunglasses— it will effectively block UV rays from hitting your eyes from above. If you do that and wear safety glasses or wrap-around sunglasses, you'll be able to prevent most of those rays from reaching your eyes." Dr. Sookermany says, when it comes to your eyes, an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of after-the-fact cure. "Don't be casual and think, 'It can't or won't happen to me.' Vision is considered the most-valued of the five senses in providing a high quality of life, so don't take it for granted," Dr. Sookermany says. "Do all you can to take care of it." Better yet, work hand-in-hand with a doctor of optometry to take care of your vision—in any and all situations. "A doctor of optometry should be your go- to person when it comes to vision issues," emphasized Dr. Sookermany, adding that 20 per cent of Canadians didn't identify a doctor of optometry as their go-to resource for dealing with eye injuries. "We can dispense prescription medication and we have the equipment and tools on hand to deal with eye injuries. We are the front-line eye care professionals, and are always ready to help." PAG E 4 VISION HEALTH M O N T H "WHILE EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT PROTECTING THEIR EYES AT WORK, THEY DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT PROTECTING THEM WHEN THEY'RE WORKING AROUND THEIR HOME." TRUTH IS, THERE ARE DANGERS LURKING AT HOME, THOUGH THEY TEND TO BE LESS OBVIOUS—THINGS AS SEEMINGLY INNOCUOUS AS DUST AND DIRT. There are many eye dangers lurking at home, but they tend to be less obvious than those in the workplace, says Dr. Natasha Sookermany. Photo by Darcy Finley

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