March – Workplace Eye Wellness Month: Handling eye injuries in the workplace
Whether an eye injury is suffered at the workplace, playing sports, or during regular household chores, it is extremely important to be able to recognize it when it happens.
If you have the following symptoms or see someone
else with them, seek medical attention immediately:
- Pain or difficulty seeing
- Pupil of an unusual size or shape
- Cut or torn eyelid
- Blood is evident in the eye
- One eye moves differently or not as well as the other
- An object is in the eye or under the lid and cannot be easily removed
- One eye protrudes more than the other
Know what to do
A great way to reduce damage is to know the proper first aid steps to take. If you or a person has some sort of speck or particle in the eye, do not rub the eye. The eye should be thoroughly flushed out with water to wash the particle away. If the irritation and redness do not subside, you should call your eye doctor.
Sources: All About Vision, AAO, AOA, Glaucoma.org, NIH.gov
Learn more at versanthealth.com/blog
DV-MKG20-0364v001 PDF 06/2020
What should you do if there is a cut, puncture, or foreign object in the eye? Again, it is imperative not to rub the eye. You should also not make any attempts to remove any objects lodged in your eye. Most importantly, seek medical attention right away.
Chemical burns are particularly dangerous. Open the eye as wide as possible and, using any drinkable water, begin flushing the eye out for at least 15 minutes. Get medical care right away. If the burn was caused by a caustic or basic solution, the eye should continue to be flushed while on the way to your doctor or emergency room.
Preventing injuries
About 90% of all eye injuries can be avoided. How? By simply wearing the appropriate protective, shatter-resistant eye wear.
Regular eye exams are important
Eye exams aren’t just for correcting vision issues. They are also key in the early detection of systemic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Your eye exam is one of the most important preventative care services available to you.
Vision coverage by Davis Vision is available to all current Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members and you may apply for coverage during the Open Enrollment Period.
