Did you know that every 65 minutes, someone in Australia will lose some, or all of their vision?
Eye health is a significant national health issue – one that costs the Australian economy a staggering $16billion each year. Visual impairment also dramatically reduces our quality of life – affecting our independence and ability to do many everyday things that we otherwise take for granted. It can also lead to mental health issues, feelings of isolation and impact our relationships too.
Now in its sixth year, JulEYE is a month-long eye health community awareness campaign organised by the RANZCO Eye Foundation*. This year’s focus is on family history and eye health, but the program also serves as a reminder to take eye health and safety seriously – both at home and at work.
Healthy eyes at workWith 60% of eye injuries occurring at work, eye health continues to be a significant workplace health and safety issue. People with deteriorating vision may experience:
Being proactive about eye health creates safer, healthier and more productive workplaces. Helping people to care for their eyes can reduce lost time and minimise workers compensation claims – it can also help to reduce stress and anxiety and improve overall business performance.
Working outside and on the toolsWith considerably higher risk of eye injury in jobs involving grinding and welding, it comes as little surprise that the majority of Australian workplace eye injuries occur in the construction and manufacturing industries. Business in these and other high risk industries must take proper precautions to minimise eye injuries caused by:
To keep our eyes safe whilst working outside and with high risk equipment we must:
It is easy to overlook the risk that office environments present to eye health. However, factors like glare and excessive time spent in front of light-emitting screens can put strain on our eyes and cause long-term damage to our vision.
The social, economic and personal cost of poor eye health is immense – but reassuringly, 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable if detected early enough. Professionals recommended eye check-ups every 1-2 years, depending on risk factors like age; lifestyle (nutrition, smoking and alcohol consumption); and the presence of heredity and other pre-existing eye conditions (including ocular hypertension, diabetes and glaucoma).
Is your workplace eye-friendly workplace? How do you encourage safe and healthy eye behaviours in your business? Please share your thoughts and feedback with us via LinkedIn.SHARE THIS ARTICLE
By submitting this enquiry you agree to Coates's Communications Terms & Conditions