Eye injury can occur anywhere, whether you’re at home, at work or just taking a walk outdoors. From the sun’s harmful UV rays and blue light emitted by digital screens to chemicals, dust and tiny wooden particles, our eyes can be exposed to many potential hazards on a daily basis, causing injuries or potential vision loss. It is surprising that approximately over 55 million eye injuries occur annually as per the World Health Organization (WHO). This is why using protective eyewear is important to help prevent such injuries.
What is Protective Eyewear?
Protective eyewear is precisely built to keep hazards from reaching the eyes and harming them. Some of these hazards include:
- Sudden splashes of cold or hot liquids
- Inflammable chemical fumes
- Floating mud, cement, grass, wood or metal particles
- Sudden and harmful electric sparks
- UVA and UVB rays and blue light
Types of protective eyewear
Protective eyewear comes in different builds and styles to adapt to various environments where eye protection is crucial. Different types of protective eyewear include:
Face shields and sports goggles
These are built for high-impact activities, such as sports. As physical activities involve fast movements, one must ensure the proper coverage of the entire eye area to prevent injury.
- Snow goggles shield against the sun and wind
- Wraparound goggles are ideal for cricket, volleyball and other activities
- Hockey helmets with face shields protect against the flying ball
- Safety goggles during paintball help provide clear vision and are impact resistance
UV, blue light and laser safety glasses
Working in an environment where your eyes are at risk of being exposed to harmful rays also needs safety eyewear to protect them from temporary or permanent damage.
- 100% UV light protection sunglasses are advised for those who stay outdoors for longer periods
- Blue light glasses help with digital eye strain, providing visual comfort during prolonged digital screen use
- Those who work in labs or clinics should opt for certified laser safety goggles to prevent harmful radiation from affecting their eyes.
Who Must Use Protective Eyewear and When?
Protective eyewear is a must for the following individuals during specific activities and in specific locations.
Factory or construction workers at their respective workplaces
Construction and factory workers are exposed to a higher risk of eye injuries. Several heavy tools at the construction site or in the factory can harm their eyes. These machines can release cement particles, spill chemicals or flip metal particles, causing an eye injury. Safety goggles work as a barrier, helping prevent the eyes being impacted from these hazards.
Athletes and fitness enthusiasts during physical activities
Those who are active on the field aren’t far behind when it comes to eye injury. The blunt force of fast-moving objects, such as a ball or bat, can hit the eyes unannounced. Also, outdoor sports can expose players to harmful UV rays that cause damage to their eyes. It’s important to exercise proper caution and wear face shields, helmets and UV light protection sunglasses during sports activities.
Corporate professionals while working on computers
Working professionals who use computers for long hours are at risk of exposing their eyes to the blue light emitted from computer screens and laptops. While blue light does not cause any direct eye injury, it can digitally strain the eyes and is also known to cause Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Blue light glasses can help with digital eye strain and provide visual comfort.
Those who use mobile or watch television in excess
Individuals who constantly use their mobiles or watch their favourite sitcoms for hours are more likely to have dry and watery eyes. The glare and blue light emitted from these devices can strain their eyes. Blue light glasses can help ease strain and provide comfort.
Undertaking household chores
Household chores are riskier than you may think. Activities like weed-pulling and cleaning chores that involve chemicals can cause injury to the eyes. Safety glasses are recommended to ensure the protection of the eyes while performing these routine tasks.
What Are the Key Advantages of Protective Eyewear?
Protective eyewear offers several benefits, including:
- Decreased risk of eye injuries: As all types of protective eyewear are crafted from strong materials and are designed keeping safety in mind, they reduce the chances of burns, cuts and bruises to the eyes.
- Prevention of long or short-term vision damage: Certain eye injuries, such as chemical burns or a sudden blow from an object, can lead to permanent or short-term vision loss. Protective eyewear helps create a safety layer, ensuring maximum eye protection.
- Increased safety and confidence during physical activities: Accidents can be very common during physical activities. However, wearing safety gear can improve focus and boost the confidence of players, as they have a ‘security blanket’ they can rely on and give their best shot at the game.
Eyes are precious, but the probability of eye injury cannot be ignored. It’s always better to invest in high-quality protective eyewear to minimise the risk of potential eye hazards.
Having graduated from City and Islington College in 2016, Krina Halai is a certified Dispensing Optician working with Feel Good Contacts. With 13 years of experience in the optical field, she has worked in multiple practices, including Boots and Specsavers, performed paediatric dispensing, supervised and trained future optical professionals and triaged patients for numerous spectacle fittings, repairs and adjustments. She has also taken an online course on myopia control and helped many children prevent their myopia from progressing.
