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Protecting Your Eyes

Mar. 9 2023 Safety By Pattison Agriculture

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What is my Best Defense Against an Eye Injury? 

Here are three things you can do to help prevent an eye injury: 

  • Know the eye safety dangers at work-complete an eye hazard assessment 
  • Eliminate hazards before starting work. Use machine guarding, work screens, or other engineering controls) 
  • Use proper eye protection. 


When should I protect my eyes at work? 

  • You should wear safety eyewear whenever there is a chance of eye injury. Anyone working in or passing through areas that pose eye hazards should wear protective eyewear. 


What Type of Safety Eye Protection Should I Wear? 

The type of safety eye protection you should wear depends on the hazards in your workplace. If you are working in an area that has particles, flying objects, or dust, you must at least wear safety glasses with side protection (side shields). If you are working with chemicals, you should wear goggles. If you are working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers, or fiber optics) you must use special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets designed for that task. 


What is The Difference Between Glass, Plastic, and Polycarbonate Lenses? 

All three types of safety lenses meet or exceed the requirements for protecting your eyes. 


Glass lenses 

  • Are not easily scratched 
  • Can be used around harsh chemicals 
  • Can be made in your corrective prescription 
  • Are sometimes heavy and uncomfortable 


Plastic lenses 

  • Are lighter weight 
  • Protect against welding splatter 
  • Are not likely to fog 
  • Are not as scratch-resistant as glass 


Polycarbonate lenses 

  • Are lightweight 
  • Protect against welding splatter 
  • Are not likely to fog 
  • Are stronger than glass and plastic 
  • Are more impact resistant than glass or plastic
  • Are not as scratch resistant as glass 


Ten Ways to Prevent Eye Injuries in Office Settings 

Employees who work primarily using digital screens, such as computer monitors, tablets and smart phones, are at increased risk of digital eye strain. Symptoms of eye strain include sore or irritated eyes, blurred vision and headaches. 


Some recommendations: 

  • Screen time: Try to decrease the amount of time spent in front of these screens and/or take frequent breaks to give your eyes a rest. 
  • Filters: Screen filters are available for smart phones, tablets, and computer screens. They decrease the amount of blue light given off from these devices that could reach the retina in the eyes. 
  • Anti-reflective lenses: Anti-reflective lenses reduce glare and increase contrast and also block blue light from the sun and digital devices