March is a big month when it comes to eye health, as it serves as both Workplace Eye Wellness Month and Eye Donor Awareness Month. These observances spotlight the significance of safeguarding our eyesight in the workplace and shed light on the generous act of eye donation. Continue reading to learn more about how you can protect your eyes on the job, as well as why eye donation is so important and how you can become a donor.
Preserving Eye Health in the Workplace
From staring at a computer screen all day to handling heavy machinery, the workplace can present many risks to your eyes and vision. Workplace Eye Wellness Month is a reminder for both employers and employees to take proactive measures to reduce those risks and learn what to do in the case of an eye health emergency.
Employers can play a pivotal role in eye health by providing ergonomic workstations to support proper posture, which lessens neck, back, and eye strain. Ensuring that each employee’s work area has proper lighting is also important, as well as encouraging regular breaks to reduce eye strain. Some workplaces may require emergency eye wash stations, and it is the employer’s responsibility to educate employees on where they are located and how to operate them.
There are measures and habits employees can take as well to protect their eyes. One such habit is the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break from looking at your computer screen and look at something 20 feet away.
Additionally, maintaining an appropriate distance from screens, adjusting screen brightness and contrast, and wearing protective eyewear when necessary are all essential steps to safeguarding vision while on the clock.
Remember, regular eye check-ups are vital for early detection of eye conditions. Visit your regular eye doctor at least once a year for a comprehensive eye exam, ensuring any potential issues are promptly addressed.
Illuminating the Gift of Sight
Eye Donor Awareness Month serves to shed light on the profound impact of eye donation, offering hope and restored vision to those in need. In the United States, about 12% of people who are blind have corneal blindness (DonorAlliance.org). Receiving a cornea transplant can change their lives.
That is where the gift of eye donation comes in. By pledging to donate your corneas upon death, you can give the gift of sight to others, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and generosity.
Anyone can register to be an eye donor, even those who may not have the best vision themselves. You can register to be an organ donor when you apply for or renew your drivers license or state issued ID card. You can also register to become a donor online or by completing and mailing the Donor and Tissue Registry Form.
By prioritizing eye wellness in the workplace and championing the cause of eye donation, we can protect our vision and provide hope to those in need, ensuring a brighter and clearer future for us all.
