Vision Problems Impact Workplace Productivity
Lost days from work due to eye problems cost Ohio employers $13.8 million just last year

Prevent Blindness Ohio has designated March as "Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month" in an effort to raise awareness about the necessity of eye health and safety on the job.

Vision loss and visual impairment represent a significant human and economic toll on individuals, families and our society as a whole. An estimated 1.7 million Ohioans have a potentially blinding eye disease and 142,655 have low vision. As 2030 approaches, and as baby boomers age, more than 2.5 million Ohioans will be affected by glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. As the work force ages and workers remain on the job longer, the impact of aging eye problems to workplace productivity can be significant. Employers need to become familiar with these risks to vision and the role that regular preventive eye care and healthy lifestyles play in curbing their growth.

New research brings the impact of eye safety at work into sharp focus. The U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics recently published the results of its latest study of injuries and illnesses in the workplace. In 2004, 1.3 million American workers were injured on the job and required recuperation away from work. Of that number, 36,680 were eye injuries. Lost days from work due to eye problems cost Ohio employers $13.8 million just last year.

"The good news is that 90 percent of all job-related eye injuries can be prevented simply by wearing the proper protection. Only eye protection that has been certified by the American National Standards Institute should be used and must have 'ANSI Z87' clearly stamped on the frame or lens," said Dan Hodge, Prevent Blindness Ohio volunteer and member of the Accredited Standards Committee Z87.

Because most of these potentially blinding injuries can be prevented, Prevent Blindness America created the Wise Owl program. The program offers safety education materials to employers so their employees are prepared to avoid eye accidents and recognizes companies and individuals who have saved vision through dedication to eye protection.

"Good vision is good business! Employees with access to comprehensive vision care and who practice eye safety at home and at work are employees with better attendance and work quality, higher productivity and an increased sense of well-being," said Sherill K. Williams, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio.

Prevent Blindness Ohio offers these tips to create an "eye-healthy" and "eye-safe" work environment:

Prevent Blindness Ohio offers several free fact sheets and brochures including Eye Safety is No Accident, Questions on Eye Safety at Work and Workplace Safety Quiz. Employers may also request information on the Wise Owl safety education program by calling 800-301-2020 or by visiting www.preventblindness.org. The Wise Owl safety education program was developed over 50 years ago in response to the growing number of eye-related injuries occurring in manufacturing and industrial workplaces.

COLUMBUS – More than 47,000 pre-school children in Ohio have a vision problem that could lead to permanent vision loss. But, only a third of all children in the United States have had any form of eye care service before their sixth birthday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To raise awareness of this issue, Prevent Blindness Ohio offers the "Newborn, Infant and Toddler Vision Guide" to parents. The guide offers information that parents of young children need to need about their child's vision including warning signs of possible vision problems. This free educational piece is made possible by a grant from Alcon, Inc.

"We can't stress enough how important it is for parents to establish a routine of regular eye care for children to lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy vision," said Sherill K. Williams, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio.

Many eye problems in children can be effectively treated and corrected if diagnosed early. One in 20 preschoolers has amblyopia (a serious condition that can result in monocular blindness, often called "lazy eye") and one in 50 children suffer from strabismus (or "crossed eyes"). Sadly, many children may not even realize that their vision is abnormal and grow up thinking that how they see is how everyone else sees. As a child develops, an eye disease becomes more difficult to correct.

Newborn infants should have their eyes checked while still in the hospital nursery. This examination in the nursery should be for general eye health and include a red reflex test. This examination can help detect several congenital eye problems, some of which can be very serious and permanently threaten vision.

During regular well-baby exams, from birth to 2 years of age, pediatricians should use history and a vision evaluation to see if vision problems exist. Beginning at well-child exams at age 3 and continuing through 10 years of age, vision screenings should assess visual acuity and ocular alignment.

If a child fails a vision screening or there is any concern of an eye or vision problem, the child should be referred for a comprehensive professional eye examination. This combination of primary care physician eye examinations and vision screenings with referral for a comprehensive professional eye examination are the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. The American Optometric Association supports primary care physician evaluations and regularly scheduled vision screenings, but also recommends that a comprehensive professional eye examination be performed by an eye doctor at age 6 months, 3 years and 5 years for all children.

Prevent Blindness Ohio recommends a continuum of eye care for children to include both vision screening and comprehensive eye examinations. All children, even those with no signs of trouble, should have their eyes checked at regular intervals. Any child who experiences vision problems or shows symptoms of eye trouble should receive a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.

What can a parent do to help ensure that their children's eyes are healthy? Watch for the following signs:

What do your child's eyes look like?

• Eyes don't line up, one eye appears crossed or looks out
• Eyelids are red-rimmed, crusted or swollen
• Eyes are watery or red (inflamed)

How does your child act?

• Rubs eyes a lot
• Closes or covers one eye
• Tilts head or thrusts head forward
• Blinks more than usual
• Squints eyes or frowns

Parents should also be aware that thousands of children each year suffer preventable eye injuries while playing sports, such as water/pool activities, baseball and basketball. Make sure kids wear protective eye gear when playing sports. Common household items such as glues and cleaning supplies, as well as toys, also cause thousands of eye injuries. Keep potentially dangerous household items out of reach of smaller children. Only buy sturdy toys that are age-appropriate or correct for your child's ability. Throw toys out when they break.

To request a free copy of the "Newborn, Infant and Toddler Vision Guide" or for more information in both English and Spanish on childhood eye diseases and safety tips, please visit www.preventblindness.org or 1-800-331-2020.

Prevent Blindness Ohio, founded in 1957, is the only voluntary, not-for-profit health organization dedicated to preventing blindness and preserving sight. It serves all 88 Ohio counties, providing direct services to more than 600,000 Ohioans annually and educating millions of consumers about what they can do to protect and preserve their precious gift of sight. Prevent Blindness Ohio is an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America, the country's second-oldest national voluntary health organization. For more information, visit  www.preventblindness.org/Ohio or call 800-301-2020.