Simple Tips to Protect Your Eyes at Work
Malfunctioning machines, flickering digital screens, or dusty environments can cause issues ranging from dry eyes to serious eye injuries. Following these tips will help you protect your eyes while you're at work.
Identify Eye Hazards
You can't avoid hazards if you don't know what they are. Eye hazards are anything that may harm the eyes or cause discomfort. They may include:
- Chemicals
- Dust
- Debris
- Lasers
- Blood Exposure
- Machines That Generate Sparks or Spread Debris
- Sharp Objects
- Open Flames
- Bright Lights
Hazards don't have to be obviously dangerous to affect the eyes. Poor office lighting could cause eye strain, while lack of moisture in the air might lead to dry eyes.
Wear Protective Eyewear
Protective eyewear is a must if you work in a factory, use machinery, or work in an occupation that exposes your eyes to dangerous substances. Safety glasses or goggles must fit tightly around your eyes for complete protection. Even small gaps allow easy access for airborne objects or substances.
Safety and Health Magazine notes that safety glasses with a higher base curve fit the face better. The standard pair of safety glasses has a base curve of four, while glasses that wrap around the face more have a base curve of nine. A higher base curve also provides better peripheral vision and prevents distortions that can interfere with vision.
Step Away from Digital Devices
Viewing digital screens increases your risk for computer vision syndrome, also called digital eye strain. According to the American Optometric Association, you're more likely to develop computer vision syndrome if you use a digital device for two or more continuous hours every day. Luckily, you can avoid sore eyes, blurry vision, dry eyes, headaches, sore shoulder muscles and other computer vision symptoms by taking frequent breaks.
In addition to stepping away from your device periodically, eye doctors recommend the 20-20-20 rule. The simple rule involves looking at an object 20 feet in the distance for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
Create an Eye-Friendly Workspace
Making these small changes can improve eye comfort while you work:
- Position monitors so that they are arm's distance away from your eyes
- Lower your monitor so that the top is slightly below eye level
- Increase text size if you find yourself squinting
- Reduce glare with screen protectors and lighting changes
- Talk to your eye doctor about computer glasses. These glasses offer the perfect viewing distance for screens.
- Use a small humidifier to reduce dry eye symptoms
Don't Forget to Blink
Blinking spreads tears across the eyes and prevents them from drying out. Unfortunately, you may blink less if you're engrossed in an activity or using a screen. Although people normally blink about 15 times per minute, digital device users may blink half that amount, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Clean Your Screen
Your eye strain risk may be greater if your screen is full of smudges and dust. Prioritizing regular screen cleaning can improve eye comfort.
Avoid Touching Your Eyes
Dirt and germs on your hands could cause eye infections if you touch your eyes. If you must touch your eyes, be sure to wash your hands first.
Tempted to rub your tired, dry eyes? Rubbing can increase your risk for corneal abrasions. These small tears in the cornea are extremely painful and can lead to infections in some cases.
Wear Sunglasses
Sun exposure may not harm your eyes immediately but could increase your risk of cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and skin cancer. Sunglasses that offer complete protection from ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays) will help you reduce your risk for these conditions. For optimum protection, wear sunglasses year-round.
See Your Optometrist Regularly
Eye issues aren't always obvious. For example, your eye strain symptoms may be due in part to an outdated prescription. Even slight changes in your vision can increase your risk of computer vision syndrome. Scheduling annual comprehensive eye exams helps you ensure large or small vision issues are identified promptly.
Need new eye protection for your job? Your optometrist can also help you find the ideal pair of prescription or non-prescription safety glasses and goggles and offer suggestions that will improve your eye safety at work.
Do you need a new eyeglass prescription or have a concern about your eyes? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist.
Sources:
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Recognizing and Treating Eye Injuries, 4/10/2023
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries
American Optometric Association: Protecting Your Eyes at Work
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/protecting-your-vision?sso=y
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Digital Devices and Your Eyes, 12/5/2025
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/digital-devices-your-eyes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Eye Safety for Workers, 2/4/2025
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/eye-safety/index.html
Safety and Health Magazine: Safety Eyewear Fit, 2/20/2025
https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/26510-safety-eyewear-fit/
American Optometric Association: Computer Vision Syndrome
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome