Most often, people who have Dry Eye Syndrome are middle-aged or older. An estimated 4.88 million Americans over the age of 50 have dry eyes. Although Dry Eye Syndrome is more common to middle age and beyond, younger industrial workers often are subjected to conditions that cause the same symptoms.
OSHA estimates that over three million U.S. workers are at risk for job-related eye injuries and more than 2,000 are actually injured every business day.
Striking or scraping: The majority of eye injuries result from small particles or objects striking or scraping the eye, such as: dust, cement chips, metal slivers, and wood chips. These materials are often ejected by tools, windblown, or fall from above a worker.
Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration in their early stages.
Nearly one million Americans have lost some degree of their sight due to an eye injury. More than 700,000 Americans injure their eyes at work each year. Luckily, 90% of all workplace eye injuries can be avoided by using proper safety eyewear.
It's important to separate fact from fiction, especially when the topic is eyesight. Knowing how to take good care of your eyes is the first step to protecting your sight for a lifetime.
Call it the Ray Charles Effect: a young child who is blind develops a keen ability to hear things that others cannot. Researchers have long known this can happen in the brains of the very young, which are malleable enough to re-wire some circuits that process sensory information.
According to a report commissioned by Prevent Blindness America (PBA) from researchers at the University of Chicago, “Cost of Vision Problems: The Economic Burden of Vision Loss and Eye Disorders in the United States, ”the financial burden of vision-related diseases will continue to grow due to increasing healthcare costs and an aging population.
