May is Healthy Vision Month

Healthy Vision Month is an annual observance coordinated by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) each May. It encorages workers to make vision a health priority in the workplace. OSHA is reminding everyone about the importance of eye protection on the job. Here is what you can do to protect your eyes:

• Choose effective protective eyewear deisgned for your specific lab task
• Make sure the eyewear is properly fitted
• Know where the protective eyewear is located and how it should be used

For more informatio on prevening workplace injuries visit OSHA's Web site.

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

CVS is an ergonomic illness associated with individuals who use a computer on a regular basis. The aging workforce is susceptible to a variety of workplace safety risks. According to the American Optometric Association, computer vision syndrome leaves older employees vulnerable to problems like dry eye, eyestrain and fatigue. Here is what employers can do to prevent this problem:

Encourage older employees to have a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year especially if they are experiencing symptoms of CVS such as eye redness, frequent rubbing of the eyes, blurriness or eye fatigue or limited attention to visual tasks.


Remind employees to use the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look 20 feet away from the computer and blink 20 times to minimize the development of eye focusing problems and eye irritation caused by improper blinking.


Make sure the computer monitor is adjusted to the individual user’s height. The top of the monitor should be at eye level.