Stats Tell All: The Importance Of Eye Safety
By Essilor News
May 27, 2021
Eye injuries can happen to anyone—even people who don’t work in an environment where eye safety is top of mind. Maybe you’ve heard stories from your patients about eye damage from kitchen grease splatter or debris from yard work.
Unlike wearing a seat belt in the car or a safety hat when exposed to dangerous construction situations, your patients may not be familiar with eye protection requirements in the workplace.
And yet 20,000 workplace eye injuries happen each year—a statistic that cannot be ignored. June is National Safety Month, a great reminder of how hazardous everyday activities can be for eyes, and the importance of wearing the proper protective eyewear.
In addition to the pain and damage eye injuries cause, workplace injuries also cost employers an estimated $300 million a year in lost productivity, medical treatment, and worker compensation. Unfortunately, returning home does not guarantee eye safety either—accidents involving seemingly harmless household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year, making up nearly half (44.7 percent) of all eye injuries, due to activities like maintenance, yard work, and cooking.
Whether it’s at work or at home, eye injuries are much more common than your patients may realize. The good news is you can easily help them protect their eyes. The fact is that 90 percent of eye injuries can be avoided by wearing the proper protective eyewear.
Essilor is proud to offer our superior lens technology and innovation in SightProtect, our network that offers a range of prescription safety glasses. SightProtect glasses feature exclusive lens technology from our family of premium brands, including Varilux®, Crizal®, and Transitions® adaptive lenses™, along with frames from brands like Oakley.
Many of your patients could no doubt benefit from safety glasses. And we’re here to help you recommend the perfect pair. Sign up for SightProtect and start dispensing safety glasses today through your existing EyeMed portal.