Relatively few industrial processes do not present an ocular hazard of some type. Despite the fact that legislation demands eye protection during
hazardous tasks, many ocular injuries still occur. The exact number of these
injuries is difficult to ascertain because there is no general consensus for
collecting data. Injuries are often not reported unless they result in a loss
of time from work.
Sport
The number of ocular injuries sustained during sport and leisure
activities is on the increase. Not surprisingly there is a higher incidence of
injury amongst the more hazardous sports, with baseball accounting for the
greatest number. Hockey used to be a leading cause of eye injuries, but the
numbers have decreased since the introduction of the mandatory use of
protective face masks.
Racket sports are also responsible for many ocular injuries; this
is not surprising, given the speed of the ball. A squash ball may reach speeds
of 225km/h (140mph), a racket ball and tennis ball 177km/h (110mph) and a
shuttle cock 233km/h (145mph). There is also the risk of the player being hit
by the opponent's racket. Twenty-five percent of injuries received from racket
sports are serious and may result in permanent loss of vision. Racket sports
have become the most common cause of eye injuries amongst women in the 20-50
year age group.
Unfortunately, there are cases where sportsmen have
sight-threatening injuries of which they are unaware. A survey of 74
asymptomatic boxers showed that 58 percent had a variety of ocular injuries, including
traumatic cataracts and retinal tears. It is difficult to provide eye
protection for boxers but the report concluded that a more rigorous control of
the sport is required, including regular eye examinations. The introduction of
a thumbless boxing glove would help to reduce some of the injuries.
There can be no doubt about the necessity for eye protection in
sport and optometrist must be responsible for educating sportsmen and women
about the potential hazards of their sport and the need for eye protection.
This advice should be given to patients attending an optometric practice.
Children and Domestic Accidents
Many severe ocular injuries occur to children at play and in the
home; such accidents are the major cause of blindness in the first two decades
of life. It has been observed that a disproportionate number of serious eye
injuries occurred to children.
An investigation conducted on severe eye injuries in children
reported that young boys with perforating eye injuries accounted for the
majority of cases involving severe loss of vision. Not surprisingly, the major
cause of injury was due to objects being thrown, e.g. rocks, stones, snowballs,
etc. BB gun pellets caused permanent loss of vision in almost half the cases
seen (BB guns are a type of air gun that fire ball-bearings). The report
concluded that adult supervision could have prevented most cases of permanent
visual loss. A programme of adult and child eye safety education should also be
developed and should include warnings of potentially hazardous toys, etc.
A similar worrying report about eye injuries caused to children by
guns suggested that 70 percent of ocular injuries caused by air guns occurred
to the under 17-year age group. This emphasizes the need for parental control
and education about the potential danger.
Some of the household products cited in many eye injury reports
include oven cleaners, glue, disinfectants, nylon cord grass trimmers, chain
saws, hair sprays, paints, insecticides and cleaning agents (e.g. bleach,
ammonia). There are numerous potentially hazardous products in every home.
Ocular injuries and hazards in industries are usually caused by workers and not necessarily the employer. This is because the employer provides the eye protection wears but the worker ignorantly don't make use of them.
ReplyDeleteTrue but there are some industries that don't provide the necessary eye protection.
DeletePlease how can these eye injuries be prevented and controlled especially those encountered at home. Is there anything like eye injury first aid? if yes, please I need detailed explanation. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes there is ocular first aid. For prevention of eye injuries, just follow this blog or better still subscribe with your email address and wait for the next post. You're welcome.
DeleteThat is what we call eye injury first aid. There is also eye injury treatment, eye injury prevention, eye injury symptoms, eye injury in children, etc.
DeleteThank you for that one @Anonymous
Delete