About a month ago I came across a landscape technician trimming an edge on a driveway. He was doing an alright job, and I noticed that he had taken his guard off of the trimmer…a big no no, but upon further inspection I noticed that he was not wearing any safety glasses! I couldn’t believe it. Has he not been educated properly, can he not afford PPE or does he just not care. Worried about him loosing an eye I approached him and let him know of my concern. He seemed thankful that I cared, but fired the trimmer back up and continued on his way. I am willing to help someone out, but I won’t hold him down and force him. So I carried on the rest of my day.

I still think now and then about that guy, wondering if he has both eyes still. It is funny on how some people need to learn the hard way (well not that funny). The following is some information I have found out there about ‘Eye Safety’ and what can happen if you don’t protect them.

Fun in the Sun

UV rays are invisible, high-energy rays of light that, if absorbed by your eyes, can cause or enhance several eye ailments. This happens because the UV light can cause a reaction in our eye tissue. And once it occurs, it cannot be reversed.

Researchers found that people who spent a lot of time in the summer sun in their teens, 30s, and after age 40 were twice as likely to develop an early form of age-related macular degeneration than those who stayed out of the sun.

However, the study also suggests that protective measures, such as wearing a hat and sunglasses, can dramatically reduce some of those additional sun-related risks.

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in older people, and few treatments are available for the disease. The condition leads to an abnormal growth of blood vessels and opaque deposits on the retina, the light-sensitive layer of cells located at the back of the eye. It also causes an increase in the amount of pigment in the retina.

Cataract – Clouding of the eye; causes blurring or dimming of vision – UV rays are the largest culprit in the formation of cataracts.

Pteryguim – Tissue growth on the whites of eyes; can block vision.

Skin cancer – Eyelids and facial skin can develop melanoma.

So make sure that you protect your eyes with safety glasses that also screen out ultraviolet rays.

Sticks and Stones

Power grass/weed trimmers can throw stones, sticks, and other objects. These objects can injure the eyes of operators and those nearby. I am not going to post any images on these injuries, as I can barely stomach them. If you want to see what your eye looks like after a stone has hit it going 100mph, google it.

When an accident involves the eye, you should get medical help immediately if there is pain or any question of eye or vision damage. Prompt, proper treatment of eye injuries can save vision. The most effective treatment for eye injuries is prevention.

*Some information gathered from www.webmd.com, www.womemfitness.net