World Sight Day 2023 ‘Love your Eyes at Work’
The International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is an alliance of 200 member organisations worldwide drawn from international charities, eye hospitals, academic institutes, professional bodies and corporate organisations.
IAPB is the global voice for the eye care sector working together towards ending avoidable sight loss and everyone having affordable, accessible and inclusive eye care and rehabilitation services. IAPB was founded in 1975 and has a proud heritage of leading international efforts in the prevention of blindness.
“Love Your Eyes at Work” is a compelling theme for World Sight Day 2023. This theme emphasizes the importance of eye health in the workplace, a setting where many of us spend a significant portion of our time.
Our eyes are vital tools in most jobs, yet they can be exposed to many hazards, from computer screens’ blue light in office jobs to physical dangers in more manual industries. This theme encourages everyone to take proactive steps to protect their eyes at work.
It’s a call to action for employers to ensure safe working environments and for employees to be aware of potential eye hazards and use protective measures when necessary. It also highlights the importance of regular eye check-ups to detect any work-related vision problems early.
So, on October 12, 2023, let’s all “Love Our Eyes at Work” and commit to prioritizing eye health in our workplaces.
World Sight Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of eye health, especially in the IT industry where people often spend long hours in front of screens.
Here are some tips to help protect and preserve your eyes:
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. This can help reduce eye strain.
Adjust your screen: Position your computer screen about an arm’s length away and slightly below eye level. This can help reduce strain on your eyes and neck.
Mind the lighting: Avoid glare on your screen from windows or lights. Use a screen filter if needed.
Blink often: Blinking moistens your eyes, reducing dryness and irritation. When staring at a screen, we blink less frequently. Make a conscious effort to blink more.
Use computer glasses: Consider using computer glasses with yellow-tinted lenses that increase contrast and help block a portion of the blue light emitted by computer screens.
Adjust your screen settings: Increase the contrast on your screen to reduce eye strain. Consider using a larger text size, especially if you’re squinting to read.
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, which can cause dry eyes.
Eat eye-healthy foods: Incorporate foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E and omega-3 fatty acids, such as carrots, oranges, spinach, and fish, into your diet.
Get regular eye check-ups: Regular eye exams can help detect problems early and ensure that your vision correction prescription is up to date.
Exercise your eyes: Regularly rotate your eyes in all directions, take a moment to gaze off into the distance, and rapidly blink your eyes to reduce eye strain.
Remember, your eyes are your window to the world. This World Sight Day let’s pledge to take better care of them.
For more information. Reach out to the author Antony Sajeeth founder and Director of Needuva Hrudhaya Foundation an NGO working in the field of education and healthcare, creating awareness on affordable services for all.
Email: antony@heartofgiving.in
Website: heartofgiving.in