Occupational optometry

Occupational Occupational OptometryOptometry

Presented By:Presented By:

Mr.ChandanMr.Chandan

IntroductionIntroduction• Occupational optometry is the portion of

optometric practice that is concerned with the efficient and safe visual functioning of an individual within the work environment.

• Prevention of occupational eye injuries• Vision assessments of workers/patients,

taking into account their specific vision requirements and the demands these requirements place upon them.

Occupational Vision Services

• Three general areas or levels:– Primary care – Eye safety consultation – Vision consultation


• Primary care: To meet certain occupational vision objectives

• Complete an occupational history on each adult patient

• Diagnose and manage occupationally induced conditions (making referrals when necessary)

• Assess his or her patients’ occupational vision demands and provide appropriate treatments as necessary

• Educate patients on the need to incorporate eye safety principles into their daily activities.


• Eye safety consultation: Overseeing the facility’s entire eye safety program.

• Writing and helping to enforce an eye safety policy

• Performing an eye-safety workplace assessment

• Overseeing the procurement of eye protection devices (both prescription and nonprescription)

• Educating workers on eye safety issues• Overseeing pre-placement and periodic

vision screenings• Writing policy concerning contact lens

wear.


• Vision consultation: To provide consulting services concerning the general area of visual efficiency.

Occupational DiseasesOccupational Diseases

• Chronic ailment - Occupational activity

• Exposure - Workplace health hazard • More prevalent - Given body of

workers than in the general population

• Occupational hazards which are traumatic in nature are not considered

Occupational DiseasesOccupational DiseasesCommon Occupational diseases -

• Asbestosis - Asbestos miners/ Friable

asbestos insulation

• Black Lung Disease - Coal miners

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Poultry industry/Data

entry personnel's

• Radiation sickness - Nuclear industry

• Byssinosis - Cotton textile industry

• Phossy jaw and Radium jaw- Match girls and Radium Dial Workers

INCIDENCE OF OCULAR INCIDENCE OF OCULAR INJURIES AND ITS PREVENTIONINJURIES AND ITS PREVENTION

Incidence of eye injuries:

• Play and sport

• RTA

• Industrial accident

• Civil disturbances

• Home accidents

• Assault

• Farm accident

Incidence Of Eye InjuriesIncidence Of Eye InjuriesOccupations:

• Machine tool operators

• Motor vehicle or aircraft mechanic

• Metal worker

• Construction

• Electrician

• Welder

• Painter

• General laborer

Incidence Of Eye InjuriesIncidence Of Eye Injuries

• Most common Grinding or buffing

• Leisure or sports-worst injury

• Baseball, Ice hockey and Racket sports.

• Squash ball 224km/h

• Racket ball and tennis ball 192km/h

• Shuttlecock 232km/h

Incidence Of Eye InjuriesIncidence Of Eye Injuries• Open eye guards are not

recommended

• Spectacle frames with hinges that

open beyond 90degrees

• Boxers-Thumbless glove

• Monocular player-Identified and

advised

Incidence Of Eye InjuriesIncidence Of Eye Injuries

• Adult supervision-Children

• Household items: Oven cleaners, Glue,

Disinfectants, Nylon cord grass trimmers,

Chain saws, Hair sprays, Paints,

Insecticides and Cleaning agents.

Prevention Of InjuriesPrevention Of Injuries• Optometrist role:

– Visual requirement?

– Hobbies?

– Sports?

– Occupation?

– Identifying potential hazard and

protection

– Eye protection programmes

Prevention Of Eye InjuriesPrevention Of Eye Injuries

Perception of risk

1. Education for the younger employee

2. Publicizing eye injuries carefully

3. Counsel workers after an injury

4. Determining reasons for not using

protection

5. Compulsory wear


Eye protection programme:

• Aim : Identify and Eliminate/Control

• Economic benefits

• Reduction in eye injuries=Reduction of

insurance and medical expenses, Reduction

in lost production, Work replacement and

retraining costs

• Good employee-employer relationship


• Eye protection programme

– Expenses:

•Consultant fee

•Cost of implementation

•Modification of the manufacturing

process

•Cost of employee education

•Cost of providing and maintaining

Eye Protection ProgrammeEye Protection Programme

• Parts:

– Plant environment survey

– Vision screening

– Implementation of the programme

– Maintenance of the programme

Plant Environment SurveyPlant Environment Survey

• Assessment of potential plant hazards

• Dangerous tasks and area inspection

• Method of elimination/controlling

• Modify/ Use of non-hazardous materials

• Last option is eye guards

Plant SurveyPlant Survey

• Lighting conditions needs to be

assessed

• Sites of emergency first aids needs

to be noted

• Accident records have to be

maintained

Vision ScreeningVision Screening

• Studies have proved to have a strong

relation between defective vision and

accidents

• Injure not just themselves but their

colleagues also run the risk of being

injured

Implementation Of Implementation Of ProgrammeProgramme

• Elimination/control

• Provision of eye protectors

• Marking of the areas

• Provision for first aid facilities

• Provision of lens cleaning stations

• Formation of safety committee

• Educating employees

Maintenance Of the Maintenance Of the ProgrammeProgramme

• Assessing new manufacturing processes

• Continuing education and training

• Regular vision screenings

• Active safety committee

• Stocking eye protectors

• Maintenance of lens cleaning and first aid

facilities