3 Types of Workplace Eye Injuries and Their Painful Effects
Workplace eye injuries can be catastrophic to victims.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that about 2,000 employees suffer workplace eye injuries requiring medical treatment everyday. This results in 730,000 workplace eye injuries each year, an alarming stat for workers.
The human eye is the second most complex part of the body after the brain. It’s made up of many unique parts, including the cornea, iris, retina and more.
The cornea is a clear layer of the eye that not only helps protect the iris and the pupil, but it also allows light to enter the inside.
The iris is the colored part of the eye that assists in controlling the size of the pupil to allow more or less light into the eye.
The retina in the back part of the eyeball contains cells that trigger nerve impulses to pass from the optic nerve to the brain, helping form visual images.
These are just a few of the major eye functions that literally assist with what we see. Damage to any one of these parts of the eye can lead to serious issues.
There are several different types of workplace eye injuries employees can suffer.
A chemical splash to the eye can lead to a variety of injuries. The eye can be burned, and vision damage is possible.
Healthcare workers and laboratory staff are frequently exposed to dangerous chemicals. Various acids and alkali-chemicals can lead to permanent eye damage.
Chemicals dangerous to the eye include ammonia, potassium hydroxide, or sulfuric and hydrochloric acid.
In addition to chemicals, the eye can get scratched.
A corneal abrasion can happen when certain particles or objects scratch the cornea.
Other objects can poke the eye or dig past the cornea, resulting in even more serious eye damage.
Also, computer-vision syndrome is a serious condition caused by prolonged computer use. While studies haven’t revealed any long-term effects, computer vision syndrome can have many painful side effects that lead to workplace eye injuries.
Some signs of computer vision syndrome:
- Dry, red eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Headaches
The National Library of Medicine reports that there are nearly one million new cases of computer vision syndrome reported each year.
There are a number of ways employees can help protect themselves from workplace eye injuries.
- Wear proper eyewear to prevent any debris, chemicals, or flames from entering the eye.
- Wash your hands to ensure there are no potential irritations when you touch the eye.
- Blink more frequently.
- Take breaks and look away from a computer monitor.
If you injured your eye during a work incident related to your job, you may qualify for workers’ compensation.
Workers’ compensation is a benefits program designed to help those who suffer job-related injuries. Injured workers’ must prove that their injury was the result of an accident on the job.
This can be achieved with proper evidence, such as:
- Photos of the incident causing items
- Medical expenses
- Expert testimony
- Witness testimony
Just because you can receive workers’ compensation does not always mean a claim will go through smoothly. There’s a chance your claim can be denied, and claims adjusters may try getting you to settle for amounts lower than what you deserve for your workplace eye injuries.
At C&B Law Group, our team of Los Angeles workers’ comp attorneys are prepared to help you following your eye injury. We offer decades of combined experience, successfully settling 99 percent of our cases.
The journey to a successful claim can be long and grueling. We will be upfront with you about the status of your case, and won’t make promises about end times as we continuously fight for you to receive proper compensation.
We help clients across Los Angeles, including areas such as:
- Glendale
- Burbank
- North Hollywood
- Van Nuys
- Panorama City
- Woodland Hills
- Sherman Oaks
- Sylmar
- Sun Valley
- Reseda
- Northridge
Reach out to C&B Law Group today to learn more about a free consultation.
