Contact lenses are an important part of good vision today. They are commonly used among all age groups and provide improved vision. However, in the workplace, individual evaluations should be part of employee safety. When in doubt, the best advice can be obtained from your Ophthalmologist. The rumour has been around for years – welding equipment or other electric arc flashes make contact lenses stick to the eyeball (cornea). This rumour has been proven false.
CCHOS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety) Put as simply as possible, the problem is that, according to some people, contact lenses may complicate eye safety.
The arguments against wearing contact lenses in the work environment are based on the following: • Dusts or chemicals can be trapped behind the lens and cause irritation or damage to the cornea or both. • Gases and vapours can cause irritation and excessive eye watering. • Chemical splash may be more injurious when contact lenses are worn. This increased risk is related to the removal of the lenses. If removal is delayed, first aid treatment may not be as effective and, in turn, the eye’s exposure time to the chemical may be increased.
However, the opposite may be true as well. Contact lenses may prevent some substances from reaching the eye, and thus minimize or even prevent an injury. Both situations have been documented. As a result, a wide range of opinions about the safety of contact lenses in the workplace has formed. More complete information is hard to find since occupational injury reporting systems do not typically include information about contact lens use. The critical point to remember is that contact lenses are not intended to be used as protective devices. They are not a substitute for personal protective equipment (PPE) – if eye and face protection is required for certain work operations then all workers, including contact lens wearers, should wear the proper protective devices. Safe work conditions for all workers are only possible when basic occupational health and safety practices and procedures are followed.
There are conditions in which the use of contact lenses should be closely scrutinized and/or restricted:
Chemicals Vapors Splash and spray of liquids, especially highly acidic or alkaline substances Radiant or intense heat Molten metals Highly particulate atmospheres
In instances where contact lenses cannot be safely worn, or where management has determined that lenses cannot be used, other corrective eye wear should be worn. In addition, protective eye wear must be worn with, or without, contact lenses.
1. Occupational eye wear should be worn as needed and should meet, or exceed standards. CSA Standard Z94.3.1-02 Protective Eye wear
2. Employees and visitors should be advised of defined areas where contact lenses are allowed.
3. Specific eye protection should be defined and worn in areas where contact lenses are allowed.
4. Specific written policies should be developed on the use of contact lenses in the company. Employee consultation and involvement should be encouraged.
5. A listing of employees who wear contact lenses should be compiled and maintained and be accessible to first aid responders. Supervisory personnel should also be aware of contact lense wearers.
6. First aid responders, and others who may render medical aid, should be trained in proper procedures to remove contact lenses in both conscious and unconscious employees.
7. Employees should keep spare corrective lenses (contact lenses and eye glasses) in their work area. This will allow continued work, should trouble develop.
8. Contact lense wearers should always be aware of eye comfort. Should redness, irritation, blurred vision and other unusual conditions develop, lenses should be removed, and replaced by glasses. Contact lenses offer employees necessary vision correction. However, in the workplace, the use of contact lenses must be carefully evaluated and always use common sense and relevant data, in determining contact lenses use