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| Risks to eyesight major finding of national report |
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A NATIONAL report has found that for the majority of Australian workers, being able to see is fundamental to being able to do their job. Despite this, working Australians are still taking part in activities that can increase the risk of eye disease, including more than one in four who admit to regularly smoking.
According to The Eye Foundation report, Australian workers are four times more likely to feel that losing their eyesight would make it most difficult to complete their job, compared to if they were to lose their ability to speak. In addition twice as many workers felt that losing the ability to see would make it most difficult to do their job, compared to if they lost their mobility. While this suggests the majority of Australian workers place great value on their eye health, the report also reveals that many are taking unnecessary risks with their eyes by participating in activities that could lead to an eye disease or cause permanent eyesight damage. Alarmingly more than one in four (28 percent) Australian workers smoke on regular basis, which is a known risk factor for common eye diseases. In addition 44 percent are not having their eyes tested frequently enough, despite the vast majority being aware that eyes should be tested at least every two years. While one-in-two Australian workers do DIY projects at home and 73 percent of them have protective eye wear, only a fraction of this group consistently wear it when doing DIY projects. For instance, only 31 percent always wear protective eye wear when they chop or saw wood around the home. In addition only 29 percent always wear protective eye wear when they are using a hammer or chisel – leaving eyes at risk of serious injury. According to ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon, Dr Gina Kourt, these findings highlight the importance of vision and taking simple steps to look after our eyes. “People fear the loss of vision second only to the fear of cancer – awareness of eye health and having regular eye checks significantly reduces the chance of visual loss,” Dr Kourt said. “What many people do not realise is that 75 percent of blindness and vision loss can be treated and early detection is vital. People need to be aware of the risk factors for eye disease and have regular checks to detect any sign of eye disease. But education is only part of the solution. Investing in more research to help find better treatment options for eye disease is essential,” she added. To draw attention to this serious issue, The Eye Foundation renamed the month of July to raise awareness of eye health and much needed funds for research into eye disease. The JULeye initiative will ultimately allow The Eye Foundation to continue its good work in funding research projects and participating in eye care development projects and community awareness programs. The Eye Foundation report reveals that many eyesight myths have a strong hold among Australian workers. Of the workers surveyed 70 percent mistakenly believe that sitting too close to their computer or TV screen will increase their risk of developing an eye disease and 68 percent think that reading under dim light will have a similar result. The Eye Foundation is the medical eye specialists’ foundation, dedicated to restoring sight and preventing vision loss throughout Australasia. The Foundation supports more than 850 Australian and New Zealand medical eye specialists (ophthalmologists) who are passionate about giving future generations the best vision possible. The Eye Foundation is a not-for-profit fund raising organisation, which is part of a legacy of more than 150-years of inspired effort by ophthalmologists to restore sight and prevent vision loss. For more information visit www.eyefoundation.org.au/index.php
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