Foreign bodies and safety eye spectacles (personal protective equipment):

A foreign body refers to an object in your eye that shouldn’t be there, such as a speck of dust/dirt, a wood chip, a metal shaving, an insect, a piece of glass, eyelashes, dislodged contact lens, cosmetics, or facial make-up, etc. The common places to find a foreign body are under the eyelid or on the surface of your eye.

Dirt, sand, and dust usually enter the eye because of wind, whilst metal or glass in the eye usually occurs when people have an accident while working with certain tools or materials.  Any foreign object that enters the eye at an accelerated speed poses a high risk for eye injury which may be followed by infection and or inflammation.

Symptoms

Having something stuck in the eye may range from being a mild nuisance or can be very painful and irritating. Anyone who experiences severe eye pain or vision changes should see an optometrist or doctor immediately.

If an object enters the eye at high speed or is large enough to be visible, a trip to the emergency department at the local hospital is necessary.

A foreign object in or on the surface of the eye can cause the following symptoms:

• pressure or discomfort
• burning or irritation
• watery and red eye
• itching or pain especially with blinking
• blurry vision to the affected eye
• sensitive to light

If you suspect a foreign object in the eye, it is a good idea to see an optometrist to assess your eye health and to safely remove the foreign body especially if you experience any of the following:

• moderate or severe eye pain 
• vision changes 
• bleeding or a watery discharge is leaking out of the eye
• glass or a chemical is in the eye or suspected to be in the eye
• the object was sharp or rough
• the object entered the eye at high speed

Accidents happen, so it is not always possible to avoid getting foreign objects in the eye during everyday activities.  Certain jobs and activities can put the eyes at risk and allow debris to fly into them. In such cases, using personal protective equipment or safety eyewear can help prevent injuries.

It is best to wear protective safety glasses when:

• working in dusty or windy areas
• drilling or grinding materials
• playing certain sports, such as squash
• working with dangerous and toxic chemicals
• using a lawnmower or hedge trimmers
  
  

At Specs Sensation, we have an expansive range of safety eyewear that meets the Australian and New Zealand eye safety standards.  Our products are manufactured by reputable suppliers and endorsed to meet the required safety standards.  Vision is a precious sense and we should all be particularly careful and responsible to preserve this sense.  

Work and home accidents happen – it is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately protected to prevent any serious eye injuries by using appropriate safety eyewear.  Our dispensing staff and Optometrists would be happy to show you our safety spectacle range that would best protect your eyes. Our consultations are FREE (fully bulk-billed) – don’t hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity than rather have regrets later.