Protect your eyes from the dangers of farming

Your eyesight is one of your most valuable tools when it comes to farming, but this profession poses many dangers to the eyes.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that farmers sustain eye injuries in a variety of ways, including cutting metal, welding, drilling, working with animals, moving grain, haying, and exposure to chemicals.

In many cases, foreign objects are lodged in the eye. If sand, dirt, or similar natural particles get in the eye, chances are good the eyes can remove them with natural tears. Man-made materials like metal, glass, and cement can be more serious.

• READ MORE: Welding tips, tricks, and shortcuts

The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers these quick first aid tips:

• To remove objects in the eye, do not rub the eye. Blink several times to allow tears to flush out the object. Lift the upper eyelid over the lower eyelid to let the eyelashes try to brush it out. Use eye wash, saline solution, or running water to flush the eye out. If you can't get the particles out or it still feels like there's something in the eye after the material has been washed out, see a doctor or go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
• For chemical burns, flush the eye with water, take note of what the chemical is and seek emergency treatment. Taking a photo of the label or bringing it along is a good idea.
• When the eye is hit, gently apply a cold compress, but do not use steaks or other food items. Do not apply pressure. If a black eye develops or there is pain or vision changes, seek care right away, as a retinal detachment is possible.
• In the case of a cut or puncture, cover the eye but do not press on it, do not rinse with water or attempt to remove foreign objects, and do not take aspirin. Seek emergency care immediately.

While not every injury can be prevented, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says 90% of eye injuries could be avoided by wearing the proper eye protection.

• READ MORE: Hearing loss from noise is permanent but preventable

The Upper Midwest Agricultural and Safety Health Center (UMASH) offers this eye safety checklist:

• When working in dusty environments such as grinding feed or haying, wear safety glasses or goggles.
• When grinding or cutting metal, cement, or wood, wear safety glasses or goggles to keep small particles from scraping or being embedded in the eye.
• Use chemical-resistant goggles to help prevent long-term problems caused by working with pesticides or other chemicals. Read labels carefully and use recommended PPE.
• Use a welding helmet and filtering lenses to protect eyes from strong ultraviolet and infrared rays when welding. These rays can permanently damage eyes and cause blindness.
• Regularly inspect your PPE and replace it when worn. Make sure eye protection fits properly and will stay in place while working.
• Test tools regularly to make sure they're in good working order and that safety features such as machine guards are in place.
• Learn first aid for eye injuries. UMASH offers a printable PDF with first aid tips for eye injuries. Post it where employees will see it.

The American Academy of Ophthamology suggests seeing an eye doctor or medical doctor any time the eye is injured, even if it doesn't seem serious at first. Some injuries like raised eye pressure and detached retinas aren't necessarily obvious until the situation becomes serious.