PBA boosts eye health via workplace

Chicago-Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has designated March as Workplace Vision Month in an effort to educate corporations and their employees on the importance of vision health. Tell employers in your community that they can participate in the non-profit organization’s Healthy Eyes Vision Wellness Program at no charge.

The program includes printed posters to hang in common areas of the workplace as well as various eye health educational materials designed to encourage workers to make their vision health a priority. Topics include eye protection recommendations for work or play and information on various eye diseases and conditions for adults and children. Leading eye-care professionals developed the materials. Participants also receive a free download of the adult vision risk assessment.

“By promoting eye health and safety in the workplace, companies can actually help reduce their annual health-care costs,” said Hugh R. Parry, chief executive officer of PBA. That’s because the more vision ailments employees have, the more medical care they use, and this use generates increased health-related expenditures for employers through absenteeism, sick leave, and premature retirement due to vision-related illness or work-related eye injuries, he added.

To sign up for the Healthy Eyes Vision Wellness Program or receive free information on eye safety in the workplace, employers can call 800/331-2020 or visit www.preventblindness.org/wellness.