Accidents involving the eyes can have potentially sight-threatening consequences. There are a few simple things that can be done to lessen the risk of activities that may lead to eye damage or accidents.

Where you work and the type of work you do will make a difference to what steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy and safe.

You can't harm your eyes by using a computer. Computers don't cause permanent changes to your eyes, or make any eye conditions you may have worse, and there is no evidence that the blue light from screens is harmful. However, the following points will help keep your eyes comfortable while using any type of screen.

If you need to wear glasses, wear them when using the computer. Keep your glasses prescription up to date by getting your eyes tested regularly. Some people may need a different pair of glasses for using a computer than for closer reading or seeing things in the distance. You should ask your optometrist if you feel that your reading glasses aren't helping you read your computer screen.

If you do seem to suffer from headaches when using the computer for long periods even with breaks, you may need to have a pair of glasses especially for computer work - your optometrist can assess this. When you have your eyes tested it is a good idea to take with you details of your workstation and in particular the distance between your eyes and the screen.

If you work in a factory, garage, laboratory or other industrial place then your eyes may be at risk from the work you do. This is particularly the case if you work with machinery that does any kind of pressing or grinding if you work with chemicals or in a place with lots of dust or particles in the air.

These points may help keep your eyes safe:

You need to keep your eyes safe while you are having fun. There are some leisure activities which have an increased risk for your eyes. Some simple steps will keep your eyes safe and not get in the way of your fun.

Lots of people enjoy DIY, but unfortunately accidents can happen. A lot can be done to keep your eyes as safe as possible while you put those shelves up!

There are several simple safety precautions in the garden that can help you prevent eye injuries.

The following are ideas which may help protect your eyes when playing sport.

As well as keeping your eyes safe having a regular eye examination, stopping smoking, eating healthily, and protecting your eyes from the sun can all make a positive difference to your eye health.

If you have a question about living with sight loss we’re here to offer support.

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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects a tiny part of the retina at the back of your eye, called the macula.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside your eye. Developing cataracts will cause your sight to become cloudy and misty. Cataracts are treated by surgery, during which the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens.

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