Cataracts and Occupational Hazards - An Overview

Introduction:

Different types of jobs can lead to various eye problems. For example, welders, computer users, jewelry makers, and those working with radiology or fluoroscopy are more likely to get cataracts. Allergic conjunctivitis (eye inflammation due to allergies) can occur if the person is exposed to things like dust or chemicals at work. Employees need to have regular eye check-ups based on their job and work environment to protect eye health. If the job has risks for eye issues, necessary precautions should be taken and checked before starting and periodically after starting work.

What Are Occupational Cataracts and Their Causes?

Cataracts are affected when the eye's lens becomes cloudy, leading to blurry or double vision, light sensitivity, and trouble seeing at night. Different jobs can lead to various eye problems, such as welders, computer users, jewelry makers, and those working in fluoroscopy, cardiac catheterization, or radiology. Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by exposure to dust or chemicals in the workplace.

1. Welding: Welding involves using high heat or pressure to melt and join metals, but it causes risks to the eyes. Welders are exposed to various types of light, including infrared, visible, and ultraviolet rays. These can cause eye problems such as irritation, lens and cornea damage from infrared rays, blurry vision, cataracts, and corneal and iris damage from ultraviolet rays. Many welders develop cataracts due to these exposures. To protect their eyes, welders should use appropriate masks and eyewear based on the welding process and current intensity. Regular eye exams before and after starting work are essential to detect issues early. Long-term exposure to welding fumes can lead to several health issues. It can cause hearing loss and might contribute to Parkinson's disease or symptoms similar to it, especially due to manganese, a substance found in welding fumes.

2. Using Computers: Millions of people use computers daily for work, study, and entertainment, which can lead to various health issues. Common problems for computer users include muscle and joint issues, eye strain, and headaches, often resulting from sitting in the wrong position for long periods. Many computer users experience eye discomforts, like itching, burning, light sensitivity, blurry vision, fatigue, difficulty focusing, dryness, and issues with their tear glands. CVS is a set of eye problems linked to prolonged computer use. It affects around 60 million people worldwide and can make work less productive and decrease overall quality of life. To prevent this, adjust the computer screen's brightness and the lighting in the workspace to reduce glare. Use anti-reflective screens or filters to reduce glare from the computer screen. Take regular breaks by looking away from the screen every two to three minutes and take a ten to 15-minute break every hour. Also, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes to help reduce eye strain. Following these tips can help ease eye discomfort and improve computer productivity.

3. Jewelry: Visual weakness, or asthenopia, can be caused by individual eyesight problems, bad lighting, uncomfortable seating, and long work hours by staring at one spot for too long and not blinking enough. Jewelry makers face these issues because they involve close, detailed tasks like handling metals and stones and polishing items. They must ensure high quality and precision, requiring intense visual focus. Specific visual issues were observed in jewelry workers, including problems with eye strain and visual discomfort. They experience more visual disturbances due to the demanding nature of their work. Safety measures have to be taken while working.

4. Nuclear Plants: Workers at nuclear plants, such as those at the Mayak facility, can be exposed to high radiation levels. A study tracked 15,883 workers from 1948 to 1982, monitoring their health and cataract development. By the end of the 2008 study, 4,159 cases of cataracts were recorded among these workers. The study found that the risk of cataracts increased with radiation exposure above 2.0 Gy (gray). The most common types of cataracts observed were cortical and nuclear, with posterior subcapsular cataracts making up 19.3 percent of cases. Both men and women showed similar rates of cataract development.

5. Radiological Imaging: In radiology, the eye's lens is particularly sensitive to radiation. People who work in radiology, such as those using fluoroscopy or performing cardiac catheterization, are at higher risk for cataracts compared to those who are not exposed to radiation. For example, fluoroscopists who use fluoroscopy frequently have an increased risk of cataracts. A study found that the threshold dose for cataracts is 0.5 Gy. Workers in interventional cardiology who are exposed to high levels of radiation are also at risk for lens opacification (cloudy lenses).

6. Ocular Allergens: In recent years, allergic eye conditions have become more common, with allergic conjunctivitis being one of the most frequent issues. This is often linked to other allergic conditions like rhinitis (runny nose), eczema, and asthma. The eyes are sensitive to allergens in both the environment and workplaces. Occupational allergic conjunctivitis is triggered by allergens in the work environment and is related to a genetic tendency for allergies and exposure to irritants. Diagnosing these conditions involves reviewing the patient’s history and conducting tests to identify allergens. Managing these conditions often requires improving workplace conditions, like better ventilation, reducing exposure time, and replacing harmful toxic substances.

Treatments are usually antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, and special eye drops. A study of workers in Nigeria’s petroleum industry found that technical workers had a higher incidence of eye problems, including allergic conjunctivitis, pterygium (a growth on the eye), corneal abrasions, and foreign bodies due to chemical exposure. To protect these issues, technical workers must wear safety goggles.

Conclusion:

Employees should get medical check-ups and tests based on their jobs and work environment. If the job or workplace poses risks to eye health, steps should be taken to protect the eyes. Workers should have an eye examination before starting a job and continue to have regular eye check-ups while on the job.