Traditionally, eye protection products have been designed to prevent physical injury to the eye. Protection from flying objects or debris, as well as the filtration of Ultra-Violet (UV) light waves, has been the main purpose of safety eyewear. Eye fatigue is an additional factor to consider when assessing the work environment and the eye safety products used.
Eye fatigue is the physical response of the eye to a stressful condition. Symptoms can include dry eyes, irritated eyes, blurred vision, headaches and light sensitivity. These symptoms often lead to low productivity and an unsafe workplace. A number of factors can contribute to these stressful conditions: psychological, environmental and occupational.