Occupational Health : Vision Screening

In the workplace a comprehensive screening programme can provide a general overview of employee’s visual disorders, detecting those where corrective action should be taken.

Vision Screening Tests are a means of identifying individuals with defective vision who need a full eyesight test. Using the Keystone VS-II, we carry out fourteen tests of nine visual functions – not just visual activity alone.

The tests indicate: 

• Eye co-ordination
• Depth perception
• Colour blindness
• Distance Vision
• Middle Vision
• Near Vision 

Who should be screened?

• Display Screen Equipment users in accordance with the Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
• Van Drivers
• Fork Lift Truck Drivers
• Company Car Drivers
• Close Inspection Workers
• Occupations where ‘normal’ colour vision is desirable or essential e.g. electricians

DSE users
Vision screening tests are a means of identifying individuals with defective vision who need an eye and eyesight test. Under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, Amended 2002, employers have a duty to ensure the provision of appropriate eye and eyesight tests to employees identified as users or operators.

A user or operator is classified as such when the individual depends upon the use of the display screen equipment to do their job and the individual has no discretion as to the use or non use of the equipment, also if the individual normally uses the equipment for continuous spells of an hour or more at a time on a daily basis.

DSE users are entitled to appropriate eye and eyesight tests before starting work, at regular intervals thereafter, and at other times if they experience visual difficulties relating to their work.

There is no reliable evidence that DSE work damages eyesight, but users with pre-existing vision defects may be more aware of them and improving them can improve job satisfaction and performance.

DSE users are entitled to a full eye and eyesight test by an optician or optometrist.  However, where companies offer vision screening facilities, some users may opt for a vision screening test in the first instance.  This entails the use of eye screening instrument capable of testing vision at mid or VDU screen distance and, if the result indicates that vision is defective at this distance, then the individual should be referred to an Optician/Optometrist.

What to Do When Attending For Screening

If the client wears prescription glasses or contact lenses, then they are asked to bring these along with them when the attending appointment.

Where will vision screening take place?
Vision screening can be carried out at Newcastle Occupational Health and Hygiene’s premises or at the clients’ premises.

Frequency of Testing
It is recommended that employees are tested on commencement in their job and every two years thereafter.

The DSE regulations recommend that eyesight tests are provided:

• Following a request by a user
• To recruits /employees who are to become users and have made a request
• For users thereafter at regular intervals. NOHH advises that it is reasonable to repeat at 2 yearly intervals
• When a user expresses that they are having visual difficulties which they attribute to the use of DSE

< For more information contact the Occupational Health team

< Return to Occupational Health