OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO OPTICAL RADIATION AND THE OCULAR HEALTH-STATUS OF GLASSBLOWERS

The occupational radiation exposure levels and the ocular health statu s of a sample of glassblowers in southern Ontario were evaluated, The form of ocular protection was also assessed, Measurements of radiant e missions from different molten glass materials were carried out, A tot al of six glassblowing installations, 15 glassblowers and 42 non-glass blowers participated in the study, The spectral transmittances of samp les of the protective lenses were obtained, Tonometry, biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy, pachometry, Schirmer tear test, endothelial photograph y were completed on all the volunteering subjects, The glassblowers' o cular findings were compared to those of non-glassblowers, No indicati on of cataract was observed among this group of glassblowers, Although , a preponderance of grade 2 polymegethism among the glassblowers (47% compared to 11% in non-glassblowers) was found, there was no signific ant difference in their ocular health, Variation in the corneal irradi ance from occupational exposure was obtained, and in addition, the use of protective lenses was found to be inappropriate. In order to preve nt against any long-term chronic pathologic effect, the use of appropr iate ocular protection is advised. Copyright (C) 1997 The College of O ptometrists. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.