DAWA ZANGMO | Thimphu
Bhutan’s health system treated more than 21,000 work-related injuries in 2025, drawing attention to a rising yet insufficiently addressed issue of occupational eye injuries an area experts say is significantly underreported despite being largely preventable.
Data from the Annual Health Bulletin 2025 show that 21,009 workplace injuries were recorded across the country.
In contrast, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment reported only 17 occupational accidents during the same period, exposing a substantial discrepancy in reporting and enforcement mechanisms.
Speaking during fifth International Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health, held in the capital, Dr. Dechen Wangmo, who leads the Ophthalmology Department at the national referral hospital (JDWNRH), said eye injuries sustained at workplaces are increasingly emerging as a hidden public health concern.
She noted that workers in sectors such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing are particularly vulnerable.
Occupational eye injuries refer to damage to the eyes occurring in work environments, which can result in either short-term or long-term conditions due to various occupational hazards.
“Close to 90 percent of eye injuries at the workplace can be prevented,” she said, noting that the most serious cases including ruptured eyeballs and irreversible vision loss are frequently seen among workers who fail to use essential protective gear such as safety goggles or face shields.
Across Bhutan, such injuries vary widely in severity, ranging from mild irritation to serious trauma that may result in permanent blindness.
Workers are commonly exposed to risks including dust particles, airborne debris, chemical substances, and intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Certain occupations face heightened risk. These include construction labourers, factory employees, welders, farmers, healthcare and laboratory personnel, electricians, plumbers, and transport workers.
In many of these professions, penetrating eye injuries are often caused by flying metal fragments, cement dust, and particles generated during grinding processes.
Eye conditions linked to workplace exposure are also diverse. They include dry eye syndrome, allergic conjunctivitis, cataracts associated with prolonged UV exposure, pterygium caused by extended exposure to sunlight and dust, and computer vision syndrome resulting from long hours of screen use.
Dr. Dechen Wangmo highlighted that a lack of awareness regarding first-aid responses remains a major concern. She explained that inappropriate reactions such as rubbing the eye when a foreign object enters can aggravate the injury.
In cases involving chemical exposure, she stressed that the eye should be rinsed immediately with clean water for at least 30 minutes, while severe cases must be referred for urgent medical care.
“Failure to seek timely treatment often results in complications, including lasting vision impairment,” she said.
Despite widespread knowledge about the risks, preventive practices remain inconsistent.
Several barriers continue to hinder the effective use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including weak safety culture, limited awareness, and discomfort due to poorly fitted gear, high costs, and insufficient enforcement of workplace safety regulations.
The financial implications of vision impairment are also considerable. Globally, an estimated 2.2 billion people live with some form of visual impairment, with at least one billion cases considered preventable or untreated.
Projections indicate that this figure could rise to 1.7 billion by 2050, while productivity losses linked to vision impairment are estimated at approximately USD 411 billion annually.
In Bhutan, the economic impact is reflected in compensation payments. Employers disbursed more than Nu 1.4 million in compensation for workplace-related injuries and fatalities during the 2023–2024 fiscal year.
Under the Labour and Employment Act of Bhutan 2007, employers are mandated to report workplace incidents within 24 hours and to provide appropriate protective equipment to workers. Failure to comply with these provisions can lead to penalties.
However, many incidents go unreported, often due to limited awareness and concerns over potential consequences.
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment has taken steps to address these challenges through the National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Strategy 2025–2035, launched by the Department of Labour.
The strategy aims to achieve a 90 percent compliance rate with workplace safety standards by 2035.
However, Dr. Dechen Wangmo emphasized that merely supplying protective equipment is insufficient without proper training, supervision, and accountability within workplaces.
She further noted that emerging technologies could offer new solutions. Innovations such as smart protective gear, tele-ophthalmology services, and artificial intelligence-based screening tools have the potential to enhance early detection and prevention of eye injuries, provided they are supported by effective enforcement and behavioral changes.
She called for improved coordination among key stakeholders, including employers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.
Employers, she said, should ensure the provision of quality protective eyewear, conduct regular safety training sessions, and strictly enforce occupational safety standards.
Healthcare providers, on the other hand, play a critical role in early diagnosis, timely treatment, and raising awareness through screening programes and education initiatives.
As occupational eye injuries continue to affect workers across multiple sectors, expert’s stress that stronger reporting systems, enhanced preventive measures, and coordinated action will be essential to reducing avoidable vision loss and improving workplace safety nationwide.
