Optometrists manual on industrial vision

Historical Significance: Awareness about the need to protect the eyes in industrial work from impact injury and radiation damage emerged from about 1850 (eg do a search in this catalogue using the sub-category Protective eyewear). Later, after World War 2, the idea of ensuring workers had adequate vision for their jobs took hold as an extension to eye safety programs and this in turn lead to visual ergonomics to ensure that working conditions were optimal for good vision. The lighting industry promoted good lighting at work.Some psychologists began to specialise in industrial pyschology in the mid 20thC notably Joseph Tiffin. He wrote on the importance of visual skills for adequate job performance in 1944 (J Consult Psych 1944; 8: 80-89) and played a role indeveloping the orthorater for screening vision at workplaces.The optical manufacturing companies produced instruments for screening vision of workers on-site, one of the earliest of which was the Bausch and Lomb orthorater which was developed in mid 1940s. Optometrists undertook vision screening in industry in the 1950s in order to generate business since they contracted to supply glasses to those needing them. In Melbourne, the large optometry firm Coles and Garrard undertook vision screening in large manufacturing companies for this purpose. In this booklet the American Optometric Association gives guidance on industrial optometry to its members. See other books on industrial optometry from this period Cat Nos 153, 700, 1440 and 1449