Health professionals across Fiji are warning of a rise in eye irritation and infections tied to everyday outdoor activities, and are urging people to adopt simple protective measures to prevent lasting damage. The renewed public-health push highlights risks from grass-cutting machinery, recreational swimming in natural waters and everyday exposure to wind-blown dust and plant debris — and stresses the need to seek immediate professional care when the eye is injured.
Experts say high-speed debris thrown up by grass-cutting machines is a common source of foreign particles that can scratch the eye’s surface, cause irritation or introduce infection. Similarly, swimmers who open their eyes underwater in rivers, streams or coastal waters risk exposure to microorganisms, sand and other contaminants that are not visible to the naked eye. Health advisers emphasise these are preventable causes of eye problems in a country where outdoor labour and recreation are integral to daily life.
As a practical step, clinicians recommend wearing sunglasses or certified protective eyewear when operating grass-cutters or spending extended periods outdoors. For tasks that generate flying debris, eye-care professionals advise using sealed safety goggles or face shields as appropriate, and warn that regular sunglasses alone may not be sufficient in high-risk situations. Swimmers are specifically counselled to avoid opening their eyes underwater in unfamiliar or untreated water environments.
The campaign also sets out clear first-aid guidance: remain calm, avoid rubbing the eye and do not attempt to remove a lodged object with fingers, cloth, sticks or any unsterilised material. Eye-care professionals warn these improvised methods can push particles deeper, cause further abrasion and introduce infection. Instead, anyone with a foreign object in the eye or who experiences persistent pain, changes to vision, discharge or redness should seek immediate assessment from a qualified eye specialist or local health centre.
Karma Gyatso, resident optometrist at Asgar Optometrists in Ba, is among the practitioners supporting the awareness drive. Health authorities are emphasising routine checks and early assessment, saying many eye conditions are easier to treat when caught early and that preventable injuries can be reduced by simple, low-cost precautions.
Officials are also calling on community leaders, employers and schools to spread the message widely — particularly in rural areas where exposure to agricultural machinery and natural water bodies is common. Regular eye check-ups, proper protective equipment for outdoor work, and caution when swimming in untreated waters form the core advice health services are promoting to protect vision across Fiji.
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