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Eye prevention days: The eye health of emergency services in the spotlight

Healthy vision as the foundation of safety

Vision is one of the most important senses for police officers, municipal guards, and rescue workers, who rely on it daily in their demanding jobs. Sharp and healthy eyesight is key to effectively protecting the lives of others as well as their own. This is precisely why Eye Centre Prague has been focusing on this specific group of professionals for over a decade, offering them preventive eye examinations directly at their workplaces.
"Thanks to this tradition, we can not only detect common refractive errors but also uncover hidden health issues that may have a long-term impact on quality of life and work performance," says Radan Zugar, MD, Chief Doctor of Eye Centre Prague.

Interesting results from this Year's Event

During this year’s examinations, doctors managed to identify several health findings and vision impairments requiring further follow-up examinations and care at the eye clinic. Among the detected issues were:

• Several cases of cataracts, which will require subsequent surgical intervention.

• Elevated intraocular pressure and findings on the optic nerve, for which additional examinations were recommended due to suspected glaucoma.

• More than 50% of participants received recommendations to adjust their eyeglass prescription or obtain their first pair of glasses, which often leads to a significant improvement in quality of life and work efficiency.

"One of the goals of this event is to teach participants to think about prevention and realize that regular eye care is meaningful. We are very pleased that so many new people took advantage of this opportunity for the first time this year," adds Chief Doctor Zugar.

Prevention that makes sense

The examinations conducted during Vision Prevention Days take approximately 20 minutes. They include instrumental vision measurement, testing for near and distance vision, a consultation with a doctor, and recommendations for further steps. For many participants, this is their first opportunity for a detailed eye examination, which can prevent unnecessary complications in the future. The event is also highly accessible, as it takes place directly at the workplaces of rescue services, which most participants greatly appreciate.

"We greatly value the work of rescue service members and see this event as a way to show them support and care. They protect our lives, and we are here to take care of their vision. We thank all participants who joined the event and look forward to the next edition, where we can continue this meaningful tradition," concludes Chief Doctor Zugar.

Healthy vision for safe job performance

Vision prevention is not only a matter of personal health but also a crucial aspect of workplace safety for all members of the rescue services. The collaboration between Oční centrum Praha and the integrated rescue system has proven over more than a decade to be an effective way to bring healthcare directly to where it is most needed – the workplaces of police officers, municipal guards, and rescue workers.

This initiative is also appreciated by representatives of individual service branches, who see the benefits not only for their colleagues but also for the quality of their daily demanding work.

"Our employees genuinely look forward to the mobile eye screenings. Since late September, we’ve been receiving regular inquiries about whether they can count on the eye examinations again this year, and that brings us great joy. Good vision is indispensable for both our lives and our work. The growing interest among employees proves that partnering with the eye centre was the right move. A big thank you from us, and we’re already looking forward to next year," says Irena Seifertová, spokesperson for Prague municipal guards.

"Vision Prevention Days are used every year by dozens of police officers and civilian employees. Doctors perform examinations and provide professional consultations directly at our workplaces, which is a great benefit for those interested. Regular preventive vision screenings and early detection of potential eye issues are key to preventing serious health complications, and I am very pleased that we have been collaborating with Oční centrum Praha in this way for years," says Col. Zuzana Pidrmanová, Head of the Prevention Department of the Police Presidium of the Czech Republic.