Background: Ocular injuries are a significant yet underrecognized occupational health burden among construction and industrial workers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where informal labour predominates. Despite the availability of protective measures, inadequate compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) and weak enforcement of workplace safety regulations continue to place workers at elevated risk of preventable visual morbidity. Methods: We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed and Google Scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies reporting epidemiology, risk factors, preventive measures, or intervention outcomes related to occupational ocular injuries in construction and industrial settings were included. After screening 93 records, 18 eligible studies were analyzed narratively. Key data extracted included study design, sample size, exposure type, outcomes, and risk of bias, with a structured summary provided in tabular form. Results: Across included studies, the prevalence of occupational ocular injuries ranged from 12% to 65%, with corneal foreign bodies, photokeratitis, chemical burns, and dust-induced ocular surface disorders as the most common injuries. Risk factors included inadequate PPE use, prolonged welding exposure, and dusty or chemically hazardous environments. Preventive measures such as safety education, enforcement of PPE use, and provision of ergonomically designed protective eyewear were consistently associated with reduced injury risk. Intervention studies demonstrated improved compliance and reduced incidence following structured training programs. However, barriers to sustained PPE use included discomfort, poor accessibility, and lack of regulatory enforcement. Conclusion: Occupational ocular injuries remain a preventable but persistent threat to visual health in construction and industrial sectors. Multilevel strategies integrating worker-centered education, employer-driven provision of ergonomically suitable PPE, and strengthened regulatory enforcement are essential to reduce injury burden. Future research should emphasize longitudinal monitoring, cost-effectiveness evaluations, and innovation in protective device design to achieve sustainable ocular injury prevention.
Madhuwanti Dutta (Thu,) studied this question.