8 Ways to Protect Your Eyes at the Office
Everyone seems to be staring at a screen these days, whether their computer, their smartphone or another digital device. The stress it puts on your eyes can cause a condition called "digital eye strain" (DES) or "computer vision syndrome" (CVS). Symptoms include eye fatigue, dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, red eyes, and eye twitching.
How To Protect Your Eyes While You Work
1. See your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam
This is one of the most important things you can do to prevent or treat symptoms associated with computer vision syndrome. During your appointment, speak with your optometrist about your working habits, including the frequency and length of time you use a computer and other devices. Computer vision syndrome may be exacerbated by an underlying dry eye disease, which can be diagnosed and treated at our eye clinic in Washington Court House.
2. Good lighting is key
Excessively bright light is a common cause of eyestrain. When using your computer, your ambient lighting should be about 50% dimmer than what is typically found in most offices. Computer users often find that turning off overhead fluorescent lights and replacing them with floor lamps is easier on their eyes.
3. Minimize glare
Eyestrain can be aggravated by glare from light reflecting off surfaces including your computer screen. Position your computer so that windows are to the side of it. Consider installing an anti-glare screen on your display. If you wear glasses, get anti-reflective (AR) coating on your lenses to reduce glare.
4. Upgrade your display
If you have a CRT (cathode) screen on your monitor, consider replacing it with a flat-panel LED screen that includes an anti-reflective surface. Old-school CRT screens can be a major cause of computer eye strain due to the flickering images. For your new flat panel desktop display, choose one with a diagonal screen size of at least 19 inches.
5. Adjust display settings for added comfort
Adjusting your computer display settings can help decrease eye strain. Adjust brightness to match the luminance around you, text size for maximum comfort, and color temperature. Blue light is short-wavelength visible light that helps keep you alert but tends to cause eye fatigue; yellow to red tints are more relaxing for long-term viewing.
6. Get computer glasses
Nearly 70% of North Americans experience digital eye strain related to prolonged use of electronic devices. Optique Family Vision Care recommends digital protection coatings, which act as a shield to cut the glare and filter the blue light emanating from digital screens and artificial light.
For the greatest eye comfort, ask your eye doctor for customized computer glasses, which feature mildly tinted lenses that filter out blue light. These can be made with or without prescription vision correction.
7. Don't forget to blink
When staring at a digital device people tend to blink up to 66% less often. Making a conscious effort to blink more while working or watching can prevent dryness and irritation.
8. Exercise your eyes
Look away from your computer every 20 minutes and gaze at an object located 20 feet away, for a minimum of 20 seconds. This "20-20-20 rule" is a classic exercise to relax the eyes' focusing muscles and reduce computer vision syndrome.
Contact Optique Family Vision Care in Washington Court House to make an appointment and learn how the right eye drops, eye exercises, computer glasses, or AR coatings can improve eye comfort and reduce computer vision syndrome.