Most office jobs require the use of computers for the majority of the workday. While focusing on your screen for hours on end is not going to result in permanent eye damage, it often causes eye strain, leading to fatigue, blurry vision, or headaches. These five simple tips will help you alleviate these issues by reducing eye strain, keeping you healthy and comfortable as you work.
1. Adjust the contrast on your screen to make sure it isn’t brighter than the surrounding light in the room. Bright screens force your eyes to work harder.
2. If you have a screen with high glare, use a polarizing anti-glare filter, which will prevent the glare from reflecting into your eyes.
3. Clean your screen regularly. Dust and fingerprints force your eyes to work harder.
4. Position your monitor about an arm’s length away from you, with the top of the screen at eye level. This allows for a slight downward gaze that is easier on the muscles behind your eyes.
5. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look away from your screen at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple exercise gives your eyes a break and keeps eye tissues flexible.
A 2016 survey by The Vision Council reports that 65% of American workers experience eye strain and its corresponding symptoms. And this figure jumps to 73% for people under 30. Incorporating these simple healthy habits into the workday to reduce eye strain will help prevent the discomfort that comes with using our screens all day, every day. Computers, tablets, and smartphones are here to stay, but that doesn’t mean our eyes have to suffer!