Prevent Blindness has declared March Workplace Eye Wellness Month. A recent Vision Council study found that almost 70% of American adults experience some form of digital eye strain.
As our computer, cell phone, and tablet usage continues to increase, the number of individuals suffering from eye strain continues to increase as well. However, there are tips people can use to help prevent digital eye strain. The first step should always be to visit your eye doctor if you are experiencing eye strain. This can insure no other underlying issues are contributing to your symptoms. Other ways you can prevent eye strain are:
– Place your screen 20 to 26 inches away from your eyes and a little bit below eye level.
– Use a document holder placed next to your computer screen. It should be close enough so you don’t have to swing your head back and forth or constantly change your eye focus.
– Adjust the text size on the screen to a comfortable level.
– Change your lighting to lower glare and harsh reflections. Glare filters over your computer screen can also help.
– Use a chair you can adjust.
– Choose screens that can tilt and swivel. A keyboard that you can adjust is also helpful.
– The Vision Council recommends the 20-20-20 break: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.
“Another way to make your eyes more comfortable with computer work is to remember to blink frequently and completely. It may be easiest to do by blinking with every new paragraph every new page, or every new search or website. If there is background music, blink with every new piece of music.” said Ophthalmologist Thomas Henderson, M.D.
Source: https://ophthalmologytimes.modernmedicine.com/ophthalmologytimes/news/prevent-blindness-encourages-workplace-eye-wellness