Protecting Your Eyes at the Office

Digital eye strain in the workplace has become more common. Educating yourself about eye strain is the first step in preventing it. It is reported in about 70 percent of Americans who work on a computer daily. However, with the proper precautions, it’s avoidable.

We’ve generated a few things that you can do to prevent and relieve digital eye strain. As always, ask your eye care professional for further information or if you feel you need additional treatment.

Adjust Your Spacing

The distance between you and a computer screen should be 20 to 24 inches, roughly an arm’s length away. Additionally, the center of your screen should be about 10 to 15 degrees below eye level. A slight downward line of sight is reported to be most comfortable for the eyes, as well as the back and neck.

Remember to Blink

It sounds so simple, but a large majority of us forget to blink when we are focused. Blinking provides your eyes with much needed moisture and nutrients. If your eyes seem to remain dry, ask your optometrist about lubricating eye drops. Just having over- the-counter preservative free eye drops near your work area can provide some immediate needed relief. You can also create a better indoor climate by using a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

Change the Lighting

Adjusting your display setting could give your eyes much needed relief. Switch the brightness so it’s the same as your surroundings. You can set the computer to automatically do this by installing apps like F.lux, which adjust brightness with time of day. Change the text size so you are not straining to read small text from 20 – 24 inches away. Finally, alter the color temperature of the screen. Computers, like LEDs, emit a blue light which is associated with more eye strain. Reduce the color temperatures to a more red or orange base could reduce eye strain in the long term.

Remember to Break

Giving your eyes a break is always important. Following the 20/20/20 rule is a simple but effective way to reduce eye strain. Every 20 minutes, look away from your computer at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Eye safety in the workplace is extremely important. You will end up being more productive if you take steps to avoid digital eye strain. Type on, and remember to protect you eyes!