How to prevent work-related eye strain

Computer eye strain is a major work-related problem but that is not surprising. Most of us work at computers for long hours. Studies have shown that 50 – 90 percent people who use computers suffer from eye strain. Eye strain can cause several symptoms including eye twitching, headaches, dizziness, reduced productivity and physical fatigue.

Here are some tips to reduce computer eye strain.

Get an eye exam

The first thing that you need to do to prevent computer vision problems is to get routine eye examinations.

Use proper lighting.

Eye strain is often caused by harsh interior lighting. Bright light that comes in through the window can also cause eye strain. Close drapes or blinds to eliminate exterior light. To reduce interior lighting, use fewer light bulbs.

Minimize glare

Glare can cause eyestrain. Install an anti-glare screen on the monitor to reduce glare. Also cover the windows to reduce outside light. If you wear eyeglasses, make sure that the lenses have anti-reflective coating.

Upgrade to LCD panels

Replace your older CRT monitors with flat-panel LCD screens. If you have to use a CRT display, adjust the settings to the highest possible refresh rate. When buying a flat panel display, pick one that has the highest resolution.

Adjust display settings

By adjusting the display settings of your computer, you can reduce eye strain. The following adjustments are usually beneficial.

Brightness

The brightness of your display should be more or less the same as the brightness of the surroundings. Small fonts strain the eyes. When reading long documents on your computer, don’t forget to adjust the text size. Also reduce the color temperature of the display.

Blink more often

Blink frequently. Blinking helps moisten your eyes. It will prevent irritation and dryness. People blink less often, when they work at a computer. During these long non-blinking phases tears coating the eyes evaporate faster. To prevent dry eyes, every 20 minutes, blink 10 times by slowly closing your eyes.

Exercise your eyes

Your eyes get tired when you constantly focus on the screen. Every 20 minutes you should look away from the monitor for 20 seconds. This will relax the focusing muscles inside the eye. Another good exercise is to look at a distant object for about 15 seconds and then look at something closer for 15 seconds.

Take frequent breaks.

People who work at their computer for long hours also experience pain in their neck, back and shoulders. By taking frequent breaks you can reduce eye strain and other problems.