Staring at a screen for hours on end could, at best, strain your eyes. When you view something that is nearer, like a computer screen, your eyes have to exert more effort. Exposure to this after a long time is bad for your eyes.
Making the right adjustments to your work habits and workspace could improve your eye health. To get you started, here are a few things you may want to try.
1. Change Your Lighting
Soft, natural light will help your eyes see better. This puts less strain on your eyes while you are working. If you can, set up your workspace near a window. Natural, ambient light won’t hurt your eyes as much as artificial light.
Strategic lighting will help reduce the glare on your computer screen. If you can’t reposition your workspace, you can opt to get a hood for the glare instead. However, note that this might affect your screen’s resolution. An easy fix would be to adjust your screen monitor’s contrast.
2. Place Your Screen Within Reasonable Distance
Aside from adjusting the lighting, you should also make sure that your screen is a reasonable distance away from your face. An ideal distance would be about 24-28 inches away from your eyes. Any materials you need to refer to should be within a safe distance of the monitor.
If possible, invest in a monitor with adjustable height. The more that you find a distance and height that you are comfortable working a long period of time with, the better.
3. Have the Right Posture
It’s not just your monitor that needs to be perfectly aligned, it’s your posture too. Not only will the proper sitting posture help you with eye strain, but it also benefits other desk-job-related injuries such as carpal tunnel.
When on your desk, make sure your arms create a 90-degree angle, and your chair height should be adjustable. If it comes with lower back support, that will be a huge plus.
Your elbow, hip, and knee joints should also create a 90-degree angle. As for your feet, they should be able to rest flat on the floor or on a footrest.
4. Don’t Forget to Take Breaks
Of course, the most crucial work tip—don’t forget to take breaks! Constant exposure to monitors and screens will keep you tired overall. Trying productivity methods such as the Pomodoro should give you enough time to rest in between your busy work schedule.
When you can manage to take a break, focus on objects in the distance. You can try looking out the window or your pets playing in the other room. To keep your body relaxed, you can do some light exercises. This should also give you more energy to work again.
Even short, 2-3 minute breaks should be enough for your eyes to recuperate after a while.
Conclusion
To avoid any strain on your eyes or any common eye ailments such as nearsightedness, astigmatism, anisometropia, and more, it’s best to implement good work habits. Not only will it save you from burnout, but your eyes will thank you as well.
Make sure your eyes are safe and protected. Take a comprehensive eye examination at Caprice Optical today. We provide quality optical care and services to give you the perfect pair of glasses. Consult with us today!
