Computer eyestrain is the number one office-related health complaint, but there are lots of things workers and employers can do to reduce what is called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Your vision can affect your body by developing a harmful condition called as presbyopia. This means for people in their forties or older, the computer screen gets a little fuzzy, even with glasses. The following list of tips will help you to minimize your eye-strain while working on your computer.
Adjust the brightness of Computer Screen: Eyestrain is often caused by excessively bright light coming in from outside and excessively bright light inside. When you use a computer, your ambient lighting should be about half that used in most offices. Also adjust the monitor to make sure the contrast between the screen background and the on-screen characters is high.
Blink more often: While working at your computer you tend blink five times less than what you actually blink. Blinking is very important when working at a computer — it moistens your eyes to avoid dryness and irritation. Try this exercise: Every 30 minutes blink 10 times by closing your eyes as if falling asleep (very slowly). This will help decrease the dryness in your eyes.
Distance and Position: Place your computer monitor 18-30 inches from your eyes. If you are seated near an air vent or draft, try to eliminate the flow of air in front of your eyes.
Exercise to stretch your eyes: Look away from your computer screen every 30 minutes, and focus for 5-10 seconds on a distant object outside or down the hallway. Another exercise to readjust your focus is to look far away at an object for 10-15 seconds and then near for 10-15 seconds. Both these exercises will help you prevent strained near vision and stretch your focusing muscles. Anyone in a deskbound job, especially those using computers, should stand up, move about, or exercise their arms, legs, back, neck, and shoulders frequently.
Modification of work station: Adjust your workstation and chair to the correct height. Purchase ergonomic furniture to insure proper screen locations and posture. In case you need to look back and forth between a printed page and your computer screen, this can cause eyestrain. Place written pages on a copy stand adjacent to the monitor. Properly light the copy stand; you may want to use a desk lamp, but make sure it doesn't shine into your eyes or onto the computer screen.
Frequent Breaks: It is mandatory to take a 10-minute break every hour to reduce eyestrain problems. However, if you feel the need to take more breaks, it may be an indication that you are suffering from computer vision syndrome. Make sure you get enough sleep (approximately 8 hours per night) to avoid eyestrain.
Accessories: Use an anti-glare screen to protect your eyes from the glare of the monitor. Always wear sunglasses when it is bright outside. Have an anti-reflective coating applied to your glasses. This will prevent glare and reflections on the back side of your lenses from reaching your eyes. For significant problems you can consult your doctor about artificial tears or eye drops that you can use during the day. This can indeed make your eyes look better with vasoconstrictors that reduce the size of the blood vessels in your eyes.
