After you learn how to sit in front of a computer, it’s time to protect your eyes too!
A large part of the population use the computer for either work or play on a daily basis. Whether you’re working or playing, it is important to pay close attention to the health of your eyes. Research has shown that spending multiple hours on the computer can lead to unhealthy eyes and various eye conditions. Below is a list of easy tips you can use to help protect the health of your eyes while working on the computer.
Correct Posture
Maintaining the correct posture while sitting at the computer is one of the simplest things you can possibly do. Not only will practicing good sitting posture help your lower back, hips, neck, and shoulders stay in correct alignment, but it will also help you to view the screen correctly as well. According to OSHA standards, your computer monitor should be placed directly in front of you and no less than 20-inches away. Additionally, the top of the screen should be at or below eye level. Following these standards will help reduce eye strain and other associated eye conditions.
Use Anti-Glare Filters on your Monitor
Anti-glare filters will help protect your eyes from the harmful glare that reflects off your monitor from surrounding light sources. They may also reduce the glare produced from your monitor. Additionally, these anti-glare filters will help protect your computer screen from harmful cleaning chemicals and scratches.
Adjust your Monitors Brightness Settings
Bright lights can also play a major role in the development of eye strain and headaches. By adjusting the brightness of your monitor, you can reduce the risk of straining your eyes. Additionally, if you find that the reading materials on your screen are too large or too small for you to read comfortably, try adjusting the font size within your computer settings.
Give your Eyes a Break
Looking at the computer screen can make your eyes feel tired, dry, and strained. It is important to periodically look away from the screen to help rejuvenate your eyes! For every 20 minutes of looking at the monitor, make sure you look away at something in the distance, preferably at least 20 feet away. This will help your eyes refocus. Additionally, you can perform eye exercises such as rotating your eyes in a figure 8 along the floor. For dry, scratchy eyes, keep some eye drops in your desk to help remoisten them the way your tears normally would.
We all strive to live a healthy lifestyle, but often one of the least thought-about, but equally important parts of our body are not considered: our eyes. Many people believe that periodic eye strain and headaches due to poor eye sight are a common matter; something that’s not worth worrying about. Contrary to this belief, eye strain and headaches are one of the most complained about health issues among office workers. By following the tips above, you can help reduce or eliminate the risk of developing eye strain and their related headaches.