Computer Eye Strain Relief
In recent years computer eye strain has become a major office-related health complaint. Effects differ depending on the on the worker, but include physical fatigue and decreased productivity and accuracy in the workplace. Fortunately, there are steps that both workers and employers can take to reduce computer eye strain and the associated symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS).
Get a Computer Eye Exam
A crucial first step for workers is to get a computer eye exam. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends an annual eye exam for anyone regularly using a computer. If you spend a great deal of time on the computer, it's likely that your eye doctor will write you a prescription for computer eyeglasses.
Reduce Glare
Glare is another contributing factor for computer eye strain. It is important to understand that glare can come from various sources, such as reflections off of walls, and not just your computer screen. Several tools can be employed to reduce glare, such as placing an anti-glare screen or a computer hood on your monitor.
Another step you can take, if you wear eyeglasses, is to have an anti-reflective coating (AR coating) applied to your lenses. AR coatings are designed to block light from reflecting off the front and back surfaces of your lenses, eliminating some glare.
Monitor Settings Should Be Appropriate
Attention should be paid to the brightness and contrast of your computer screen, so that you can minimize this source of computer eye strain. Brightness settings should be adjusted to be in line with your work environment. Your monitor should not be able to serve as a light source. The contrast should be configured so that there is an optimal amount of contrast between the screen's background and on-screen characters.
Keep Your Eyes Lubricated
People tend to blink less frequently when they work at a computer, so steps should be taken to keep eyes properly lubricated and avoid dry eye. The tears coating the eye evaporate more rapidly during long non-blinking phases, which can be especially problematic for contact lens users.
Set Your Workstation Up Properly
The configuration of your workstation is very important. You can strain your eyes if you need to keep looking back and forth between a printed page and your computer screen, so written pages should be placed on a copy stand adjacent to your monitor. A desk lamp might also be helpful, but make sure it doesn't create glare.
Lastly, the furniture at your workstation should enable you to keep good posture and position your computer screen at the appropriate distance and level for your eyes.
For more information about steps to reduce computer eye strain, visit AllAboutVision.com's section on computer vision syndrome.