Tips to Reduce Work-at-Home Eye Strain
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We are peering at our screens in all sorts of places these days as working and learning remotely has us caught with our laptops in bedrooms, kitchens or even the basement. Excessive time at a computer screen under the best conditions can lead to a form of eye strain called Asthenopia during the pandemic. “The main issues are overuse or extended visual activity,” says Aman Sawhney from New Vision Opticians. It can easily happen when a person focuses on computer or smart phone for too long or have exposure to bright light and glare from these digital devices. You will know if your headache is caused by eye strain if you have difficulty focusing, experience blurred vision, start to have sensitivity to light, or feel tiredness or sore eyes. A few simple steps can help ease the screen time burden and reduce the work-at-home eye strain. |
Maintain proper distance: Consider positioning your computer monitor at a slightly downward angle from your eyes. It is also important to maintain a comfortable working distance – at least an elbow-length between your face and the screen. The space allows your eyes to not be under intense lighting and pressure from long hours of working.
Lighting is essential: As most people are at risk of overexposure to harmful light in their day-to-day activities, a blue-light filtering coating aims to offer a solution to improve eye protection. UV and blue-violet light are present everywhere including outdoors due to the sun and indoors due to artificial light and electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. So, if you can invest in blue light filtering it will help, allowing the good light in that regulates sleep and mood, and boosts brain activity.
Computer Setting: Since the intensity of the light increases the closer our eyes are to the screen. Its important to adjust the brightness to match the level of light around you. Try increasing the contrast to reduce eye strain or use a screen shield to reflect the light off your screen.
Take a break away from the screen: 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes, focus your eyes and attention on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You can also get up and walk around for a few minutes.
Take blink breaks: While working, it is quite easy to forget to blink and this can cause strain to your eyes. Try to blink as often as possible to ensure your eyes get the moisture they need, reducing dry eyes before you continue working.
Lighting is essential: As most people are at risk of overexposure to harmful light in their day-to-day activities, a blue-light filtering coating aims to offer a solution to improve eye protection. UV and blue-violet light are present everywhere including outdoors due to the sun and indoors due to artificial light and electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. So, if you can invest in blue light filtering it will help, allowing the good light in that regulates sleep and mood, and boosts brain activity.
Computer Setting: Since the intensity of the light increases the closer our eyes are to the screen. Its important to adjust the brightness to match the level of light around you. Try increasing the contrast to reduce eye strain or use a screen shield to reflect the light off your screen.
Take a break away from the screen: 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes, focus your eyes and attention on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You can also get up and walk around for a few minutes.
Take blink breaks: While working, it is quite easy to forget to blink and this can cause strain to your eyes. Try to blink as often as possible to ensure your eyes get the moisture they need, reducing dry eyes before you continue working.
Article written by Aman Sawhney, Bsc Hons Disp Opth
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