How to Reduce Eyestrain at the Office

It may be summer, but that doesn’t mean all of us get to enjoy the endless splendors of sunny and warm days. Unfortunately, many people have to sit inside and stare at a computer screen for eight hours a day. And that isn’t always the best thing for your eyes.

Prolonged exposure to computer screens can lead to eyestrain which affects more than just your eyes. Learning how to avoid or combat eyestrain while at a computer is essential to keeping your eyes in first-rate condition. It’s first important to know what eyestrain is exactly. Eyestrain usually occurs when the eyes are overworked during an extended period of time. It also comes with a litany of symptoms, including:

• Redness or dryness of the eyes
• Headache
• Eye pain or tension (can often travel to the temples or neck)
• Fatigue
• Double or blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light

Luckily, though, most of these symptoms can be alleviated by making simple changes in your daily work life. You can dramatically decrease eyestrain by taking breaks throughout the day. It’s recommended that you get up from your desk about once an hour to give your eyes a brief rest from the screen. And while it may seem that taking short breaks will reduce your productivity, the opposite may be true because if you’re feeling better, you’re likely to work better.

In line with taking short breaks from time to time, you should consider how your computer screen is positioned at your desk. Ideally, you should be sitting straight in your chair with your monitor (or monitors) slightly below eye level. This will not only help with decreasing eyestrain, but will help you develop better posture as well.

And last but not least, I suggest that you get your eyes checked. If you’re already someone who wears corrective lenses, you might need an upgraded prescription and if you don’t wear glasses, you might need to start. If you have any questions about how to keep eyestrain at a minimum at work, please don’t hesitate to call me at (313)278-SEEN or contact me online today!