Preventing Eyestrain in the Office

According to a report by the Vision Council, nearly 70% of U.S. adults experience some form of digital eyestrain caused by prolonged use of computers, TVs, tablets and smartphones. Common symptoms of digital eyestrain include dry eyes, blurred vision, headache and neck, back and shoulder pain. Although  60% of adults spend more than 6 hours in front of digital devices daily, 41% have never tried to reduce their digital eye strain, often because they do not know how to.

To prevent eyestrain, office workers can use these methods provided by Vision Council and Prevent Blindness:

•Adjust the brightness of your device and change background colors from bright white to cool gray. Attaching a glare reduction filter to the computer screen can also be beneficial.
•Frequently dust and wipe screens to reduce glare.
•Adjust the screen so that it is directly in front of your face and slightly below eye level.
•Position yourself and your device so that there is sufficient distance (20 to 26 in.) between your eyes and the screen.
•Use an adjustable chair.
•Choose screens that can tilt and swivel.
•Use a document holder placed next to your computer screen. It should be close enough to prevent considerable head movement or change in eye focus.
•Use lights that lessen glare and reflections.
•Reduce the amount of overhead and surrounding light that is competing with your device's screen.
•Increase text size to better define the content on your screen and adjust settings until your eyes feel comfortable.
•Remind yourself to blink often. Star
ing at screens can affect blinking frequency, causing eyes to dry.
•Take a 20-20-20 break. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.
•Visit an eye doctor for a dilated eye exam to ensure that you are seeing clearly and to detect any potential vision issues.