Twenty years ago, most people didn’t suffer from eye strain. The main reason why they didn’t have this problem is the fact that screens didn’t surround them 24/7. Yes, they had TV’s and computers, but they didn’t spend most of their time in front of them. Also, they didn’t have tablets and smartphones back then.
These days, people are spending the majority of their day sitting in front of a computer screen. It’s not their fault; their job requires that from them. However, once they finish their work, they turn on the TV or stare at their smartphone. In other words, people are not letting their eyes catch a break.
Straining your eyes on a daily basis can cause various problems. It can cause nasty headaches and, if you are not careful, it can cause your vision to deteriorate. Therefore, you have to try your best to reduce eyestrain every day. Here are some of the best ways you can do this.
Adjust The Brightness On The Screen
One of the simplest yet best ways to reduce and prevent eye strain is to adjust the brightness on your computer screen. The bright light from your computer screen is the number one culprit when it comes to eyestrain. Therefore, lowering the brightness will help you to protect your eyes. The author of the blog found at myhealth1st.com.au/health-hub/articles/tips-to-minimise-eye-strain/ states that adjusting the brightness on your computer screen in a way that it blends with your surroundings is the best way to prevent eyestrain. In other words, make sure your screen is not too bright or too dark while you do your work.
Work Only During The Day
Okay, we know that this is not always possible, especially if you have a lot on your plate every single day. However, you should try your best to work only during the day. Every computer screen emits a certain amount of blue light, and this can strain your eyes. However, this blue light causes more damage when it’s the only source of light in the room.
Therefore, working during the day will prevent eye strain simply because the daylight will “protect” your eyes in a certain way. Of course, too much daylight can also strain your eyes. This is why you have to adjust the lighting in your office. You don’t want it to be too bright or too dark. Just like with the brightness on your computer screen. You need to find the balance.
Take Regular Breaks
If you want to keep your eyes healthy, you have to take frequent breaks when working. If you don’t know how to do this, you can apply the 20 – 20 – 20 Rule. It’s simple, take a break from looking at your screen every 20 and focus your eyes on an object that’s located 20 feet away from you.
Do this for 20 seconds and get back to work. This exercise allows your eyes to rest from focusing on short distances. Also, you should step away from your computer once every hour and do something else for fifteen minutes. Trust us, and your eyes will be grateful. Your back won’t complain, either.
Use Artificial Tears
This may sound sci-fi, but a lot of people, especially those who work behind a computer, are using artificial tears. One of the biggest problems when it comes to working on a computer is dryness of eyes. Dry eyes are easily strained. Therefore, in order to prevent various problems and unpleasantries, you should use artificial tears to wet your eyes. They are cheap, and putting them is rather easy and simple.
Reduce The Glare
As you probably know, the glare reflecting off the walls in your room and other finished surfaces is not good for your eyes. Also, the reflections from your computer screen can cause computer eye strain and eye damage. This is exactly why you should definitely consider installing an anti-glare computer screen.
It will make your job more enjoyable, no question about it. However, this might not be enough to protect yourself from the nasty glare. If you have the means, you should also repaint the bright white walls into a darker color. This will reduce the glare in your room and keep your eyes rested. In case you wear glasses, make sure to get lenses with anti-reflective (AR) coating. This will keep your eyes protected while you work.
Most people spend a lot of time looking at screens on a daily basis. This makes them prone to eyestrain and other eye-related problems. If you use a computer every day, make sure to take heed of the tips we talked about today. It will help you preserve your eyesight.
