Working from Home? 5 Eye Safety Computer Tips

I work from home on a computer, which is great. The hours are perfect, there is no commute and I am my own boss. But there are challenges to this kind of profession, and one is the dreaded eye strain. Which can actually lead to bigger problems in the end, such as Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. This is a chronic condition that causes eye pain, dryness, blurriness and something long term nearsightedness that is permanent.

It is crucial to take steps to protect yourself from problems, big and small. Here are five simple ways that you can reduce the risk of CVS, as well as headache, strain and pain.

1. Take Breaks

This is the most important rule, and yet the one most often ignored. We are not made for staring at a glowing screen for hours at a time, and we are seeing even worse symptoms than people who use to stare at typewriters or text all day. No matter how much you love killing boredom online after the hard work, every hour you should take at least a two minute break from looking at your screen, and every few hours take a 10 minute break, with a half an hour to an hour in the mid day. Another quick tip is to follow by the 20:20:20 guideline. This is that every 20 minutes you look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

2. Adjust Contrast And Resolution

A bright screen can really hurt your eyes over time. The higher the brightness, the more likelihood of a headache by the afternoon. Lower the brightness to a level that is still comfortable to read, but isn’t too high. Then, check your resolution to make sure it is set to the highest available setting to avoid strain due to blurry images. Text size can also be a factor, so if your browser font is low enough to have to strain, use CTRL + to increase it.

3. Don’t Lean Too Close

(A note aside: my boys would love the helmet!)

Your screen should always be between 20 and 25 inches from your eyes. That should be when straight ahead, whether you are working on a desktop or laptop. Straining your neck can be just as problematic as your eyes, and being too close will hurt you worse than being too far away.

4. Stay Hydrated

Have you every woken up in the morning after sleeping with a fan or the window open, and found your mouth and eyes both extremely dry? Hydration is important for overall health, but also for the eyes. Keep your workspace humid, such as through using a space humidifier. You should also consider keeping both a bottle of water and some eye drops on hand.

5. Blink Often

Have you ever found yourself staring at a screen for so long your eyes start to water? Blinking regularly is important, and something that we can actually forget to do when focused on a screen. In fact, studies have shown that people watching screens blink 60% less often than at any other time…60%! No wonder their eyes are so tired!

Conclusion

This isn’t brain surgery, it is common sense. But we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves, and so it is important to get into the habit. Follow these five steps, and you will be sure to have happier, healthier eyes.

Annie is a work-at-home mom blogging for Direct Sight, the well-known supplier of glasses. If you are often in front of the computer and have eye issues, buy glasses online!

Image Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4.