During “Save Your Vision Month” sponsored by the American Optometric Association, Cindy Brumm reminded us of the importance of taking care of our eyes, especially in our computer-driven world. We sit in front of computer screens for hours on end, which wrecks havoc on our bodies. Neck strain, wrist pain, tight hamstrings and hip flexors, backaches…the list is endless. It’s important for us to get up at least once an hour to stretch and move around in order to relieve the physical stressors caused by all this sitting. And it’s equally important to give our eyes a break to prevent eye strain, dry eyes, and blurry vision.
The American Optometric Association describes eye problems caused by prolonged computer use “Computer Vision Syndrome.” Defined as "the complex of eye and vision problems related to near work that are experienced during or related to computer use," it’s a good bet that many of us suffer from it. We look straight ahead at our computer screens for extended periods of time, blink less often, and work in environments that are often dry.
What can you do to prevent eye problems and promote eye health? The ergonomics of your work station is especially important – your monitor should be 20-26” from your eyes and the top of the monitor should be a little below horizontal eye level. Make sure your monitor is clean and glare-free, and adjust resolution, brightness and contrast to ensure that what you see is sharp and easy to read. If you are able to place a humidifier nearby, that helps prevent dry eyes.
One of the best things you can do for your eyes is easy and doesn’t cost a thing. Just take occasional “eye breaks:”
- Blink forcefully to help moisten your eyes
- Use artificial tears if your eyes feel especially dry
- Most important, rest your eyes, allowing them to look off into the far distance. This helps counteract all the near work you do at your computer. Look far off down the hallway, at a far corner of the ceiling or, if you sit near a window, look at the sky or down the street.
Have you noticed any eye problems from working at your computer? Share your experiences or thoughts by clicking on “Comments.”
1 comment:
It is essentially important to take good care of our eyes, well you know how really important it is. Thanks to Cindy Brum we have these eye breaks, it will help to relax our self and increase the productivity it will definitely bring the business transformation services in a bombastic bloom.
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