A quick guide to eye health at work
In the modern workplace, the amount of time spent looking at some form of screen only ever seems to increase. Every day some of us can spend hours looking at a pc or laptop, phone, or tablet. Combining that time with hours spent watching tv or browsing social media at home can lead to an increased strain on our eyes. Blue light, concentrating on one fixed point or repetitively switching from one screen to another can all lead to eye strain and injury. Here is our quick guide to eye health.
Blue light
Most modern screens, be that a tv, pc, laptop or mobile device all emit high levels of blue light. Orange and red hues have a lower effect on our eyes and there are steps we can do to help this. Most modern systems allow for a low blue light mode. PC systems offer colour temperature settings, reducing blue light and offering a warmer colour temperature. Modern phones and tablets also offer a form, typically called ‘night mode’ as the reduction in blue light also helps us sleep.
20-20-20 rule
A simple method to improve eye health is the 20-20-20 rule. Devised by Dr. Jeffrey Anshel, the rule states that every twenty minutes of screen work, we should look away and focus on an object twenty feet away for two seconds. This change in focus should help reduce eye strain in the long term. An alternative form of eye exercise would be to focus on an object ten feet away, for ten seconds. Repeat this process ten times to exercise the eye muscles and reduce strain from singular levels of focus.
Regular eye tests
Having a regular eye test is an incredibly important part of eye health. Over time our vision can deteriorate for several reasons, and not having our eyes tested can allow these hazards to go unnoticed. An optician will not only test your vision and offer the correct prescription but also scan and determine your eye health down to the sensory nerves.
Avoiding glare
Many people enjoy big open windows and the sunlight shining into our office. Whilst there are numerous health benefits to sunlight, having glare across a screen can be detrimental to our eyes. Requiring a higher level of focus and strain on our eyes, glare can cause headaches, dry eyes and even blurred vision. Screen positioning or even anti-glare screens, avoiding direct light sources and reducing brightness can all help.
Distance to your screen
It is often recommended to sit 25 inches away from your screen. As a rule of thumb, this is a great starting point and can reduce eye strain. Another method would be to sit arm’s length away from your monitor. Whilst these small steps can help, a one-to-one DSE assessment will further ensure good eye health.