Try these tips to prevent eye fatigue.
| Health tips: How to avoid eyestrain | | | Dear Reader,
Any type of work or activity that depends on intensive use of your eyes — such as driving, reading, doing crafts, or staring at a computer, smartphone or tablet — may cause eyestrain. This doesn’t lead to permanent eye damage, but it can affect everyday vision.
When doing intensive, close-up work, make sure that you have light that’s well directed on what you’re doing. A bulb with much higher wattage may be necessary if you have impaired vision.
When reading Try to position the light source behind you and direct the light onto the page. The light should be bright but not glaring. If you’re reading at a desk, use a shaded light positioned in front of you.
When watching television Keep the room softly illuminated while watching TV. Too much contrast between a screen and its dark surroundings can result in eyestrain.
When on devices If you spend most of your day staring at a computer monitor, laptop, tablet or smartphone you’re probably experiencing some eyestrain. For example, you may see color fringes or afterimages as you glance away from the screen.
Researchers don’t believe this activity will have long-term consequences, but the symptoms can be unpleasant and disruptive. | | Try these strategies to prevent eyestrain: Take blinking breaks. Many people blink less than normal while using a computer or other digital device. This can result in dry, irritated eyes. Make a conscious effort to blink more often. Blinking produces tears that help moisten and lubricate your eyes. Look away. Intermittently force your eyes to focus on something other than your screen. Try following the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take your eyes off your computer or tablet and look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Change the pace. Stand up and move around at least once every hour or so. Do something that doesn’t involve a screen, such as taking a short walk for a water break. A few times a day, lean back and close your eyes for a few moments. Pay attention to position. Position screens directly in front of you, about 20 to 40 inches away from the tip of your nose. The center of the screen should be just below eye level so that you look down slightly. When you’re using a desktop computer, place the keyboard directly in front of the monitor as your eyes may tire from having to constantly shift their focus. Reduce glare. Pay attention to the placement of your computer screen. The worst problems with glare are generally from light sources located above or behind you, including fluorescent lighting and sunlight. Consider a glare-reducing screen or anti-glare cover and adjust your screen brightness to about half that of normal room lighting. Get proper eyewear. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, make sure the correction is right for computer work. Many lenses are intended for close-up reading and may not be optimal for long hours spent looking at a computer screen. Check into computer glasses. They allow you to focus your eyes on a computer screen, which is farther away than the distance at which reading material is normally held. |
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| Keep your eyes healthy and preserve your vision | | Poor vision is not inevitable. Vision may change with age, but the steps you take today can protect your eyesight and reduce your risk of some eye diseases. | | Learn more |
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