Eye Care Tips for Computer Users

Nowadays, people are often sitting in front of their computers at home or at work spending several hours looking into the glare of their computer monitors. Unfortunately, this habit of ours is actually putting a lot of strain on our eyes which in turn causes our eyesight to become poor in the long run. Those who spend more than 10 hours staring into their computer screen can develop Computer Vision Syndrome or CVS but fortunately, there are ways in which you can lessen the damage to your eyes like the ones listed below.

1. Proper lighting. One of the leading causes of eye strain is harsh or too bright lights coming from the outdoors or indoors. When you’re working on your computer it is important that the ambient light should be half the brightness of a typical office setting. Close the drapes or curtains to remove exterior light and instead of placing your computer in front of the window, it should be set up in a way that the window will be behind you or beside you.
2. Adjust your display settings. You should also tinker with your computer’s display settings so that you will be able to see well. The recommended size for the display font is medium to large because the smaller size can make you squint causing further eye strain. The brightness of your screen should be at the highest all the time. When reading emails or texts online, as long as they are on a white background and the texts are black, you won’t make your eyes go tired.
3. Don’t forget to blink. Staring at your computer screen for hours can cause your eyes to dry. When we work on our computer, we tend to blink less which can irritate and dry our eyes. The air coming from the airconditioning unit can also make your eyes go dry hence the need to blink regularly. You can use eye drops to lubricate your eyes but the ones formulated to remove redness aren’t exactly made to treat dryness and irritation.
4. Go on breaks frequently. Although it is admirable that you want to work for hours, you are actually putting too much strain on your eyes. Sitting too long can also cause you to experience back ache, shoulder and neck pains which can be quite uncomfortable. So if you don’t want to suffer from these symptoms, taking breaks frequently can help. Going on five minute breaks is already because it won’t diminish your output. Don’t forget to stretch when you’re on your break to help release the tension in your muscles.
5. Consider computer eyewear. For those who are often using contact lenses, you might want to ask for a customized computer glasses to minimize dryness. What’s more, if you’re wearing prescription glasses, you’ll find it easier to wear computer eyeglasses because they are made specifically for the distance between you and the monitor.
6. Do eye exercises. Another reason why you’re having computer eye strain is because of focusing on your monitor. In order to reduce tiring your eyes, you should take a break every 20 minutes then focus on something away from you for 20 seconds. When you look farther away, you are actually helping release the tension around the eyes.

It’s understandable that you need to work but spending several hours in front of the computer without giving your eyes a break can cause them to dry and become irritated. With the tips mentioned above, you will be able to keep your eyes fresh and minimize eye strain too.